Description
Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty, flavorful pasta dish featuring crispy bacon, savory ground beef, and a smoky tomato-based sauce with barbecue sauce and spices. Finished with melted cheddar cheese and fresh green onions, this dish is perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner that brings together rich and bold flavors in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
Meat and Protein
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 lb ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Chopped parsley or cilantro (optional)
Sauces and Seasonings
- 1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside to keep warm.
- Cook Bacon: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crisp. Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain excess grease. Set aside.
- Brown Beef and Onion: In the same pan with bacon fat, add ground beef and diced onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring and breaking up the beef, until beef is fully browned and the onion is soft and translucent. Drain off any excess fat to prevent greasiness.
- Sauté Garlic: Add minced garlic to the beef and onion mixture, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Make Sauce: Stir in crushed tomatoes, barbecue sauce, tomato paste, smoked paprika, and ground cumin. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to thicken and blend flavors.
- Season and Add Bacon: Taste the sauce and season with salt and black pepper as desired. Return the cooked bacon to the skillet and stir to combine evenly.
- Toss Spaghetti with Sauce: Add the cooked spaghetti directly into the skillet with the sauce and bacon. Toss thoroughly so that all pasta strands are coated with the rich sauce.
- Melt Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top of the spaghetti mixture. Either let the cheese melt slowly over low heat on the stovetop or place the skillet briefly under a broiler to melt and lightly brown the cheese.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the finished Cowboy Spaghetti with sliced green onions and optional chopped parsley or cilantro for a fresh pop of color and flavor. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef for a leaner option.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish gluten-free.
- If you prefer a creamier sauce, stir in a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half with the tomato mixture.
- Be sure to drain the ground beef fat to keep the dish from becoming too greasy.
- Broiling the cheese topping is optional but adds a nice bubbly texture and enhances flavor.
