Description
Cowboy Spaghetti is a bold twist on a weeknight favorite, combining smoky bacon, hearty ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a creamy cheddar finish. It’s quick, comforting, and full of rustic flavor.
Ingredients
12 oz spaghetti
6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
14.5 oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
8 oz can tomato sauce
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp hot sauce
0.5 tsp smoked paprika
0.5 tsp black pepper
Salt to taste
1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 green onions, chopped
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 tbsp of the bacon fat.
3. Sauté diced onion in the bacon fat until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add ground beef, cook until browned, and drain excess fat.
5. Stir in fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, smoked paprika, pepper, and salt. Simmer for 8–10 minutes.
6. Add spaghetti and bacon to the skillet. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with cheddar, cover, and let melt.
7. Garnish with green onions and serve hot.
Notes
Use rotini or penne for a saucier version.
Add sour cream or heavy cream for extra richness.
For heat lovers, top with sliced jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 810mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Cowboy Spaghetti, bacon spaghetti, hearty pasta