Description
Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty and flavorful one-pan pasta dish that combines crispy bacon, ground beef, smoky spices, and tangy barbecue sauce with tender spaghetti noodles. Topped with melted cheddar cheese and fresh green onions, this comforting meal is perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
Meat and Vegetables
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
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
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Chopped parsley or cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Cook the bacon: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the chopped bacon. Cook until the bacon is crispy, then remove it with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel to drain excess fat.
- Brown the ground beef and soften onion: In the same pan with the bacon fat, add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion has softened. If there is excess fat, drain it off carefully to avoid a greasy dish.
- Sauté the garlic: Add the minced garlic to the pan and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Add sauces and spices: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, barbecue sauce, tomato paste, smoked paprika, and ground cumin. Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld the flavors.
- Season and reintroduce bacon: Season the sauce with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Add the cooked bacon pieces back into the skillet and stir to combine.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked spaghetti directly to the sauce in the skillet. Toss thoroughly to ensure all noodles are coated evenly with the rich sauce.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the spaghetti. Allow it to melt slightly over low heat or place the skillet briefly under a broiler to melt and lightly brown the cheese, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat, garnish with sliced green onions and optional chopped parsley or cilantro. Serve the Cowboy Spaghetti hot for a comforting meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- For extra spice, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the sauce mixture.
- If you want a richer cheese topping, consider mixing mozzarella with cheddar.
- This dish reheats well and makes great leftovers for the next day.
- Optional herbs like parsley or cilantro add a fresh finish but can be omitted if preferred.
