The best jerk chicken pasta recipe! This chicken rasta pasta is about to be on a permanent rotation on your dinner table. Creamy, protein-rich, and bursting with flavor.
Rasta pasta to the world! This is one pasta dish you'll want to make repeatedly. It is different from any pasta dish you've ever made before. There is something about jerk seasoning that sets it apart from other seasonings you add to pasta.
It is earthy but bursting with flavor, especially when combined correctly with other ingredients. My shrimp rasta pasta is quite popular on the blog, and I thought, why not make a chicken jerk pasta for my chicken lovers?
Start with this recipe if you want to add Caribbean flavor to your dinner menu. It is very easy to make. Don't forget to watch the video below on how to make it so that you don't miss a thing.
Why you will love this jerk chicken pasta recipe
- Restaurant quality meal you can easily make at home.
- Simple ingredients with bold, earthy, and delicious flavors.
- Creamy, cozy and comforting weeknight dinner. The leftovers make a fantastic lunch, too, which makes it great for meal prepping.
- Ready in 30 minutes from prep to the table.
Related recipes: jerk salmon and jerk seasoning paste.
What you will need
You will need the following handful of ingredients to make the best and simple chicken jerk pasta
Pasta: I used penne pasta, but you can use any other pasta shape of your choice.
Chicken breast: Substitute with boneless chicken thighs cut into bite sizes
Jerk seasoning: Use storebought or homemade.
Olive oil
Unsalted butter
Green onion
Onion
Garlic
Bell peppers
Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper
How to make jerk chicken pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta until al dente about 1 minute less the cooking time. Reserve some pasta water for later and drain the pasta in the colander.
Heat olive oil and unsalted butter in a deep skillet over medium heat.
Add sliced onions and saute until soft and translucent.
Add diced chicken breast, 1 Tablespoon jerk seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine and cook until the chicken is cooked.
Next, add bell peppers, half of the chopped green onions, and garlic, and cook until the peppers are tender-crisp (say 3 minutes or so)
Pour the heavy cream into the skillet, and add ½ cup of water or low-sodium chicken stock. Season with ½ Tablespoon of jerk seasoning, and add the chopped scotch bonnet. Stir to combine and simmer for 2-5 minutes.
Add grated parmesan cheese and stir until combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference.
Lastly, add the cooked pasta to the creamy jerk chicken sauce and stir well so that all the pasta is well coated.
Take it off the heat, portion it into bowls, and serve it hot with the remaining chopped green onions and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Watch how to make it
Tips and variations
- Worried about the heat in the scotch bonnet? Cut it into halves, remove the seed, and use one part. This is what I did. Alternatively, Substitute with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, adjusting to your level of tolerance.
- Make this dish even creamier and cheesy. Add some cream cheese and grated cheddar cheese (or other cheese) for a delicious super-comfort food.
- Substitute the chicken with shrimp, crabmeat, pork strips, beef strips, or salmon.
- Make this recipe with leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
How to store
This rasta chicken pasta is amazing the next day, too, so feel free to make a big batch. Store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat the pasta in the microwave or on the stove over low heat until warmed through. Add a splash of water, chicken stock, or milk to aid the reheating process.
FAQs
Can I make it without cream
Yes. You can substitute the heavy cream with full-fat or light coconut milk. I often make this substitution with light coconut milk to make this recipe dairy-free.
Can I use jerk seasoning paste instead of the dry rub
Yes. Substitute the dry rub with the paste. Ensure that you check the label for the spiciness level, which varies from mild to very hot. Select one that suits your taste. I recommend trying my homemade jerk seasoning paste recipe. It is quick and easy to make.
Will ground meat work for this recipe
Yes, substitute the cubed chicken with ground chicken or turkey.
More easy creamy pasta recipes you should try next
Goat cheese pasta with spinach
Chicken Jerk Pasta
Ingredients
- ½ lb Pasta
- 1 pound chicken breast cut into bite sizes
- 1 ½ Tablespoons jerk seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup green onion chopped
- 1 small onion sliced
- 3 large garlic cloves finely chopped
- 3 Bell peppers cut into strips
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta until al dente about 1 minute less the cooking time. Reserve some pasta water for later and drain the pasta in the colander.
- Heat olive oil and unsalted butter in a deep skillet over medium heat.
- Add sliced onions and saute until soft and translucent.
- Add diced chicken breast, 1 Tablespoon jerk seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine and cook until the chicken is cooked.
- Next, add bell peppers, half of the chopped green onions, and garlic, and cook until the peppers are tender-crisp (say 3 minutes or so)
- Pour the heavy cream into the skillet, and add ½ cup of water or low-sodium chicken stock. Season with ½ Tablespoon of jerk seasoning, and add the chopped scotch bonnet. Stir to combine and simmer for 2-5 minutes.
- Add parmesan cheese and stir until combined.
- Lastly, add the cooked pasta to the creamy jerk chicken sauce and stir well so that all the pasta is well coated. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference.
- Take it off the heat, portion it into bowls, and serve it hot with the remaining chopped green onions and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
- Worried about the heat in the scotch bonnet? Cut it into halves, remove the seed, and use one part. This is what I did. Alternatively, Substitute with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, adjusting to your level of tolerance.
- Make this dish even creamier and cheesy. Add some cream cheese and grated cheddar cheese (or other cheese) for a delicious super-comfort food.
- Substitute the chicken with shrimp, crabmeat, pork strips, beef strips, veggies or salmon.
- Make this recipe with leftover cooked chicken (rotisserie)
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and delicious pasta recipe you can make at home in 30 minutes. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox.
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