Saddle up for a dinner that’s as comforting as it is exciting: Cowboy Spaghetti! This isn’t your average pasta dish; it’s a robust, flavorful twist on classic spaghetti, packed with crispy bacon, savory ground beef, a smoky tomato sauce, and a hint of heat. It’s a true one-pot wonder (well, almost, with the spaghetti cooked separately!), perfect for feeding a hungry family or a crowd, bringing hearty satisfaction to your table.
Why I Love This Recipe
Cowboy Spaghetti is pure comfort food with a kick. What I love most about this recipe is how it builds incredible depth of flavor right from the start. Frying the bacon and then cooking the ground beef and onions in the rendered fat sets a delicious base. The combination of fire-roasted tomatoes and Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chiles) gives the sauce a wonderful smokiness and a gentle warmth, making it far from ordinary. It’s a hearty, satisfying meal that comes together relatively quickly, and it’s always a massive hit with everyone who tries it.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to create this robust and flavorful Cowboy Spaghetti:
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
- 10 ounce can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chiles)
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 – 2 teaspoons hot sauce (optional)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound spaghetti
- Shredded cheddar cheese, to serve
- Sliced green onion, to serve
- Crispy bacon (reserved from cooking), to serve
Swaps and Notes
- Bacon: Use thick-cut bacon for more rendered fat and crispy bits. Turkey bacon can be used for a leaner option, but may require a little extra olive oil for b initial sautéing.
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is recommended to prevent excessive grease. Ground turkey or a mix of beef and Italian sausage can also be used.
- Onion: A yellow or sweet onion works well here.
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes: These are key for the smoky depth! Don’t substitute with regular crushed tomatoes if you want that “cowboy” flavor.
- Rotel: Choose mild or hot Rotel depending on your preferred spice level. If you don’t have Rotel, use regular diced tomatoes and add a small can of diced green chiles and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Hot Sauce: This is optional but highly recommended for a true “cowboy” kick! Adjust to your taste. Frank’s RedHot or your favorite Louisiana-style hot sauce work well.
- Spaghetti: Any long pasta like fettuccine or linguine would also work, but spaghetti is classic.
- Cheese & Green Onion: While cheddar is listed, a Mexican blend or even Monterey Jack would be delicious. Don’t skip the fresh green onions for a pop of freshness!
Instructions
Let’s get this hearty Cowboy Spaghetti cooking in your Dutch oven!
- Cook the Bacon: Add the chopped bacon to a large Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot. Cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring often, until the bacon is wonderfully crispy. Remove the crispy bacon bits with a slotted spoon and drain them on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside for garnish. Leave the flavorful bacon grease in the pot.
- Brown Beef and Onion: Add the ground beef and diced onion to the pot with the bacon grease. Use a spoon to crumble the beef as it cooks. Cook, stirring often, until there is no pink left in the beef and the onion has softened, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the pot, leaving just a little for flavor.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the pot and stir it in for about 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Simmer the Sauce Base: Add the crushed fire-roasted tomatoes, Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chiles), tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and 1-2 teaspoons of hot sauce (if using) to the pot. Stir well to combine all the ingredients. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
- Develop Flavors: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes. Stir often to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom. During this time, some of the liquid will cook out, and the flavors will meld and intensify, creating a rich, saucy consistency. You want it saucy enough to coat the spaghetti but not watery.
- Cook Spaghetti: While the sauce is simmering, bring a separate large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until it is al dente. Drain the spaghetti well.
- Combine and Serve: Add the drained spaghetti directly to the pot with the simmering meat sauce. Stir well to combine, ensuring all the spaghetti is coated in the delicious sauce. I find that tongs help tremendously with this step to evenly distribute the sauce. Serve immediately, topping each portion generously with shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, and the reserved crispy bacon bits.
Tips for Success
- Crispy Bacon First: Don’t skip cooking the bacon first and leaving some of the rendered fat. This adds a crucial layer of smoky, savory flavor to the entire dish.
- Drain Grease: Draining excess grease from the beef mixture (especially if not using lean ground beef) is important for a less oily sauce.
- Simmer for Flavor: The 10-15 minute simmer time for the sauce allows the flavors to deepen and the liquid to reduce to a perfect consistency.
- Al Dente Spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti just to al dente, as it will absorb more sauce once combined and you don’t want it to be mushy.
- Tongs for Mixing: Tongs are indeed super helpful for mixing the spaghetti into the sauce efficiently without breaking the pasta.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple additions:
- Cornbread: A side of warm cornbread would be perfect for soaking up any extra sauce.
- Side Salad: A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette can offer a refreshing contrast to the richness.
- Garlic Bread: Classic garlic bread is always a welcome addition with any spaghetti dish.
- For other comforting and hearty dishes, you might also enjoy our Classic Spaghetti Recipe with Homemade Saucefor a more traditional Italian-American experience.
Storage and Leftover Tips
This Cowboy Spaghetti makes fantastic leftovers, often tasting even better the next day!
- Refrigeration: Store any cooled leftover spaghetti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The pasta will absorb more sauce, making it thicker.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth or water if the sauce has thickened too much.
- Freezing: This dish freezes well. Cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Recipes You Will Love
If you loved the hearty, flavorful, and easy nature of this Cowboy Spaghetti, you’ll definitely want to explore some of our other fantastic, fuss-free recipes:
- For another fantastic one-pan meal with a Tex-Mex twist, check out This Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole Is My Favorite One-Pan Dinner That’s Always a Hit.
- If you’re a fan of rich, savory comfort in a bowl, our This Cajun Chicken Sausage Gumbo Is My Favorite Bowl of Southern Comfort is a must-try.
- And for a simple yet incredibly flavorful skillet meal, don’t miss This Tomato Skillet with Okra and Sausage Is My Favorite Quick Dinner Packed with Southern Flavor.
- Finally, for a fun, interactive way to feed a crowd, our Walking Taco Bar Is My Favorite No-Fuss Way to Feed a Crowd!
Final Thoughts
This Cowboy Spaghetti recipe is a delicious testament to how classic comfort food can be given an exciting, flavorful twist. It’s hearty, satisfying, and perfect for warming you up from the inside out. With crispy bacon, savory beef, and a smoky, spicy sauce, it’s a meal that’s sure to become a beloved addition to your family’s rotation.
Give this recipe a try and let me know how much you love this flavorful spin on spaghetti! What are your favorite comfort food mashups? Share your ideas in the comments below! And for more amazing, easy-to-follow recipes that bring joy to your kitchen, be sure to visit Chefmaniac.com. Happy cooking!
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