Description
Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty and delicious American comfort food that combines crispy bacon, ground beef, and smoky spices with tender spaghetti noodles. This skillet dish is topped with melted cheddar cheese and garnished with fresh green onions and parsley, making it perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
Meat and Bacon
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 lb ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Canned Goods and Sauces
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
Spices
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- Cook the bacon: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the chopped bacon. Cook until crispy, about 5–7 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan.
- Brown the beef and sauté onions: Add the ground beef and diced onion to the pan with the bacon grease. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spatula, until browned and cooked through and the onions are soft, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Prepare the sauce: Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce (if using), smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 10–15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Toss spaghetti in sauce: Add the cooked spaghetti directly to the sauce and toss gently to coat all the noodles evenly with the meat sauce.
- Add cheese and bacon: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese and the cooked bacon evenly over the pasta. Allow the residual heat to melt the cheese slightly.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish the dish with sliced green onions and optional chopped parsley. Serve hot and enjoy your cowboy spaghetti!
Notes
- For a smoky twist, try adding a few dashes of liquid smoke to the sauce.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with a fresh side salad or warm garlic bread.
- Adjust the hot sauce amount to control the spice level.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce fat content if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
