Experience a delightful departure from traditional Italian spaghetti and meat sauce with this Cowboy Spaghetti, an American-inspired creation that infuses the classic dish with the rich flavors of bacon and sharp cheddar cheese. It’s a hearty, flavorful twist that promises to become a new family favorite.
Looking to shake up your weekly dinner menu with exciting spaghetti variations? Don’t miss this savory Baked Spaghetti or this incredibly flavorful Instant Pot Bolognese Recipe.
While this recipe takes inspiration from Italian culinary traditions, it proudly embraces an “Americanized” interpretation. For those with a purist’s heart for Italian food, please know that this dish, while different, is crafted with the same love for rich flavors and satisfying meals. Cowboy Spaghetti offers a bold and delicious spin on the classic, transforming it into something uniquely comforting and incredibly satisfying for the whole family.
Cowboy Spaghetti has quickly cemented its place as a cherished family favorite, delighting palates with its robust and layered flavors since the very first time we prepared it years ago. Each bite delivers a delightful blend of smoky notes from crispy bacon and fire-roasted tomatoes, beautifully complemented by a subtle kick of heat from your favorite hot sauce. This combination creates a depth of flavor that is both exciting and comforting.
Despite its complex profile, this dish is surprisingly kid-friendly. The rich and savory taste ensures that plates are consistently cleaned, making it a stress-free meal for busy weeknights. And just like any good spaghetti, the leftovers are often even better than the fresh meal! The flavors meld and deepen overnight, creating an even more exquisite experience the next day. So, feel free to double the recipe to ensure you have plenty on hand for an easy and delicious lunch.
What is Cowboy Spaghetti?
Cowboy Spaghetti is essentially a hearty, American-style twist on the classic spaghetti and meat sauce. It takes the familiar comfort of pasta and a rich tomato-based sauce and elevates it with ingredients popular in American comfort food: smoky bacon and sharp cheddar cheese. Unlike traditional Bolognese, which often features finely ground meat and a long simmering time, Cowboy Spaghetti is quicker to prepare and boasts a bolder flavor profile, often incorporating a hint of spice and a distinct smoky aroma. It’s a rustic, satisfying meal perfect for a hungry crowd after a long day.
Why You’ll Love This Cowboy Spaghetti Recipe
- Unforgettable Flavor: The combination of bacon, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a touch of hot sauce creates a unique and incredibly delicious flavor profile that stands out from typical spaghetti dishes.
- Family-Friendly: Despite the bold flavors, it’s a huge hit with kids and adults alike, ensuring a clean plate every time.
- Quick & Easy: Ready in under an hour, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you need a satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Amazing Leftovers: The flavors intensify overnight, making it an ideal dish for meal prepping or enjoying for lunch the next day.
- Customizable Spice: Easily adjust the amount of hot sauce to suit your preferred level of heat, from a gentle warmth to a fiery kick.
Essential Ingredients for Cowboy Spaghetti
Creating this flavorful Cowboy Spaghetti requires a thoughtful selection of ingredients, each playing a crucial role in building the dish’s distinct taste. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why:
- Spaghetti: The foundation of our dish, dry spaghetti provides the perfect texture to hold the rich sauce. While spaghetti is traditional for this recipe, feel free to experiment with other pasta shapes like linguine, fettuccine, or even penne if you prefer a different bite. The key is to cook it al dente for the best results.
- Bacon: This is where much of the “cowboy” flavor comes from. I highly recommend dicing the bacon and cooking it directly in the pan until wonderfully crisp. This method allows you to render out some of the delicious bacon fat, which will then be used to brown the ground beef, infusing the entire dish with a deep, smoky undertone. If you prefer, you can cook whole strips and then crumble them, but utilizing the rendered fat adds an extra layer of flavor that’s hard to beat.
- Ground Beef: A lean ground beef (I typically opt for 93% lean) is ideal here. It provides a robust meaty base without leaving excessive grease in the pan. A little bit of fat is crucial for flavor, so avoid overly lean options that might result in a dry sauce. This forms the hearty core of our meat sauce.
- Onion & Garlic: These aromatic vegetables are indispensable flavor builders. The onion adds a foundational sweetness and depth when sautéed, while the minced garlic provides a pungent, savory punch that is essential to any good sauce. Don’t skimp on these for maximum flavor.
- Beef Broth: Used to deglaze the pan and add moisture, beef broth deepens the savory notes of the meat sauce. While beef broth is preferred, chicken broth can be a surprisingly delicious alternative, often offering a slightly brighter flavor profile. Choose a low-sodium option to control the overall saltiness of your dish.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This potent condiment is a secret weapon for adding a profound umami depth to the sauce. Just a tablespoon can significantly enhance and round out the flavors, contributing to that rich, complex taste.
- Hot Sauce: This ingredient adds that characteristic “kick” without necessarily making the dish overtly spicy. It introduces a layer of warmth and complexity that elevates the entire flavor profile. Use your favorite brand, and adjust the amount to your personal preference for heat. Even a small amount adds significant character without overwhelming delicate palates.
- Tomato Sauce: A can of plain tomato sauce forms the smooth, tangy base of our sauce, bringing classic spaghetti vibes into the mix. It binds all the flavors together and contributes to the rich red color.
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes: These are a game-changer! The fire-roasted variety adds a beautiful smokiness and a slightly charred flavor that perfectly complements the bacon. If you prefer a less smoky profile or can’t find them, regular diced tomatoes can be substituted, but you’ll miss that unique roasted depth.
- Cheddar Cheese: This is a defining element that truly sets Cowboy Spaghetti apart from its Italian cousins. Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and melted generously over each serving, provides a creamy, tangy, and utterly irresistible finish. It’s the cheesy, American touch that makes this dish so comforting and unique.
- Green Onions (for garnish): Freshly sliced green onions add a vibrant touch of color and a mild, fresh oniony flavor that brightens the rich, hearty dish.
How to Make Cowboy Spaghetti: A Step-by-Step Guide
Crafting this flavorful Cowboy Spaghetti is a straightforward process. Follow these steps for a delicious meal:
STEP 1: Cook the Spaghetti
Begin by bringing a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add your dry spaghetti and cook according to package directions until it is perfectly al dente – tender with a slight bite. Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside, reserving a small amount of the pasta water in case you need to loosen the sauce later. Getting the pasta started first ensures it will be ready around the same time as your delicious sauce.
STEP 2: Crisp the Bacon & Render Fat
While the spaghetti cooks, place a large skillet or a sturdy stove-top casserole dish over medium-high heat. Add the diced bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is beautifully crisp and golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the crispy bacon pieces to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess fat. Now, carefully pour out most of the rendered bacon grease from the skillet, leaving just enough to lightly coat the bottom – this residual fat is liquid gold for flavor!
STEP 3: Brown the Beef & Sauté Aromatics
Add the ground beef to the same skillet, utilizing that flavorful bacon grease. Break up the beef with a wooden spatula or meat chopper as it browns. Once the beef starts to lose its raw pink color, add the chopped onion. Continue cooking until the beef is fully cooked through and the onion has softened and turned translucent. In the final minute or so of cooking, stir in the minced garlic, allowing it to become fragrant but not burn.
STEP 4: Build the Flavor Base
Drain any remaining excess grease from the beef mixture, if necessary. Then, pour in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, and cook for a few minutes. As it simmers, use your spatula to scrape up any browned bits that have accumulated on the bottom of the skillet – these bits are packed with flavor and will enrich your sauce.
STEP 5: Simmer the Tomato Sauce
Stir in the tomato sauce and the fire-roasted tomatoes. Bring the entire mixture to a simmer once more, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for another few minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly. At this point, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your preference.
STEP 6: Combine with Pasta & Bacon
Add the cooked and drained spaghetti directly into the skillet with the sauce. Incorporate about three-quarters of the crispy bacon pieces you set aside earlier. This ensures that the smoky bacon flavor is distributed throughout the dish.
STEP 7: Mix Thoroughly
Using a pair of kitchen tongs, thoroughly toss and mix all the ingredients together until the spaghetti is completely coated in the rich, savory sauce. Ensure the bacon is evenly distributed.
STEP 8: Serve & Garnish
Your Cowboy Spaghetti is now ready to be served! For an extra layer of melted goodness, you can stir some of the shredded cheddar cheese directly into the hot skillet just before serving, allowing it to melt slightly into the pasta. Alternatively, simply let each person customize their own portion by topping it with a generous sprinkle of sharp cheddar cheese, the remaining crispy bacon pieces, and a scatter of fresh sliced green onions for a pop of color and freshness.
Tips for the Perfect Cowboy Spaghetti
To ensure your Cowboy Spaghetti is absolutely perfect every time, consider these helpful tips and tricks:
- Embrace Leftovers: Leftover spaghetti is often even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld and deepen. However, pasta tends to absorb liquid as it sits. When reheating, you may want to add a splash of extra beef broth or even a little water to rejuvenate the sauce and prevent it from becoming too dry.
- Seasoning Simplicity: This recipe intentionally keeps added spices to a minimum (beyond salt and pepper). The goal is to allow the distinctive flavors of the bacon, hot sauce, and fire-roasted tomatoes to truly shine. However, don’t hesitate to customize! For an extra layer of warmth, consider adding a pinch of chili powder or cumin. A dash of cayenne pepper can also provide an additional kick if you crave more heat.
- Boost the Heat: If you’re a fan of serious spice, fresh sliced jalapeños or even a few dashes of a habanero-based hot sauce can take the heat level up a notch. Add them as a topping for individual portions so everyone can adjust to their liking.
- Pasta Alternatives: While spaghetti is traditional, this robust sauce pairs wonderfully with other pasta shapes. Consider using penne, rotini, or even egg noodles for a different texture and mouthfeel.
- Cheese, Please! Don’t be shy with the cheddar cheese! For maximum melt, sprinkle cheese over the entire skillet of warm pasta just before serving, or let each diner add a generous portion to their plate. A mix of sharp and medium cheddar can also add complexity.
- Make Ahead Option: The sauce can be prepared a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a little broth if needed, then cook your pasta fresh just before serving.
- Fresh Herbs: While green onions are recommended, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro or parsley at the end can add a bright, herbaceous note that complements the rich sauce beautifully.
What to Serve with Cowboy Spaghetti
This hearty Cowboy Spaghetti is a meal in itself, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette offers a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors. Warm, crusty garlic bread is perfect for soaking up every last bit of the delicious sauce. For a vegetable boost, consider serving steamed green beans or roasted broccoli on the side.
More Delightful Spaghetti Recipes to Try
If you’ve enjoyed the unique twist of Cowboy Spaghetti, you might also love exploring these other fantastic spaghetti creations:
- Beef and Blue Cheese Baked Spaghetti
- Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini
- Creamy One Pot Spaghetti with Meatballs
- Garlic Spaghetti
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Cowboy Spaghetti
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Ingredients
- 1 pound dry spaghetti noodles
- 1/2 pound bacon chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped (about 1 cup)
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 16 oz tomato sauce
- 1 (14-oz) can fire roasted tomatoes
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- Green onions sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then salt generously. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and reserve.1 pound dry spaghetti noodles
- Meanwhile, place a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate to drain.1/2 pound bacon
- Drain off the excess grease, leaving only enough to coat the bottom of the skillet.
- Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until it starts to brown. Once it starts to brown, add the onion and cook until the beef is cooked through and the onion is soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.1 pound ground beef, 1 medium onion, 3-4 garlic cloves
- Stir in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Cook for a few minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.1/2 cup beef broth, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- Stir in the tomato sauce and tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes, until heated through and slightly thickened. Taste, and season with salt and pepper to your tastes.16 oz tomato sauce, 1 (14-oz) can fire roasted tomatoes
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet, along with three-fourths of the bacon. Stir to combine.
- Serve the pasta topped with cheese, green onions, and the reserved bacon.8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, Green onions
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 654kcal (33%),
Carbohydrates: 59g (20%),
Protein: 34g (68%),
Fat: 27g (42%),
Saturated Fat: 9g (56%),
Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g,
Monounsaturated Fat: 7g,
Trans Fat: 0g,
Cholesterol: 82mg (27%),
Sodium: 921mg (40%),
Potassium: 707mg (20%),
Fiber: 6g (25%),
Sugar: 10g (11%)