Fresh from the Kitchen: Recipes & Food Inspiration
- Use the slow cooker: cook chicken, peppers, onion, garlic, broth, and jerk seasoning; in the last 45 minutes add uncooked pasta, heavy cream, and Parmesan.
- Instant Pot: layer chicken, peppers, onion, garlic, jerk seasoning, top with uncooked pasta and broth; pressure 5 minutes, quick release, add cream and Parmesan.
- Adjust heat of jerk seasoning; swap proteins like beef or seafood, add seafood last 10 minutes; make dairy free with coconut milk.
- Use red, green, and yellow bell peppers to honor Rastafarian tradition, though any bell pepper colors work.
- Leftovers refrigerate up to 4 days; reheats well for meal prep. Prefer short pasta like penne, rigatoni, or rotini.
Slow cooker Rasta pasta is a flavor-packed pasta with a kick. Inspired by Caribbean flavors, this one-pot meal combines chicken, colorful bell peppers, and a rich, creamy sauce seasoned with jerk spices. Whether you’re feeding a family or prepping meals for the week, this crockpot pasta recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor. Instructions to make Rasta pasta in the Instant Pot are also included.
Ingredients For Rasta Pasta
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs
- Uncooked Pasta
- Red Bell Pepper
- Green Bell Pepper
- Yellow Bell Pepper
- Onion
- Garlic
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Chicken Broth
- Heavy Cream
- Jerk Seasoning
How To Make Rasta Pasta In The Crockpot
- Add the chicken, bell peppers, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and jerk seasoning to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
- Cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours or LOW 4 to 6.
- The last 45 minutes of cooking time, turn the slow cooker to the HIGH setting if not already on it. Remove the chicken, shred it, and add it back to the slow cooker with the uncooked pasta, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Cook until the pasta is tender. If using, stir in the spinach before serving.
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- Add the chicken, bell peppers, onion, garlic, and jerk seasoning to the Instant Pot. Stir to mix well.
- Add the uncooked pasta on top. Do not stir. Pour the chicken broth on top of the pasta. Do not stir.
- Close lid and seal valve. Set on high pressure setting for 5 minutes.
- When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
- Remove the chicken, shred it, and add it back to the Instant Pot with the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and the spinach (if using).
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy slow cooker meal – Minimal prep and the slow cooker does the rest.
- Bold flavors – A fun twist on classic creamy pasta with jerk seasoning
- Family-friendly – Easily adjust the spice level to suit everyone
- Creamy & comforting – Rich sauce with tender chicken and perfectly cooked pasta
- Great for leftovers – Reheats well for lunches or meal prep
- Customizable – Substitute proteins, adjust the spice, or make it dairy-free
FAQs & Tips
What is Rasta pasta?
Rasta pasta is originally from Jamaica. It is a Caribbean-inspired recipe that is made with jerk seasoning, a creamy sauce, and multiple bell peppers.
What cut of chicken should you use?
Technically you can use your preferred cut of chicken but this is best made with boneless chicken. This can be breasts or thighs. What you see in the picture is breasts.
Can you use another protein?
Sure. This Rasta pasta is great with beef and even seafood. If you use seafood, add it the last 10 minutes of cooking time.
What type of pasta should you use?
I like to use penne pasta for this dish however you can use any type of uncooked pasta. If you do not use penne, I suggest using a short pasta like rigatoni or rotini.
Do you need to cook the pasta first?
Nope! The pasta is added to the slow cooker uncooked that last 45 minutes of cooking time.
Can you use different bell peppers?
You can. The red, green, and yellow bell pepper represents are you used in Rasta pasta in honor of the Rastafarian culture however you can use what ever color of bell pepper that you like.
Is this spicy?
It depends on the jerk seasoning that you use. In general, jerk seasoning can be spicy. If you are concerned about this, lower the amount of seasoning added to the dish. You can always adjust after it’s done cooking by adding more.
Can you make this dairy free?
Yup. Use coconut milk instead of heavy cream and skip the Parmesan cheese.
How do you store leftovers?
Store leftover slow cooker Rasta pasta in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What size slow cooker did you use?
I use a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.
Pasta Recipes
Slow Cooker Rasta Pasta
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Slow cooker Rasta pasta is a flavor-packed pasta with a kick. Inspired by Caribbean flavors, this one-pot meal combines chicken, colorful bell peppers, and a rich, creamy sauce seasoned with jerk spices. Whether you’re feeding a family or prepping meals for the week, this crockpot pasta recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor. Instructions to make Rasta pasta in the Instant Pot are also included.
- Add the chicken, bell peppers, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and jerk seasoning to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
- Cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours or LOW 4 to 6.
- The last 45 minutes of cooking time, turn the slow cooker to the HIGH setting if not already on it. Remove the chicken, shred it, and add it back to the slow cooker with the uncooked pasta, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Cook until the pasta is tender. If using, stir in the spinach before serving.
-
- Add the chicken, bell peppers, onion, garlic, and jerk seasoning to the Instant Pot. Stir to mix well.
- Add the uncooked pasta on top. Do not stir. Pour the chicken broth on top of the pasta. Do not stir.
- Close lid and seal valve. Set on high pressure setting for 5 minutes.
- When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
- Remove the chicken, shred it, and add it back to the Instant Pot with the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and the spinach (if using).
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