Stovetop Jamaican Jerk Shrimp Pasta: A Great Family Recipe

Sharing is caring!

This Jamaican Jerk shrimp pasta is perfect for all pasta lovers out there! Large shrimp are marinated in a spicy and flavorful homemade jerk seasoning, cooked to perfection and combined with pasta.

This dish is actually a complete meal, and uses a mix of Caribbean inspired spices to elevate the flavors of a seemingly simple dish.

What I love the most about this recipe is the fact that it has a bright color and packs in a ton of protein and fiber too, which makes it a great choice as a healthy weekend meal.

Jamaican Jerk Shrimp Pasta Cooking Times

• Yield: 4-5 servings
• Prep Time: 15 min
• Bake time: 30 min
• Total Time: 45 min

Ingredients For the Jerk Shrimp Recipe

You’ll need two sets of ingredients to make this Jamaican jerk seasoning pasta.

Jerk Spice:

• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp ground thyme
• 2 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1⁄2 tsp ground clove
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin

Pasta:

• 8 oz box of penne pasta
• 1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp jerk seasoning
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup pineapple, small chunks
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 3⁄4 cup pasta water separated
• 3⁄4 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
• 1 cup frozen shrimp

How to Make the Jerk Shrimp From Scratch

Once you have your ingredients ready, here’s what you’ll need to do to make the jerk shrimp recipe.

Step 1: Get the Jerk Spice Ready

Add all of the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta

Cook the penne pasta according to directions on the box. Drain the penne and reserve 1⁄2 cup of pasta water. Set to the side.

Step 3: Get the Shrimp Ready

Rinse shrimp and pat dry using a paper towel. In a large bowl add the shrimp and jerk spice. Toss to combine the shrimp and spice.

Step 4: Prep your Pan

Place a large non stick skillet, a non stick pan or Dutch oven over medium high heat.

Step 5: Let the Shrimp Cook

Add your olive oil to the pan and cook the raw shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove shrimp from the skillet or Dutch oven and set aside.

Step 6: Deglaze the Pan

Add the pasta water to the pan and scrape to combine the brown bits.

Step 7: Add the Rest of the Ingredients

Add peppers, fresh pineapple chunks, and garlic to the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Now, add the pasta water, heavy cream, and jerk seasoning to the pan for 3-5 minutes.

Step 8: Add the Pasta and Cheese

Add penne pasta, and parmesan cheese and stir until combined.

Step 9: Add the Finishing Touches

Remove from heat and add shrimp.

Tips & Tricks to Make the Jerk Shrimp

Ready to give this recipe a try? Here are some tips and tricks to help you make it easier.

1. For a more robust shrimp flavor, you can marinate the shrimp in the jerk seasoning overnight and then put it together the next day.
2. Another great idea to implement to help the shrimp cook faster and have more intense flavors is to use shrimp that are halved lengthwise.
3. If you’re using packaged shrimp for this recipe, remember to rinse it in cold tap water and stir fry them until they are perfectly cooked.
4. To lend some extra flavor to the dish, you can also squeeze a bit of lemon juice into the marinade while you’re combining it with the sweet shrimp.
5. You can also add a bit of brown sugar to the marinade to balance out the heat and tanginess from the other ingredients.
6. Another great idea is to add some ground ginger or fresh lime juice to take the flavor of the seasoning up a notch.
7. Fresh thyme and soy sauce can also be excellent additions to this spice mix.

Can I Prepare the Jerk Seasoning in Advance?

You sure can! This one’s one of the best things about making the homemade jerk seasoning.

You can actually batch make the spicy jerk marinade and refrigerate it for later. This jerk spice can be used for many different proteins- not just shrimp.

What Can I Do With Leftover Shrimp?

If you have some leftover spicy jerk shrimp, you can store it for later and use it in a multitude of other ways.

I personally love the idea of using the shrimp as a filling for your homemade tacos and wraps.

I also think the shrimp can be pan fried and then served on a rice bowl or with some noodles.

If you want to make it a part of a healthy meal, you can serve it with some brown rice and pan fried veggies like bell peppers, carrots and green beans.

I also think this cooked shrimp can be an excellent filling for your lettuce wraps.

What Kind of Shrimp Should I Use?

For this recipe, I’ve used frozen shrimp that I first ensure is completely defrosted. I also like to peel and devein shrimp before I use them for the recipe.

If you want to cut down on the time for this recipe, you can use deveined shrimp too! Buying prepared shrimp saves quite a bit of effort too.

If you can, get your hands on large shrimp or jumbo shrimp as opposed to the tiny ones.

How Do I Serve the Jerk Shrimp Pasta?

Your spicy jerk shrimp pasta can be enjoyed on its own as a wholesome meal.

Don’t forget to top it with some finely chopped cilantro and serve it with some lime wedges on the side to make the dish look more well put together.

More Shrimp Recipes

Loved how this recipe turned out? Inspired enough to try some more fun and interesting shrimp recipes?

Here are a few good ones you might want to take a look at.

• Instant Pot Shrimp Boil Recipe
• Shrimp Cucumber Bites: Brilliant High Protein Appetizer
• Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi Recipe
• What To Serve With Shrimp Cocktail: Best Foods
• Easy Air Fryer Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo
• Make Incredible Instant Pot Shrimp Deviled Eggs in Less than 10 Minutes
• The Best Easy Pasta Salad Recipes Around