Description
Make this flavorful Rasta Pasta featuring tender jerk chicken, colorful bell peppers, and a rich, creamy sauce inspired by Jamaican cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons jerk seasoning (adjust to your spice preference)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, season the chicken pieces generously with jerk seasoning.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
- Add the chopped onion and sliced bell peppers to the same skillet. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juice) and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream or coconut milk. Let the sauce gently simmer for 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Stir in the cooked chicken and the cooked pasta. If using, mix in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Taste the sauce and add salt and black pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a spicier sauce, add 1 teaspoon of Scotch bonnet pepper sauce along with the broth.
- If you prefer shrimp instead of chicken, cook the shrimp separately and add them in the last 2 minutes of simmering.
- Using coconut milk will give the sauce a more authentic Caribbean flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Jamaican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 120