Cowboy Spaghetti (Easy Recipe) (2024)

Last Updated on: February 27, 2024

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Cowboy spaghetti is a bold twist on classic spaghetti bolognese.

Loaded with ground beef and bacon, it brings a hearty and rustic flair to your dinner table.

It’s one of those spaghetti recipes you’ll turn to again and again. And one that’ll make the kids lick their plates clean.

Cowboy Spaghetti (Easy Recipe) (1)

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What Is Cowboy Spaghetti?

Cowboy spaghetti is like a smoky, meaty, Americanized version of traditional spaghetti.

It features a robust sauce made with fire-roasted tomatoes, ground beef, and crispy bacon.

Better yet, it gets a fiery kick from hot sauce and umami goodness from the Worcestershire sauce.

Finish it with a generous sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese, and you won’t be able to resist a second serving.

Ingredients

The full recipe with measurements is at the bottom of the post. But here’s what you’ll need, at a glance:

  • Spaghetti: You could serve this with penne or fettuccine, but I think spaghetti works best. Feel free to experiment and let me know!
  • Olive Oil, Onion, and Garlic: The first key elements that form the aromatic base.
  • Bacon and Ground Beef: Bacon adds a smoky flavor, while lean ground beef makes the dish satisfyingly hearty.
  • Fire-Roasted Tomatoes and Tomato Sauce: Fire-roasted tomatoes add a subtle smokiness, while tomato sauce provides the classic spaghetti sauce taste.
  • Beef Broth: To enhance the meaty flavor and make the sauce more robust.
  • Worcestershire Sauce and Hot Sauce: For a unique, umami taste with a nice layer of heat.
  • Salt & Pepper: To taste.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Melted into the hot spaghetti, it creates a deliciously gooey texture.
  • Parsley or Green Onions: For a fresh, colorful finishing touch.
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How to Make Cowboy Spaghetti

Cowboy spaghetti is a fun way to add a twist to your regular pasta dinner.

Here’s how to make it:

1. Fry the bacon until it’s crispy, then remove it from the pan.

2. Cook the aromatics and brown the beef in the same skillet, using the bacon grease. Cook the onions until tender, then add the beef and cook until brown. Finally, add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute.

3. Make the sauce. Add the tomatoes, broth, and seasonings, then simmer for about 10 minutes.

4. Cook the spaghetti. While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta to al dente, per the package instructions.

5. Mix it all together. Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the beef and sauce. Toss/stir until well coated.

6. Sprinkle the cheese over the spaghetti and stir again until it’s melted.

7. Serve and garnish. Serve the spaghetti in bowls and top with the bacon and chopped fresh parsley or green onions. Enjoy!

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Recipe Variations

Cowboy spaghetti is a versatile dish that’s perfect for tweaking to your taste or pantry supplies.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Add mix-ins: Add beans, corn, mushrooms, olives – whatever you think works!
  • Adjust the spice level: Amp up the heat with jalapenos, chili flakes, or more hot sauce.
  • Cool it down: For a milder version, use regular tomatoes instead of fire-roasted and skip the hot sauce. Or add some room-temperature cream cheese to the sauce.
  • Use different proteins: Try ground turkey or pork for a different flavor. Or try it with leftover chicken.
  • Try different cheese and seasonings: Go for mozzarella or pepper jack. Or add herbs like thyme, basil, or even smoked paprika.

How to Store

I doubt you’ll have a lot left over after this tasty family dinner. But if you do, it’s easy to store for later.

Just keep in mind, it’s best to save the sauce and then make fresh pasta when you need it.

To Store: Place cold leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

To Freeze (Just the Sauce): Let it cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.Do not freeze the pasta.

To Reheat: Thaw frozen sauce in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a splash of water. Serve with freshly cooked spaghetti.

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If you save the sauce with the spaghetti, reheat it in a skillet with some water. The pasta will have absorbed a lot of moisture, so it will need a bit extra.

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Cowboy Spaghetti Serving Suggestions

Cowboy spaghetti is great on its own, but it hits new heights with the right pasta side dishes.

  • Garlic Bread: The buttery, garlicky flavor, and crunchy texture complement the rich, meaty spaghetti perfectly.
  • Cornbread: A hint of sweet, comforting deliciousness to mop up the excess sauce.
  • Ramen Noodle Asian Salad: For a crunchy, tangy element.
  • Roasted Asparagus: A simple yet flavorful side you can feel good about devouring.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

Baked Rigatoni Pasta
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Gigi Hadid Pasta
Chicken Florentine Pasta
Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

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Cowboy Spaghetti

Course: Main Course, DinnerCuisine: American

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

575

kcal

Cowboy spaghetti is a bold twist on classic spaghetti bolognese. Loaded with ground beef and bacon, it brings a hearty and rustic flair to your dinner table.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dry spaghetti

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 4 slices bacon, chopped

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 15 ounce can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes

  • 8 ounce can tomato sauce

  • 1/2 cup beef broth

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce, optional

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

  • chopped fresh parsley or green onions for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, fry the bacon until crispy. Remove it from the pan and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, cook the onions until tender. Then add the beef and cook for 3-4 minutes or until browned. Mix in the garlic and cook until fragrant.
  • Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir well, reduce the heat to low, and leave to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • While the sauce simmers, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of well-salted water. Cook to al dente per the package instructions, then drain.
  • When the sauce has thickened slightly, add the cooked spaghetti and toss until well coated. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and stir until melted.
  • Serve cowboy spaghetti with crispy bacon and chopped fresh parsley or green onions on top. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Make it extra filling with kidney or black beans, chopped bell peppers, or veggies like mushrooms, corn, and zucchini.
  • Amp up the sauce with cumin, oregano, or chili powder. Or add more hot sauce if you want it fiery.
  • For a richer flavor, use a combination of ground beef and ground sausage.

Nutrition

  • Calories: 575kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 66g
  • Protein: 28.2g
  • Fat: 22.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 10.6g
  • Cholesterol: 80mg
  • Sodium: 776mg
  • Potassium: 246mg
  • Fiber: 11.9g
  • Sugar: 19g
  • Calcium: 541mg
  • Iron: 14mg
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Cowboy Spaghetti (Easy Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How to make simple spaghetti better? ›

To make spaghetti sauce taste better:
  1. Sauté onions and garlic for flavor.
  2. Use quality tomatoes (canned or fresh).
  3. Simmer the sauce for an extended period.
  4. Add herbs and spices like basil and oregano.
  5. Enhance with a splash of red wine (optional).
  6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Feb 25, 2022

How to cook spaghetti step by step paragraph? ›

Perfectly cooked spaghetti recipe

Bring a pan of water to the boil and season it with salt. Add the spaghetti and stir it gently until all the strands sink beneath the water level. Stir again to make sure they're not stuck together. Cook following the pack instructions but taking 2 mins off the time suggested.

What to put in spaghetti sauce to make it taste better? ›

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

How to make pasta in 4 steps? ›

Instructions
  1. In a large pot, bring water to a boil. ...
  2. Add the pasta to the water, stir a few times to prevent the noodles from sticking together.
  3. Cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally, until al dente or softer depending on desired texture.
  4. Drain and toss with desired sauce.
Aug 5, 2020

What is the best way to cook spaghetti? ›

For the best spaghetti, cook it in salted water.

If you still have it, check your package instructions. If you've tossed the package already, spaghetti takes 8 to 12 minutes. We recommend setting a timer for 8 minutes and then checking your spaghetti to see if it needs longer.

What is the key to good spaghetti? ›

IF YOU COOK spaghetti in a big pot of water, drain it, then toss it with sauce, you are pouring a lot of flavor down the drain, says Vendemmia chef Brian Clevenger. “The trick to good pasta is cooking it in the sauce,” he says. It was while working at Delfina in San Francisco that he really started to understand why.

What does adding butter to tomato sauce do? ›

The addition of butter helps to loosen and emulsify the sauce, making it smooth and creamy. Butter plays another pivotal role in jarred sauce. Because of the naturally high acidity of tomato sauce, I find that most store-bought tomato sauces tend to be way too abrasive and sharp-tasting.

How to season meat for spaghetti? ›

Use salt and pepper to season ground beef, turkey, or pork. Add garlic, onions, bell peppers, oregano, basil, parsley, or Italian seasoning for extra flavor. Stir red pepper flakes, chili powder, or hot sauce into the meat for a spicy kick.

How to make spaghetti noodles for dummies? ›

Once the water has come up to a boil, you can throw the spaghetti in. Typically it should cook within 7-11 minutes - just follow the time on the box! Make sure to stir every couple minutes to keep it from sticking.

What is spaghetti simple? ›

noun. a white, starchy pasta of Italian origin that is made in the form of long strings, boiled, and served with any of a variety of meat, tomato, or other sauces. Electricity. an insulating tubing of small diameter into which bare wire can be slipped.

How many minutes to cook spaghetti? ›

Generally, most spaghetti cooks in 8 to 10 minutes but it's best to follow the packet directions. How do you cook spaghetti so it doesn't stick together? When adding the spaghetti to the saucepan, wrap hands around the middle of the spaghetti.

Why put Worcestershire sauce in spaghetti sauce? ›

Whether you can pronounce it or not, Worcestershire sauce is an easy, effective way to load up spaghetti sauce with umami flavor. It is salty, tangy, and has lots of potent vinegar, all of which cut through tomatoes to create a soothing, savory flavor.

Do Italians put sugar in spaghetti sauce? ›

It is widely held that Italian immigrants began adding sugar to their sauce to make up for the overly acidic tomatoes they were forced to work with in their new home. But the history of sugar in pasta sauce actually goes back to Italy itself.

What is number 5 spaghetti pasta? ›

5 Pasta is a high-quality pasta made from durum wheat semolina. It is one of the most popular types of pasta worldwide and is known for its long thin shape and delicate texture.

What is a number 5 spaghetti? ›

Spaghetti #5 is the normal size, and spaghetti #8 (spaghettoni) are thicker; there are also spaghetti #3 (which in Italy are called spaghettini). Normal spaghetti are always #5, but the thickness depends from the brand, in the same way shirt sizes depend from the brand.

What is the process of spaghetti? ›

Spaghetti can be made by hand by manually rolling a ball of dough on a surface to make a long sausage shape. The ends of the sausage are pulled apart to make a long thin sausage. The ends are brought together and the loop pulled to make two long sausages. The process is repeated until the pasta is sufficiently thin.

How long do you cook spaghetti no 5? ›

Popular with gourmets of all stripes, even vegetarians and vegans! Note: The manufacturer recommends a cooking time of 10 minutes for an "al dente" texture. It does not contain eggs but traces of egg may still be present in the final product due to the production process.

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