This jerk shrimp pasta recipe combines tender, seasoned shrimp, bell peppers, and a cheesy cream sauce with al dente pasta to create an easy weeknight meal that leaves you feeling like you took a quick trip to the Caribbean.

Just like my Cajun creamy shrimp pasta, this jerk shrimp pasta recipe is loaded with bold flavors that perfectly complement the mild seafood flavor of everyone's favorite shellfish. This recipe is a particular favorite because it's so easy you can make it for busy weeknight dinners or as a quick and easy meal for special occasions.
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Jerk Shrimp Pasta Video
Why You'll Love This Jerk Shrimp Pasta
- Rich, Not Heavy: The creamy sauce for this pasta is rich and creamy, but it's not overly thick and heavy.
- Bold Flavor: A combination of jerk seasoning, paprika, ginger, and a few other spices gives this recipe a bold flavor.
- Quick and Easy: It only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish to make this recipe.
- Simple Ingredients: You can find everything you need quickly and easily in your kitchen or the grocery store.
- Perfect for Weeknights: Such a quick and easy recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

- Gluten-Free Fusilli: The corkscrew shape of the fusilli is perfect for holding the sauce.
- Jumbo Shrimp: Jumbo shrimp adds tons of seafood flavor and great texture.
- Bell Pepper: Orange and green bell peppers add a slightly sweet and bitter flavor with a tender, crisp texture.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream gives the sauce for this pasta its richness.
- Seasonings: Jerk seasoning, red bell pepper seasoning, Hungarian paprika, roasted garlic powder, and ginger powder, along with a few other spices, give this recipe its bold flavor. I use OliveNation for the red bell pepper seasoning, Hungarian paprika, and ginger powder for their quality, purity, and flavor. Use Code: NK15 for 15% off.
- Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese: Mozzarella adds a mild flavor and meltiness, while parmesan adds a deeper, bolder, slightly earthy flavor.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Jumbo Shrimp: You can use small shrimp, tiger shrimp, or even prawns for this recipe.
- Other Seafood: The flavors in this recipe work well with all your favorite shellfish.
- Pasta: Any short, textured pasta will work well. Just be sure to use textured pasta to hold the sauce.
- Parmesan: Try asiago or pecorino romano for a slightly different flavor.
How to Make This Jerk Shrimp Pasta Recipe
1: Begin boiling the pasta per the package directions for al dente.
2: Mix the shrimp with jerk seasoning, garlic powder, and Hungarian paprika until coated.

3: Cook the shrimp in olive oil until slightly pink. Transfer them to a plate.

4: Cook the peppers in the same pan until slightly translucent.

5: Add heavy cream and chicken broth to the pan along with the seasonings for the pasta sauce.

6: Add both cheeses, then simmer until thickened.

7: Drain the pasta and gently stir it into the sauce. Then, stir in the cooked shrimp and serve.

Hint
To make this a one-pan meal, boil the pasta in a large skillet you'll then use to make the rest of the dish.
Storage
You can refrigerate this shrimp pasta in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat it, add it to a saucepan or large skillet and cook over medium-low heat until warmed through.

What to Serve with Jerk Shrimp Pasta
This creamy, zesty shrimp is perfect with garlic bread and sides like air fryer asparagus or this tasty grinder salad.
Of course, you need a sweet treat to finish the meal. So try serving these slutty brownies, gluten-free oatmeal cream pies, or blackberry cheesecake for dessert.
Tips
- Medium is the perfect temperature for cooking shrimp. It cooks them to perfection quickly without burning or overcooking.
- Only cook your shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side. It doesn't take long!
- Perfectly cooked shrimp should be shaped like a C, not an O.
- This recipe cooks quickly, so begin boiling your water for your pasta at the same time you start cooking the rest of the dish.

Frequently Asked Questions
Jerk is a style of cooking from Jamaica in which meat is dry-rubbed or wet-marinated with a hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk.
To fully cook the shrimp, it only needs to be cooked in a skillet for 1 to 2 minutes per side.
Perfectly cooked shrimp should be shaped like a C. If it's shaped like an O, it's overcooked.
Jerk seasoning has a complex flavor that's sweet, smoky, fiery, fruity, and salty.
Related
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📖 Recipe

Jerk Shrimp Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz gluten-free fusilli
- 1 ½ lbs jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 orange bell pepper sliced evenly
- 1 green bell pepper sliced evenly
- ¼ teaspoon roasted garlic powder
- 1 ¾ tablespoon jerk seasoning
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ¾ teaspoon OliveNation red bell pepper seasoning
- 1 ¼ teaspoon OliveNation Hungarian paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon OliveNation ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 ½ cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 oz parmesan cheese
- 3 oz mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Boil the pasta per the package directions for al dente. Begin the rest of the recipe while the pasta boils.
- Stir the shrimp with 1 ¼ tablespoons jerk seasoning, ¼ teaspoon roasted garlic powder, and ¾ teaspoon Hungarian paprika until coated.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side until slightly pink. Transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining olive oil. Add the sliced peppers to the heated oil and cook for about 3 minutes or until slightly translucent.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the heavy cream, chicken broth, the remaining jerk seasoning and Hungarian paprika, dried thyme, red bell pepper seasoning, ginger powder, and salt. Stir well.
- Stir in both cheeses.
- Simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes until thickened.
- Gently stir in the pasta followed by the cooked shrimp and serve.
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!