There’s not much better than an easy-to-make, hearty pasta dish that is going to fill you up! Here are some sides to complete the meal. Serve alongside some yummy garlic bread, this easy kale caesar salad and some parmesan air fryer Brussels sprouts to bring it all together.
What is Rasta Pasta?
Say hello to your new favorite pasta meal! This Rasta Pasta was an amazing treat to our taste buds and became an instant favorite with the first bite. It’s a popular Caribbean recipe that originated in Jamaica in 1985 by Chef Lorraine Washington. She made the dish for a crew of construction workers with fettuccine, red sauce and ackee, Jamaica’s national fruit. The red, green, and yellow colors looked like the colors of the Jamaican flag and prompted one of the workers to call it a “Rasta pasta” and the name stuck! Why is this dish so amazing? The pasta, the incredible textures from the veggies and chicken, the seasoning, the sauce, it’s all just SO good. My family absolutely loves pasta for dinner, and this is elevated enough to serve to guests. Just like in our pink sauce pasta and creamy buffalo chicken pasta, penne pasta is perfect for holding and absorbing the sauce. The chicken and peppers make it extra hearty, and the jerk seasoning adds a wonderful bold flavor with just enough heat. You are going to love it!
Ingredients Needed
This pasta recipe is super easy to make, yet it’s filled with a lot of different textures and flavors, and turns out so delicious. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all of the exact ingredient measurements.
Pasta: I used penne for this recipe but you can also use elbows, bowties, or rigatoni. Olive Oil: For sautéing the veggies. Green Onions: Also known as scallions have a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a slightly pungent and peppery taste. Bell Peppers: Sautéed red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper and green bell pepper are classic in this recipe and offer flavor and texture. Garlic: If you don’t have garlic cloves, you can use minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon equals about one clove of garlic. Chicken: Use any cooked shredded chicken you have available. Leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken works great! Seasoning: Use homemade Jerk Seasoning or store-bought to add wonderful sweet and savory spices to this dish! Add salt and pepper to taste. Chicken Stock: Gives the sauce the perfect consistency and adds extra flavor. Heavy Cream: Adds a creamy and velvety texture to the sauce.
How to Make Rasta Pasta
This pasta rasta recipe is the best dinner for busy weeknights because it takes less than 30 minutes to make! Cook the pasta, sauté the peppers, add everything in together, let it simmer, and finish with a garnish of sliced green onions before serving!
Try Different Pasta: Besides penne pasta, other great choices are rotini and fusilli! You could even consider a vegetable noodle like zucchini noodles for a healthier version. Cooking Pasta: Be sure to season the boiling water with plenty of salt before adding in the pasta. As a general rule of thumb, add 1 teaspoon salt per 4 cups of water. Chicken: Instead of taking the time to cook and shred your chicken beforehand, use rotisserie chicken. For more convenience, they have bags of pre-shredded rotisserie chicken that’s ready to go! It’s a huge time saver, and already has lots of flavor! Additional Ingredients: Try mixing in new ingredients like mushrooms, asparagus, shrimp, or sausage. The options are endless! Cream: While you can substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half, I don’t recommend it. The rasta pasta sauce will not be as rich and creamy.
When reheating, I recommend adding a splash of water, broth or chicken stock to loosen everything up and prevent the pasta from becoming too dry.
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