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Ingredients for Jamaican Rasta Pasta, including penne pasta, heavy cream, jerk seasoning, bell peppers, and chicken breasts.

Creamy Jamaican Rasta Pasta with Blackened Jerk Chicken

This Jamaican Rasta Pasta features cooked penne pasta smothered in a thick, orange-tinted creamy jerk sauce, tossed with charred bell peppers, and topped with juicy, blackened jerk chicken breast.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Caribbean, Jamaican
Calories: 850

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb penne pasta Cooked al dente
  • 1 lb chicken breast Boneless and skinless
  • 3 tbsp jerk paste Divided use
  • 2 tbsp olive oil For searing
  • 0.5 each red bell pepper Sliced into strips
  • 0.5 each green bell pepper Sliced into strips
  • 0.5 each yellow bell pepper Sliced into strips
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic Minced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1.5 cups heavy cream
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese Freshly grated
  • 0.25 cup fresh green scallions Finely chopped
  • 1 tsp dried parsley flakes

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot For boiling the penne pasta.
  • 1 Cast Iron Skillet For achieving a dark crust on the blackened chicken.

Method
 

Making the Rasta Pasta
  1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add your penne pasta and cook according to the package instructions until perfectly al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
  2. Pat the chicken breasts dry. Rub with 2 tbsp of jerk paste. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until a dark, heavily spiced outer crust forms and the interior is juicy and white. Set aside to rest.
  3. In the same skillet, add the sliced red, green, and yellow bell peppers. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until slightly charred and blistered. Remove and set aside.
  4. Melt butter in the skillet over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and tomato paste, stirring for 1 minute. Whisk in heavy cream and the remaining 1 tbsp of jerk paste. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until thick and orange-tinted. Stir in Parmesan cheese.
  5. Add the cooked penne pasta and sautéed bell peppers into the creamy jerk sauce. Toss vigorously to coat. Slice the rested chicken diagonally into thick strips.
  6. Transfer the pasta to a wide, shallow bowl. Top generously with the sliced blackened jerk chicken. Garnish with chopped scallions and dried parsley flakes. Serve hot.

Notes

Dry your chicken thoroughly before searing for the best crust.
Grate your Parmesan from a block for the smoothest sauce.