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Caribbean Jerk Chicken Pasta

Caribbean Jerk Chicken Pasta, is a creamy, colorful, flavor packed pasta. It’s a quick and easy dinner perfect for busy nights.

If you are in need of a quick and easy chicken dinner, look no further than this Creamy Caribbean Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta. With chicken, 3 different kinds of bell peppers, onions and jerk seasoning its creamy, spicy, a little sweet and oh so scrumptious.

Overhead photo of jerk chicken pasta in a green pan.

What is jerk seasoning?

I am all for trying new things especially when it comes to seasoning blends. I love to see how different flavors work together. For this recipe I decided to jump into completely uncharted territory for me and grab a bottle of Caribbean Jerk seasoning.

Jerk Seasoning is a unique blend of flavors with cinnamon, allspice, garlic, salt and scotch bonnet peppers. At first taste its slightly sweet but then on the back of the tongue you get a little spice. It really is the best of both worlds. And combined withe creaminess of the sauce in this pasta, it’s perfectly balanced!

Rasta pasta in a pan on a white background.

What ingredients do you need?

CHICKEN: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are perfect for this recipe. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs would also work. 

JERK SEASONING: You can find this seasoning blend in most grocery stores, you can buy it online or you can make your own

BELL PEPPERS: One of the great things about this dish is how colorful it is. To do that, all you need is three different colors of bell peppers. This recipe calls for orange, green and red. There is really no difference in flavor so use what ever combo of colors that you like. 

A plate of diced red, green and orange bell peppers on a white background with a striped towel.

ONIONS AND GARLIC: These aromatics are a must. 

HALF AND HALF AND SOUR CREAM: Both of these add a creaminess to the pasta. The sour cream adds a bit of tang too. 

PENNE PASTA: You could use any pasta that you like. I prefer penne for this because I like the way that the sauce works it’s way into the little holes.  

Step by Step Photos and Instructions for making Jerk Chicken Pasta: 

STEP #1: Combine chicken and jerk seasoning together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. 

diced chicken coated in jerk seasoning in a clear bowl.

DES’ TIP: To get even more Jerk flavor you can marinate the chicken for longer, 8 hours or overnight is fine. 

STEP #2: Cook pasta according to package directions. 

Cooked penne pasta in a colander.

STEP #3: Sauté bell peppers, onions and garlic together in a large skillet. Cook just until they start to soften about 5 minutes. 

Bell peppers and onions cooking in a skillet.

STEP #4: Add chicken and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. 

STEP #5: Add in heavy cream, sour cream and more jerk seasoning. Continue cooking just until the sauce starts to thicken. 

Photo of rasta pasta with sour cream, half and half, chicken and bell peppers.

STEP #6: Return the pasta to the pot.  Toss to combine. Reduce heat and let cook for another 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

One of my favorite ways to round out this meal is serve it with a salad with garlic vinaigrette and easy garlic bread

Side view of caribbean jerk chicken pasta pasta in a white bow..

How to store leftovers:

Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you reheat it, simply heat in a skillet. 

If you love this Rasta Pasta check out these other pasta dishes

Linguine Aglio e Olio 

Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe

Pasta Pomodoro

Easy Fettuccine Alfredo

If you’re looking for other chicken recipes, here are some of my favorites: 

Dill Pickle Chicken Wings

Brined Fried Chicken

Instant Pot Chicken Adobo

Chicken Tenders Recipe

Note: This post was originally written in 2010. It was updated with new photos, step by step photos and nutrition facts in 2020. 

Caribbean Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta in a green skillet.

Caribbean Jerk Chicken Pasta

Caribbean Jerk Chicken Pasta, is a creamy, colorful, flavor packed pasta. It's a quick and easy dinner perfect for busy nights.
5 from 16 votes
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 564 kcal

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts diced
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons jerk seasoning
  • 1 pound dried penne pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 1 orange bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 medium onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions
 

  • Toss chicken with 2 teaspoons jerk seasoning.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in diced peppers, onion and garlic. Cook 3 minutes.
  • Stir in chicken. Continue cooking until chicken is cooked through about 10 minutes.
  • Reduce heat and stir in half and half, sour cream and remaining tablespoon of jerk seasoning. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in drained pasta. Toss to combine. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 5 more minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.

Notes

Nutrition facts are for estimation purposes only.

Nutrition

Calories: 564kcalCarbohydrates: 47.9gProtein: 43.8gFat: 21.3gSaturated Fat: 8.3gCholesterol: 179mgSodium: 167mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 1.9g
Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!
Keywords: chicken, Chicken thighs, creamy pasta, entree, Food, jerk seasoning, pasta, Recipe

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




  • Reply
    Catalina
    July 21, 2020 at 12:43 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy! Pasta is always a favorite in our house!

  • Reply
    Cathy
    July 21, 2020 at 9:19 am

    5 stars
    This has become a fast favorite!

  • Reply
    Beth
    July 21, 2020 at 7:08 am

    5 stars
    I love this recipe and so does my family! It was a big hit here at the house! Can’t wait to make this again!!

  • Reply
    Toni
    July 21, 2020 at 6:44 am

    5 stars
    I’m definitely making this again and again! It was so good!

  • Reply
    Kerriq
    July 20, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    I’m loving all of the flavor combos in this dish!

  • Reply
    Allyson Zea
    July 20, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    5 stars
    Oh this looks soooooo good!

  • Reply
    Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
    July 20, 2020 at 6:33 pm

    5 stars
    I know for sure this Caribbean Jerk Chicken Pasta would be a huge hit in my house!

  • Reply
    Cathy
    July 18, 2020 at 3:37 pm

    5 stars
    Love the creaminess of this… so delicious!

  • Reply
    Suzy
    July 17, 2020 at 12:16 pm

    5 stars
    We love a good pasta! This ones sounds so flavorful! Love how quickly it comes together!

  • Reply
    Catalina
    July 16, 2020 at 8:38 am

    5 stars
    I never say no to a good pasta dish. This one looks amazing!

  • Reply
    Toni
    July 16, 2020 at 8:16 am

    5 stars
    Everyone at my house can’t resist this! Such a great meal!

  • Reply
    Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
    July 15, 2020 at 7:46 pm

    5 stars
    This Caribbean Jerk Chicken Pasta is seriously making me hungry!

  • Reply
    Dorothy Reinhold
    July 15, 2020 at 7:07 pm

    5 stars
    I love the tip about marinating for a bigger flavor punch. This sounds like a great meal!

  • Reply
    Dorothy Reinhold
    July 15, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    5 stars
    I love the tip about marinading for a bigger flavor punch. This sounds like a great meal!

  • Reply
    Amanda
    July 15, 2020 at 6:01 pm

    5 stars
    This meal looks absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try!

  • Reply
    Beth
    July 15, 2020 at 11:27 am

    5 stars
    Yum! This is so delicious! It was a big hit here at the house! Can’t wait to make this again!

  • Reply
    Nicola Duncan-kerr
    September 30, 2017 at 1:17 pm

    Aaaawsome!!! tantalizing my families tastebuds.
    I used chicken spice to replace the jerk season. My kids are young, they can’t handle the pepper.
    My kids loved it, they made me promise it to be their weekly friday meal.

  • Reply
    Chan
    April 3, 2016 at 7:35 am

    used this recipe for inspiration. really good stuff, great combination of ingredients overall. only improvement i would suggest is to let that chicken marinade longer. i like my chicken real hot so i cubed the chicken, then let it marinate in Walkerwood for 3 days. was incredibly spicy, it was awesome.

  • Reply
    Mike
    April 12, 2013 at 10:19 am

    I made this the other day and loved it! I’m a big fan of jerk flavoring, so I was all over it. Thanks for posting the recipe.

  • Reply
    Jenn
    November 28, 2010 at 6:06 pm

    My husband made this for our dinner tonight. YUM-OOOOOOOOOOOO! So delicious! And leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Thanks!

  • Reply
    Chris
    October 18, 2010 at 7:37 am

    I made this the other night. Sooooo delicious! As someone who loves hot & spicy, this will definitely be a regular!

  • Reply
    peabody
    October 2, 2010 at 11:43 am

    My friend loves jerk chicken, so making this for him.

  • Reply
    Jenn's Food Journey
    October 2, 2010 at 9:17 am

    This is a great idea. Putting a wonderful chicken dish together with pasta… YUM!!!

  • Reply
    oz Heelee
    October 1, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    Love the recipe, but what do I do with the extra 1 Tablespoon Jerk Seasoning?

    • Reply
      Deseree
      October 1, 2010 at 8:03 pm

      Thanks guys! Oz- stir it in the same time that you stir in the sour cream and half and half. Thanks for pointing out the typo! :)

  • Reply
    Anita
    October 1, 2010 at 9:30 am

    YUM! This sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it this weekend!

  • Reply
    StephenC
    October 1, 2010 at 7:25 am

    I haven’t had jerk chicken in a while. We can actually get the seasoning at a local spice shop. Always liked it.

  • Des

    Hey! I'm Des!

    Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

    Read more »

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