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Upgrade your spaghetti with some cowboy ingredients: sliced jalapenos, bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and rotel tomatoes! It’s a hearty American take on a classic dish that everyone will love!
More ‘cowboy’ recipes you should try below: cowboy breakfast casserole, cowboy burger soupIt is cowboy beans! They are all so warm and full of better mixtures. Perfect for potlucks and get-togethers as the weather warms up!
![Cowboy spaghetti 3 cowboy spaghetti 2](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cowboy_spaghetti-2-1200x1799.jpg)
![Cowboy spaghetti 4 cowboy spaghetti 2](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cowboy_spaghetti-2-1200x1799.jpg)
What is cowboy spaghetti?
Just the hearty, flavorful dinner you need this week. Cowboy spaghetti takes classic tomato pasta and makes it even better by adding sliced jalapenos for heat, all the bacon, the grated cheddar cheese instead of parmesan and the smoked rotel tomatoes! One bite and you’ll be obsessed.
I know you might be thinking that a Tex-Mex twist on a classic Italian dish seems strange, but trust me! It works. It’s so filling and full of flavor that you won’t resist a second serving! Let’s see all the tasty ingredients you need to prepare it.
Cowboy Spaghetti Ingredients
To make preparation easier, cowboy spaghetti uses a lot of simple seasonings and canned goods. This is the best! The beauty is in the mix-ins, so feel free to add any other hearty ingredients you like – diced green peppers, parsley, other types of cheese, whatever you like! And as always, the exact measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Dry Spaghetti: To soak up all the delicious sauce! You can also use other types of dough, whatever you have on hand!
- Chopped Bacon: It adds a delicious, meaty touch to the dish.
- Lean ground beef: The main protein in cowboy spaghetti. You can also substitute it with ground turkey or even sausage.
- Onion and garlic: Be chopped and added to the meat mixture for more flavor.
- Seasonings and spices: I used a mixture of chili powder, salt and pepper. You can swap the chili powder for smoked paprika if you want something a little hotter and smokier with less heat.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a complex, savory and spicy flavor.
- Rotel tomatoes, undrained: Diced Rotel tomatoes with green pepper add some spice and texture to the sauce. To use light or warmdepending on your seasoning preference.
- Tomato Sauce: This adds body and acidity to the sauce.
- Grated Cheddar Cheese: Perfect for sprinkling on top. It’s delicious and melty!
- Green onion, diced for garnish: They add a fresh, oniony touch and a pop of color.
- Jalapeno, sliced for garnish (optional, but highly recommended!): If you like things spicy, jalapeño adds a fresh touch to the dish.
How to do this
Ready in 20 minutes, cowboy spaghetti is the best dinner of the week! With all its healthy mix-ins, it’s sure to satisfy everyone.
- Cook spaghetti noodles: Cook spaghetti noodles according to package instructions until al dente.
- Wok Bacon: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and chopped bacon pieces. Cook until golden and crispy. Remove with a spoon and set aside.
- Cook Meat and Onion: Returning to the frying pan, add the meat and chopped onion. Cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onion has softened.
- Add garlic: Add the garlic, stir and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Mix in extra seasonings: Add the chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, Rotel tomatoes and tomato sauce.
- To combine: Season the meat mixture with salt and pepper and mix well.
- Add noodles: Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pan with the meat and sauce.
- Garnish, ornament, adornment: Decorate with grated cheese and toppings and enjoy!
![Cowboy spaghetti 5 cowboy spaghetti](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cowboy_spaghetti-1200x1799.jpg)
![Cowboy spaghetti 6 cowboy spaghetti](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cowboy_spaghetti-1200x1799.jpg)
Customize your cowboy spaghetti
- Add more seasoning: For an extra kick, use the hot version of tomato Roteladd more chopped jalapenos while cooking the meat or drizzle with your favorite hot sauce!
- Mix in beans: For more protein and a delicious texture, blend in a can of black beans or pinto beans.
![Cowboy spaghetti 7 cowboy spaghetti](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cowboy-spaghetti-1200x1200.png)
![Cowboy spaghetti 8 cowboy spaghetti](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cowboy-spaghetti-1200x1200.png)
Storing Leftovers
Let the cowboy spaghetti cool completely and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days. If you want to store it longer, consider freezing the sauce in a separate container for up to 3 months. Thaw the sauce overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving over freshly cooked spaghetti.
![Cowboy spaghetti 9 cowboy spaghetti 1](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cowboy_spaghetti-1-1200x1799.jpg)
![Cowboy spaghetti 10 cowboy spaghetti 1](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cowboy_spaghetti-1-1200x1799.jpg)
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Cook spaghetti noodles according to package instructions until al dente.
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In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and chopped bacon pieces. Cook until golden and crispy. Remove with a spoon and set aside.
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Returning to the frying pan, add the meat and chopped onion. Cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onion has softened.
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Add the garlic, stir and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
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Add the chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, Rotel tomatoes and tomato sauce.
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Season the meat mixture with salt and pepper and mix well.
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Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pan with the meat and sauce.
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Decorate with grated cheese and toppings and enjoy!
Calories: 639caloriesCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 37gFat: 37gSaturated fat: 15gPolyunsaturated fat: 5gMonounsaturated fat: 14gTrans fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 1048mgPotassium: 947mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1601UIVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 249mgIron: 4mg
Nutritional information is automatically calculated so should only be used as an approximation.