Cowboy Spaghetti (Easy Recipe) (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

Cowboy Spaghetti (Easy Recipe) (5)

Cowboy Spaghetti

Course: Main CourseCuisine: 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
Cowboy Spaghetti (Easy Recipe) (6)

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Cowboy Spaghetti (Easy Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How to make simple spaghetti better? ›

To enhance the flavor of your spaghetti sauce, you can add fresh vegetables, greens, and fresh herbs like basil and parsley. You can also add diced onions, fresh garlic, and red/green pepper. A splash of red wine or some dairy, such as cheese, also works great. Lastly, don't forget salt.

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 can I add to 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.

What does adding butter to tomato sauce do? ›

Add butter

Yes, that's right. Toss in a few tablespoons of butter, and let it melt into the sauce. If you've never tried it before, it might seem strange, but a little butter makes tomato sauce rich and smooth, and also balances out too much acidity, which is common in jarred sauces.

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 brings out spaghetti flavor? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Canned Spaghetti Sauce
  • 1 - Extra virgin olive oil. Adding a good amount of a flavorful olive oil will go a long way in infusing flavor into your sauce. ...
  • 2 - Fresh garlic. ...
  • 3 - Meat. ...
  • 4 - Hot pepper flakes. ...
  • 5 - Red wine. ...
  • 6 - Fresh or dried herbs. ...
  • 7 - Cheese. ...
  • 8 - Cream and/or butter.
Feb 26, 2018

Do you cook spaghetti in sauce or water? ›

First, in authentic Italian cuisine, the sauce is always tossed with the pasta before it ever hits the plate. Just before the sauce is done cooking, the hot pasta is added to the saucepan. Generally speaking, we recommend cooking the pasta in the sauce together for about 1-2 minutes.

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 the secret to good tomato sauce? ›

Starting with good quality tomatoes and crushing them by hand offers great flavor and texture later on. The combination of butter and oil releases fat-soluble aromatics and gives the sauce a creamy texture. Slowly cooking the sauce in the oven creates rich caramelization without burning.

What is it called when you add butter to a sauce? ›

Monter au Beurre is a French term used to describe the process of adding or whisking in whole, cold butter into a sauce or puree at the end of the cooking process. This process, which is usually done off the heat, adds shine, flavor and richness.

Should you put butter in spaghetti? ›

A small amount of fat—extra-virgin olive oil or butter—is essential to good pasta sauce texture. Without fat, you have at best watery sauce (nobody has ever said, "Waiter, my pasta is not quite wet enough"), and at worst sauce that over-thickens with starch alone and takes on a pasty texture.

What does adding milk to tomato sauce do? ›

Add a little milk to tomato sauce for a sweeter taste to offset the acidity of the tomatoes. This is a well-kept secret amongst Italian grandmothers. In northern Italy, Bolognese sauce is never made without milk! It can be added at the beginning or end of cooking.

How do you spruce up plain spaghetti? ›

Depending on how bare your cupboard is, I have done a few things.
  1. Boil with a garlic clove and salt. The garlic adds a bit of flavor and then I remove it, mash it and re-add it to the pasta.
  2. Olive oil or butter and herbs. ...
  3. Butter, eggs, and cheese. ...
  4. Fried eggs and cheese. ...
  5. Tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, garlic, herbs.
Nov 4, 2018

How do you make simple pasta taste better? ›

Here's what you do to make bland pasta better:
  1. Add salt. Well, duh. ...
  2. Grate lots of Parmesan or Pecorino into a bowl. ...
  3. Grind some pepper over it.
  4. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes over it.
  5. Give it a drizzle of olive oil.
Jul 23, 2007

What to put on pasta when you have no sauce? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

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