Cowboy Spaghetti

Cowboy spaghetti is a hearty pasta loaded with beef, bacon, and rich tomato sauce. It’s quick to make and perfect for busy nights.

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Cowboy Spaghetti is a bold, hearty one-pan meal built for big appetites. It's got smoky bacon, seasoned ground beef, and a zesty tomato sauce with just enough kick to keep things interesting. Tossed with spaghetti and melted cheddar cheese, it's the kind of stick-to-your-ribs comfort food that earns a permanent spot in your dinner rotation.

Ready in under an hour and guaranteed to disappear fast, this is the recipe you'll reach for when you need something satisfying without the fuss.

What you'll need to make Cowboy Spaghetti:

• ½ pound bacon, cut into ½ inch diced pieces (yield approximately ¾ cup cooked bacon)
• 1 pound ground beef, 85%-15% fat content
• 1 cup yellow onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp Knorr chicken bouillon powder
• 15 ounces tomato sauce
• 14.5 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 10 ounces diced tomatoes with green chilies, Rotel original brand
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 pound spaghetti noodles, cooked and drained according to package directions
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided (1 cup mixed into the sauce and ½ cup to garnish)
• 2 tablespoons finely sliced green onions, scallions (optional garnish)

🥓 Substitute Bacon: Use pancetta for a rich, savory flavor that pairs perfectly with the cheesy pasta.

🌶️ Add Jalapeños: Stir in sliced jalapeños for a spicy kick that balances the creamy, cheesy sauce.

🧀 Substitute Cheddar: Try pepper jack cheese for a bold, melty finish with extra flavor.

🌽 Add Corn: Mix in sweet corn kernels for extra texture and a pop of sweetness in every bite.

1. Cook the chopped bacon over medium heat for 12-14 minutes or until it's crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked bacon pieces to a paper-towel-lined plate. Leave about 1 tbsp of oil in the pan.
2. Turn the heat in the skillet up to medium-high and add the ground beef, diced yellow onion, minced garlic, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until the beef is cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add the tomato sauce, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chilies, chicken bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Stir to combine.
4. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly.
5. While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package directions, until al dente. Drain the noodles.
6. Add the noodles, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and the bacon to the skillet of cowboy spaghetti sauce. Toss to fully combine all the ingredients.
7. Top the skillet of cowboy spaghetti with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese and sliced green onions as a garnish. For extra delicious gooey-ness, you can cover the skillet with the lid for 1-2 minutes to let the cheese melt before serving.

Want your cowboy spaghetti casserole to turn out rich, cheesy, and full of flavor every time? These simple tips will help you nail it:

✅ Drain Excess Grease – After browning the ground beef, drain excess grease, so the sauce doesn’t turn out too oily. Leaving just a little behind helps keep the flavor.

✅ Simmer the Sauce Long Enough – Let the tomato-based sauce cook for at least 15–20 minutes to thicken and allow the flavors to blend. Skipping this step can leave the sauce too thin.

✅ Stir in Cheese for Creaminess – Mixing shredded cheddar cheese directly into the sauce makes it rich and creamy. Adding the remaining cheese on top before serving gives the dish a melty, cheesy finish.

The sauce should be thick enough to coat the spaghetti noodles without being too runny. Simmering it for at least 15–20 minutes helps it reduce and develop flavor.

This Texas spaghetti recipe is family-friendly, easy to make, and pairs with plenty of tasty sides.

• Weeknight Family Dinner: Serve this easy cowboy meal on busy nights when you need a quick, filling meal. Pair it with cheesy garlic bread and Caesar pasta salad for a complete dinner.
• Game Day Gathering: This pasta is perfect for feeding a crowd during football season or other big games. Keep it warm in a slow cooker, so everyone can grab a bowl.
• Potluck or Party Dish: Bring cowboy spaghetti to a potluck or casual party for a guaranteed hit. It’s easy to transport and reheats beautifully.

😊 Easy to Make: Dinner comes together fast, even on your busiest nights. Plus, you’ll only have a few dishes to wash afterward.

😊 Bold, Hearty Flavor: Smoky bacon, beef, and rich tomato sauce keep every bite exciting. Everyone from kids to adults loves digging into a cheesy, saucy bowl.

😊 Perfect Any Night: Works just as well for weeknights as it does for casual gatherings.

This chili spaghetti casserole is the kind of recipe you’ll reach for again and again because it just works every time.

Here are some of the most common questions people ask about skillet pastas:

Can I cook the pasta directly in the skillet sauce?
No, while some skillet pasta recipes allow you to cook the pasta in the sauce, cook the pasta separately while the sauce is simmering for this one.

How do I stop the pasta from sticking together while boiling?
Stir often and make sure there’s enough liquid in the pot while cooking. Add a bit of sauce after draining to keep it loose until you add it to the pasta sauce.

Can I make a skillet pasta ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare cowboy bacon spaghetti dish ahead, but reheat gently, so the pasta doesn’t overcook.

What kind of skillet is best for pasta recipes?
A large, deep, skillet or sauté pan works best for even cooking and easy mixing.

How long can I keep cowboy spaghetti in the fridge? 
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days. For the best texture, let it cool completely before refrigerating.

Can I freeze leftover cowboy pasta?
For longer storage, freeze your leftover cowboy pasta in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

What's the best way to reheat cowboy pasta? 
To reheat this cheesy spaghetti recipe on the stove top, warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. In the microwave, heat in thirty-second intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through. If the sauce has thickened, add a splash of water.

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Cowboy Spaghetti

Cowboy spaghetti is a hearty pasta loaded with beef, bacon, and rich tomato sauce. It’s quick to make and perfect for busy nights.

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5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 667 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp Knorr chicken bouillon powder
• 15 ounces tomato sauce
• 14.5 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 10 ounces diced tomatoes with green chilies ((Rotel))
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 pound spaghetti noodles (cooked and drained according to package directions)
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided (1 cup mixed into the sauce and ½ cup to garnish))
• 2 tablespoons finely sliced green onions (scallions)

DIRECTIONS

 

• To a large skillet, over medium heat, add the diced bacon and cook for 12-14 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked bacon pieces to a paper towel lined plate. Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease from the skillet and return the skillet to the stove top.
• Turn the heat to the skillet up to medium-high and add the ground beef, diced yellow onion, minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until no pink remains in the ground beef. If excess fat in the skillet, you will need to drain most of it before adding the remaining ingredients.
• To the skillet of cooked ground beef, add the tomato sauce, fire roasted diced tomatoes, chicken bouillon, diced tomatoes with green chilies, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Stir to combine.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly.
• While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti noodles in a large pot of boiling water, according to package directions, until al dente. This should take 9-11 minutes. Drain the noodles.
• Add the drained noodles, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and bacon to the skillet of cowboy spaghetti sauce. Toss to fully combine all the ingredients.
• Top the skillet of cowboy spaghetti with the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese and sliced green onions as garnish. You can cover the skillet with the lid for 1-2 minutes or just until the cheese melts if desired before serving.

Notes

• The fire roasted diced tomatoes add a nice smoky flavor to the sauce for this cowboy pasta however, you can certainly substitute a can of plain diced tomatoes if desired.
• If you prefer more heat, or spice, in your cowboy spaghetti sauce, you can substitute a can of the HOT Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies.
• For additional heat, or spice, you can increase the amount of hot sauce added to the spaghetti sauce.
• It is best to shred your cheddar cheese by hand, from an 8 ounce block, as I find that it melts much nicer than the bagged pre-shredded cheeses that contain added ingredients to prevent clumping.
• You can substitute the shredded cheddar cheese for a cheddar-jack blend or pepper-jack cheese as both these options are smooth melting cheeses that will pair well with the other flavors of this cowboy pasta.

Nutrition

Calories: 667kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 1737mg | Potassium: 801mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1415IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 405mg | Iron: 4mg

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