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    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Best Rasta Pasta Recipe with Chicken

    Published: Jan 31, 2022 · Modified: Mar 6, 2022 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Rasta pasta pin image.

    A creamy rasta pasta recipe with chicken, sliced bell peppers, and flavoured with punchy Jamaican jerk seasoning!

    It's on the table in just 30 minutes, making it the perfect easy pasta recipe for busy weeknights!

    A pan of rasta pasta with sauteed bell peppers and chicken.

    Traditionally, colorful bell peppers, flavourful Caribbean jerk seasoning, pasta, and cream are the main ingredients needed to make Jamaican rasta pasta! I also like to add leftover chicken to my recipe too!

    This easy rasta pasta will certainly get your taste buds salivating, that's for sure!

    👩‍🍳 Love easy pasta recipes? Try my creamy cajun chicken pasta!

    Jump to:
    • What is rasta pasta?
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make rasta pasta with chicken
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQs
    • 😋 More easy pasta recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    What is rasta pasta?

    Rasta pasta was first created in Jamaica in 1986, by chef Lorraine Washington. The dish included green, yellow, and red bell peppers, which her customers thought were reminiscent of the Rastafarian flag, hence the name 'rasta pasta' was coined!

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    • Flavourful and delicious pasta recipe
    • Quick (less than 30 minutes) and perfect for hectic weeknights
    • Colourful and vibrant
    • Leftover roast chicken recipe - you might also like my leftover chicken tacos too!

    🛒 Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make rasta pasta.
    • Pasta - I like to use a short pasta such as penne or rigatoni, but originally tagliatelle was used (remincent of dreadlocks in rastafarian culture).
    • Olive Oil - or use sunflower oil.
    • Onions & garlic - finely chopped
    • Peppers - sliced red, green and yellow peppers are needed.
    • Seasonings - jerk seasoning and cayenne pepper give the dish a real bite!
    • Creamy Sauce - made from stock (vegetable or chicken), double (heavy) cream and Parmesan.
    • Chicken - leftover rotisserie chicken, or alternatively you can use two fresh chicken breasts, thinly sliced, instead.
    • Optional garnishes - chopped green onions (spring onions) and red pepper flakes.

    🔪 How to make rasta pasta with chicken

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Heat the olive oil on a medium heat in a large skillet and sauté the onions, garlic, and bell peppers for 5 minutes until softened.

    Two: Stir in the Caribbean seasonings of jerk seasoning and cayenne pepper.

    Frying the onions, garlic and peppers and adding in the jerk seasoning (step by step process shots).

    Three: Pour in the cream, stock (broth) and sprinkle in the grated Parmesan. Stir until a cheesy sauce forms.

    Four: Add in the cooked pasta and leftover rotisserie chicken. Mix well and serve with more Parmesan.

    Adding the creamy sauce and chicken to the rasta pasta.

    💭 Top tips

    • When cooking the pasta, reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining. You can add this to the sauce to help it emulsify and become silky smooth.
    • Cook pasta to al dente, so it still has a bit of bite and isn't too soft.
    • If using fresh chicken breasts, cut them into thin strips and add them to the pan after you have sauteed the onions and peppers. Cook on a medium-high heat until they have changed colour.
    • If you have time, have a go at making your own homemade jerk seasoning!
    • Try making this recipe in your instant pot!

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve with a side of green vegetables such as air fryer asparagus, or roasted courgettes!

    A close up photograph of rasta pasta.

    📖 Variations

    • Make it with prawns (shrimp rasta pasta) instead of chicken.
    • Make it vegetarian friendly by omitting the chicken and adding more peppers, or other vegetables such as corn.
    • For a vegan rasta pasta, substitute the double cream for the same quantity of coconut milk and omit the Parmesan.
    • Up the spice and double the amount of cayenne pepper!

    🥡 Storage

    To Store. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    To Reheat. Place in a microwave safe dish and cook on full power until piping hot.

    To Freeze. Leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost fully in the fridge before reheating.

    Rasta pasta in a red pan with chicken.

    ❓ FAQs

    Is rasta pasta spicy?

    Jerk seasoning has a bit of heat but not overwhelmingly so. Omit the cayenne pepper from the recipe if you prefer your food less spicy!

    What spices are in jerk seasoning?

    Ingredients in Jamaican jerk seasoning include cumin, nutmeg, allspice, smoked paprika, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and brown sugar.

    😋 More easy pasta recipes

    • Paprika Chicken Pasta
    • Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Herbs
    • BBQ Chicken Pasta
    • Creamy Sausage Pasta
    • Halloumi Pasta with Chorizo
    • Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta

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    Recipe

    Rasta pasta with peppers.
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    5 from 8 votes

    Best Rasta Pasta Recipe with Chicken

    A creamy rasta pasta recipe with chicken, sliced bell peppers, and flavoured with punchy Jamaican jerk seasoning!
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine Fusion, Jamaican
    Keyword rasta pasta, rasta pasta with chicken
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 644kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Frying Pan
    • Saucepan

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 350 g Pasta short pasta like penne or rigatoni
    • 200 g Cooked Chicken e.g leftover rotisserie chicken
    • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 3 Peppers 1 each of red, yellow and green, sliced
    • 1 Onion chopped
    • 3 Garlic Cloves chopped
    • 2 tablespoon Jerk Seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
    • 100 ml Vegetable Stock
    • 80 ml Double Cream
    • 80 g Parmesan grated
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Pepper

    Instructions

    • Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta to al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining. Set aside.
      350 g Pasta
    • Heat the olive oil on a medium heat in a large skillet and sauté the onions, garlic, and bell peppers for 5 minutes until softened.
      1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 3 Peppers, 1 Onion, 3 Garlic Cloves
    • Stir in the Caribbean seasonings of jerk seasoning and cayenne pepper.
      2 tablespoon Jerk Seasoning, ½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
    • Pour in the cream, stock (broth) and sprinkle in the grated Parmesan. Stir until a cheesy sauce forms.
      100 ml Vegetable Stock, 80 ml Double Cream, 80 g Parmesan
    • Add in the cooked pasta and leftover cooked chicken. Mix well and serve with more Parmesan. You may want to add in some of the reserved pasta cooking water at this point, in order to make the sauce glossy and smooth.
      200 g Cooked Chicken, 350 g Pasta

    Video

    Notes

    Top Tips:
    • When cooking the pasta, reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining. You can add this to the sauce to help it emulsify and become silky smooth.
    • Cook pasta to al dente, so it still has a bit of bite and isn't too soft.
    • If using fresh chicken breasts, cut them into thin strips and add them to the pan after you have sauteed the onions and peppers. Cook on a medium-high heat until they have changed colour.
    • If you have time, have a go at making your own homemade jerk seasoning!
    • Try making this recipe in your instant pot!
     
    Variations:
    • Make shrimp rasta pasta instead of chicken.
    • Make it vegetarian-friendly by omitting the chicken and adding more peppers, or other vegetables such as corn.
    • For a vegan rasta pasta, substitute the double cream for the same quantity of coconut milk and omit the Parmesan.
    • Up the spice and double the amount of cayenne pepper
     
    Storage:
    To Store. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    To Reheat. Place in a microwave-safe dish and cook on full power until piping hot.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Best Rasta Pasta Recipe with Chicken
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    644
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    24
    g
    37
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    10
    g
    63
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    9
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    152
    mg
    51
    %
    Sodium
     
    699
    mg
    30
    %
    Potassium
     
    652
    mg
    19
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    74
    g
    25
    %
    Fiber
     
    6
    g
    25
    %
    Sugar
     
    6
    g
    7
    %
    Protein
     
    34
    g
    68
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    2200
    IU
    44
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    75
    mg
    91
    %
    Calcium
     
    320
    mg
    32
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    More Easy Pasta Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nadja

      January 31, 2022 at 9:43 pm

      5 stars
      Love how easy it is to prepare, and it's a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    2. Mirlene

      January 31, 2022 at 10:23 pm

      5 stars
      Love a good Rasta Pasta recipe. This meal turned out so good and very easy to follow. It is on rotation in our home.

      Reply
    3. Cara

      January 31, 2022 at 10:27 pm

      5 stars
      So easy and so flavourful! Absolutely loved it. New weeknight fav!

      Reply
    4. Carrie Robinson

      January 31, 2022 at 11:43 pm

      5 stars
      I am just loving all of the flavors happening in this pasta dish! Definitely going to have to add this to my weekly meal plan soon. 🙂

      Reply
    5. Kechi

      February 01, 2022 at 12:44 am

      5 stars
      This looks so flavorful and yummy; I love anything with Jerk seasoning! Definitely going to make some!

      Reply
    6. Emily

      February 01, 2022 at 12:51 am

      5 stars
      Love the name! My whole family liked the recipe too. Thanks for coming up with such an easy to make dinner.

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

    More about me →

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