Jerk Chicken in Creamy Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients

• Jerk Marinade:
• 4 large green onions, white parts and some tender green tops, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 lime, zested
• 1 teaspoon green chile pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 splash lime juice
• ½ teaspoon whole allspice berries
• ½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• ½ teaspoon yellow mustard
• ½ teaspoon ground thyme
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed
• 16 ounces penne pasta
• Alfredo Sauce:
• ½ cup butter
• milk
• 1 ½ cups finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Step 1

Combin green onions, garlic, vegetable oil, brown sugar, soy sauce, lemon zest, pepper flakes, salt, basil, lime juice, allspice berries, peppercorns, mustard, thyme, ginger, coriander, rosemary, and nutmeg in a food processor. Blend everything until you get a smooth paste, scraping down the sides as needed. Pour this jerk marinade into a large resealable plastic bag, add the chicken, and toss to coat it well. Seal the bag and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, giving it a little shake every now and then to make sure the chicken marinates evenly.

Step 2

While the chicken is soaking up all those flavors, bring a big pot of salted water to a boil and cook your penne pasta until it’s tender but still has a little bite — about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

Melt some butter in a saucepan over low heat. Pour in the milk and let it come to a gentle simmer, cooking for about 5 minutes. Then, stir in the Parmesan cheese and garlic, whisking constantly until the cheese melts completely and the sauce comes together nicely. Set this creamy sauce aside for a moment.

Step 4

Heat up a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook the marinated chicken until it’s cooked through and there’s no pink left inside — this should take around 7 to 8 minutes. Once the chicken is done, transfer it to the Alfredo sauce and let everything simmer together for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently. This helps the jerk flavors blend beautifully into the sauce.

Step 5

Finally, serve the chicken and sauce over your cooked pasta and enjoy!