Description
Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty and flavorful skillet dish combining crispy bacon, seasoned ground beef, tangy barbecue sauce, and melted cheddar cheese tossed with spaghetti. Ready in just 35 minutes, this comfort food classic is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
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
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- Cook Bacon: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pan.
- Brown Beef and Onion: Add ground beef and diced onion to the same pan. Cook until beef is browned and onion is softened, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Simmer Sauce: Add crushed tomatoes, barbecue sauce, tomato paste, smoked paprika, and cumin. Stir well to combine. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally to thicken and develop flavors.
- Season and Add Bacon: Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste. Return the cooked bacon to the pan and mix into the sauce.
- Combine with Spaghetti: Add the cooked spaghetti into the skillet with the sauce and toss thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly.
- Melt Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the pasta. Allow it to melt over low heat, or place the skillet briefly under a broiler to melt and lightly brown the cheese.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with sliced green onions and chopped parsley or cilantro if desired. Serve the cowboy spaghetti hot for a hearty, flavorful meal.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add some crushed red pepper flakes when cooking the garlic.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Use gluten-free spaghetti to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
- To save time, cook bacon and beef simultaneously in separate pans if preferred.
