This tasty Rasta Pasta Recipe is the best jerk chicken pasta of your life! It's lightly creamy, Jamaican goodness is full of flavor and is Caribbean mouth-watering deliciousness. It's super quick and super easy to make. It can be made in about 30 minutes, making it your new go-to weeknight meal.
This Jerk Chicken Pasta is popular year-round, but especially fall through spring. It's the perfect quick and flavorful Alfredo dish for those busy school nights!
This was inspired by our Rattlesnake Pasta, Chicken Carbonara, Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta, and our Cajun Shrimp Pasta. All are spicy, creamy flavorful pastas that can be made in less than 30 minutes. They are also all made with a roux. That may sound intimidating if you haven't made a roux before, but trust me, it's so easy! We'll walk you through the steps. A roux is important because it makes it creamy without whipping cream and without it being greasy. It also won't separate when reheated. Win! You also need to try this tasty Jerk Pork Tenderloin recipe.
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Ingredients
Below is a list of ingredients needed for this recipe. Follow our tips on each ingredient for best results.
- chicken breasts- can also use other cuts of chicken
- olive oil - or other cooking oil like avocado or vegetable
- bell peppers - I like to use one colored and one green.
- lime juice - fresh squeezed has the best flavor, but bottled works great in this recipe too. When we were testing this recipe, our taste testers couldn't tell a difference between having it made with fresh or bottled lime juice.
- garlic - fresh or minced are better than powdered, but powdered will work in a pinch
- butter
- all-purpose flour
- whole milk - this recipe will not work with any other milk besides whole milk. We have tested the recipe with all kinds of milk and the only one that works is whole milk. We did find that it works with half and half too.
- jerk seasoning - we have tried many many different kinds of Jamaican jerk seasoning, and we keep coming to back to the Great Value brand. We find it has the most flavor.
- green onions
- pasta of choice - I used penne this time, another favorite of ours for this dish is bowtie.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Rasta Pasta
Use these process shots to help get the results you are wanting. The pictures can help with texture and be a visual guide for best results.
1. Cut chicken into 1" cubes. If you have the time, mix jerk seasoning with 2 Tablespoons lime juice and marinade 2-24 hours ahead of time. If not, toss cubed chicken in jerk seasoning. Heat oil in large pan over medium heat. Cook chicken until it turns white and is just barely done. Make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165*F.
2. Remove chicken from heat and place in a bowl and set aside. Heat butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes, then make the roux. Stir in the flour. It will look thick and a little clumpy and weird like the picture above.
3. Add one cup of milk. Stir into the flour mixture. This is most easily done with a whisk.
4. You'll know when you're ready to add more milk because it will look similar to the picture above.
5. Add the rest of the milk, one cup at a time, stirring/ whisking in until fully incorporated before adding the next one. After adding all 4 cups, add the cajun seasoning. Add the bell peppers and green onion and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes until sauce has thickened.
6. After sauce has thickened, add the chicken back in, then the parmesan cheese. Stir until heated through and the parmesan is melted. Add the noodles and stir to combine. Add salt and/ or more jerk seasoning if necessary.
Hint: Don't overcook the chicken or it will be tough and chewy instead of tender!
Substitutions and Variations
We love switching things up when we're in the kitchen. Try any of these variations for something a little different.
- Shrimp - use shrimp instead of chicken for shrimp rasta pasta. Thaw precooked frozen shrimp and stir in at the end when adding the parmesan.
- Salmon - Cook salmon the same as the chicken. Or, cook the jerk seasoned salmon in fillets and serve on the side.
- Steak - cook steak to preference, searing it in the carribean jerk seasoning.
- Oxtail - use oxtail instead of chicken for an even more authentic experience.
- Extra Veggie- for more veggies, we recommend adding zucchini and green beans!
- Kid friendly - are your kids sensitive to heat? Half the jerk seasoning, then add more on top of the adult portions.
- Light- you can use as little as 2.5 Tablespoons butter and still have this turn out, but work quickly once you add the flour and make sure it is well combined after each addition of milk.
- Meat Lovers- add ½ pound shrimp and ½ pound Andouille sausage for an extra meaty version
- You'll love it with our Caribbean Green Seasoning
Helpful Hints
You may feel like it's looking a little weird or that it isn't working while you're making the roux. Don't worry! It will all turn out if you follow our directions.
Feel free to use more or less jerk seasoning. All jerk seasoning is not created equal! So use more or less to your liking depending on the brand!
To our surprise as we were testing this recipe, the one we found with the best flavor was Great Value brand. We recommend using Great Value brand or making your own at home.
How to Serve Rasta Pasta
Serve this yummy Jerk Chicken alfredo up for dinner. Serve it alongside some calypso rice, cornmeal coocoo, Jamaican fried dumplings, cassava salad or some Jamaica steamed cabbage.
Storage
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The flavor soaks in even more as it sits, making these great leftovers! To reheat: Heat in a pan over medium heat. I usually end up adding about ¼ cup more milk, as it's a little thick when reheated.
This can freeze! Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator then reheat as directed above.
Top tip
Make sure to use whole milk. This recipe does not and will not work with 2% or lower.
Recipe
Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice optional*
- 3-4 Tablespoons jerk seasoning, divided or 1 - 1 ⅓ packets, we recommend great value brand. Season to taste!
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic or 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk *this recipe does NOT work with 2% or lower
- 3 bell peppers I like to use 1 green and 2 colored
- 4 green onions
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 lb. dried pasta of choice I used penne
- salt to taste, we usually use around ½ teaspoon
Instructions
- Cut the raw chicken into 1" cubes. Marinade the chicken by mixing the lime juice with 1.5 Tablespoons of jerk seasoning and pouring on the raw chicken. If able, marinade 2-24 hours. Or use immediately.
- Boil the pasta then drain according to package directions while completing the directions below.
- Heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until it turns white and is cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165*F. Remove from heat and put chicken in a bowl and set to the side.
- Melt the butter over medium low heat in the fry pan. Add the minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the flour and stir to combine. Add one cup of milk. It will be separated and weird. Stir together. The easiest way to get it to combine is with a whisk. The texture at this point will be similar to mashed potatoes. See pictures above for guidance and to check consistency.
- Add the remaining milk, one cup at a time, stirring to combine after each addition.
- Stir in the remaining jerk seasoning. Add the chopped bell peppers and chopped green onion. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. The sauce will have thickened. Add the chicken and parmesan cheese and stir until cheese has melted.
- Stir in the cooked and drained noodles and stir to combine. Add more jerk seasoning and salt, if needed. Garnish with more green onions if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- We have tried multiple brands of jerk seasoning, and Great Value has been the most flavorful and our favorite. Depending on what brand you use, you may want to use more of less jerk seasoning.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stove over medium heat and add milk until it's thin enough, about 1-4 Tablespoons, depending how much there is.
- Freeze in a freezer container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator then reheat on the stove top over medium heat, adding milk until it reaches the right texture and gets hot and creamy.
- Don't over cook your chicken or it will be tough and hard to chew instead of moist and tender.
- Feel free to make this recipe with your favorite homemade jerk seasoning.
- If making with steak, oxtail, shrimp or salmon, make sure to coat the meat well in the jerk seasoning.
Nutrition
FAQ
Cook meat, make a roux and season with Jerk seasoning, add veggies and cook. Add noodles and enjoy!
Rasta Pasta is an absolutely delicious creamy pasta made with jerk seasoning. Typically it also has bell peppers and a meat like chicken or shrimp.
Cook Jerk seasoned chicken, then make pasta and a jerk seasoned roux. Add veggies and combine all together for an amazing and delicious meal!
Nicole says
OKay this jerk chicken pasta was so so good. So flavorful and yummy. The creamy spicy was everything. My whole family loved it. Tasted a lot like Rainforest Cafe! Took us all right back to Jamaica, yum!
Ruth W. Thomas says
This recipe is truly amazing. I tried it and it turned out very nice.
Nicole says
I am so glad you enjoyed it!