Need a weeknight meal that livens up your dinner routine? Creamy Rasta Pasta with Jamaican-inspired spices, sweet shrimp, and vibrant bell peppers is an easy, satisfying option. This creamy, slightly spicy, cheesy skillet dinner comes together fast and is perfect for families or busy weeknights.
Creamy Pasta with Shrimp and Jamaican Spices
One-pot and skillet meals are lifesavers for busy evenings—meat, vegetables, and pasta all in one pan with minimal cleanup. This Rasta Pasta brings a Caribbean twist: a milky parmesan-cream sauce flavored with a jerk-like spice blend, tender shrimp, and crisp-tender tri-colored bell peppers. Cayenne adds heat, fresh thyme and cream cheese deepen the flavor, and parmesan gives that familiar alfredo tang.
If you’re ready for a comforting, flavorful dinner in about 30 minutes, let’s get started.
Why Do They Call It Rasta Pasta?
The dish gets its name from the red, yellow, and green bell peppers that mirror the colors associated with Rastafarian culture. Reportedly coined in the 1980s, the playful name stuck and Rasta Pasta has become a popular casual dish that highlights those bright, flavorful peppers alongside Jamaican-inspired seasonings.
What Is Rasta Pasta Made Of?
This version uses a simple mix of spices to achieve a jerk-like profile without a complicated rub. If you enjoy Creole or Cajun cream pastas, you’ll appreciate how the spices pair with the creamy sauce and sweet shrimp. Main components:
- Pasta: 1 pound penne (cooked)
- Shrimp: ½ pound, peeled and deveined
- Spices: Garlic powder, cayenne, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cumin
- Sugar: A little to balance flavors
- Fresh thyme: Or a small pinch of dried thyme
- Salt and pepper
- Butter: For sautéing
- Garlic: Fresh and minced
- Bell peppers: One each of red, yellow, and green, thinly sliced
- Heavy cream: For a rich sauce
- Cream cheese and parmesan: For tang, body, and cheesy flavor
- Green onions or parsley: For garnish
Can I Use Frozen Shrimp?
Yes. Frozen raw shrimp work well and can be higher quality than some fresh options. Thaw them in the refrigerator, drain, and pat dry before seasoning and cooking.
Cooking Instructions
This recipe is quick—plan on roughly 30 minutes from start to finish. Start the pasta while you prepare the sauce to save time.
- Prep the shrimp and pasta: Toss peeled, deveined shrimp with the spice mix and let them sit for about 10 minutes. Cook the penne according to package directions if it isn’t already prepared.
- Cook the shrimp: Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp and cook 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside to avoid overcooking.
- Cook the vegetables: In the same skillet, add the remaining butter over medium-low heat. Sauté minced garlic about 30 seconds, then add sliced bell peppers and cook 4–5 minutes until tender-crisp.
- Add the dairy: Pour in heavy cream and stir in cream cheese and parmesan. Simmer, stirring, until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened, about 5–7 minutes.
- Finish the dish: Add cooked penne and the cooked shrimp back to the skillet. Stir to coat everything in the sauce, then remove from heat. Garnish with sliced green onions or chopped parsley and an extra sprinkle of parmesan. Serve immediately.
Notes and Tips
Small tips make this dish even better and easier to adapt.
- Shrimp substitutions: Swap chicken, pork, or sausage if you prefer, or skip the meat and add more vegetables for a vegetarian option.
- Pasta shape: Short shapes like penne or fusilli work best with the shrimp and sliced peppers. If using long pasta, break it into shorter pieces.
- Extra vegetables: Add matchstick carrots, zucchini, spinach, or chopped tomatoes to boost nutrition and color.
- Control the heat: Adjust or omit the cayenne to suit your spice tolerance.
- Use premade jerk seasoning: If you have a favorite Jamaican jerk blend, use it to taste in place of the spice mix.
Side Dish Suggestions
Rasta pasta is a complete skillet meal, but it pairs nicely with simple sides:
- Bread: Garlic knots, crusty bread, or rolls are great for mopping up sauce.
- Roasted asparagus: Lightly seasoned and roasted for a fresh, savory contrast.
- Snap peas or salad: A crisp side salad or roasted sugar snap peas adds brightness and crunch.
Storing and Reheating the Leftovers
- To store: Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers for up to three days.
- To reheat: Gently warm portions in a covered skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of cream or milk if the sauce seems thick or separated.
Does Rasta Pasta Freeze Well?
- The creamy sauce can separate when frozen and thawed, so serving fresh yields the best texture. If you choose to freeze, remove as much air as possible from the container or bag and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Rasta Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta, cooked
- ½ pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, plus 2 tablespoons for garnish
- 1 to 2 green onions, sliced, for garnish
Instructions
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In a bowl, combine the shrimp with the spices and let marinate about 10 minutes.
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Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and cook the shrimp 2–3 minutes, until pink and opaque. Transfer to a clean bowl and set aside.
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In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter. Add minced garlic and cook about 30 seconds over medium-low heat.
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Add the sliced peppers, increase heat to medium-high, and cook about 5 minutes until tender.
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Pour in heavy cream and stir in cream cheese and parmesan. Cook, stirring, until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens, about 7 minutes.
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Add cooked penne and the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Stir to combine.
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Garnish with sliced green onions or chopped parsley and extra parmesan. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Values may vary by ingredients and preparation.
More Pasta Dinners
- Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake
- Instant Pot Pasta Shells and Beef
- Baked Cream Cheese Pasta with Shrimp