Description
Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty, flavorful dish combining al dente spaghetti with a savory meat sauce featuring crispy bacon, ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a kick of sriracha. Topped with sharp cheddar cheese and fresh scallions, this quick 30-minute meal delivers comfort and bold taste perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound dry spaghetti
- Salt, to taste (for pasta water)
Meat and Sauce
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 slices thick bacon, diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoons sriracha hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 (15 ounce) can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
Toppings
- 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 scallions, diced
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the dry spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Cook Bacon and Beef: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large deep nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until browned and crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. Discard most of the bacon grease from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon behind. Add the ground beef and diced onion to the skillet. Sauté, breaking up the beef into crumbles with a spatula. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the beef is fully browned with no pink remaining and the onions are softened. Drain off excess grease. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 20 seconds until fragrant. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Make Sauce: Stir in the sriracha hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, crushed fire-roasted tomatoes, and tomato sauce into the skillet with the cooked beef mixture. Bring the sauce to a gentle bubble and let it simmer for about 6 minutes until it thickens slightly, stirring occasionally.
- Combine and Serve: Add the cooked spaghetti directly into the skillet with the meat sauce. Toss thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve the pasta in individual bowls, then top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese, diced scallions, and the reserved crispy bacon pieces. Enjoy your robust and comforting cowboy spaghetti!
Notes
- For extra spice, increase the sriracha hot sauce to taste.
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
- Use gluten-free spaghetti to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining in case you need to loosen the sauce.
- Adding a splash of cream can make the sauce richer, if desired.
