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cowboy spaghetti on a plate
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Cowboy Spaghetti

My cowboy spaghetti is chock full of goodies like corn, crispy bacon, ground beef, and chili beans, in a mildly spicy tomato sauce with swirls of spaghetti.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword cowboy recipes, one pot meals, One Pot Pasta, one pot recipes, spaghetti recipes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 667kcal
Author Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • salt
  • 8 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup beer
  • 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel, undrained
  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (15-ounce) can chili beans in sauce, add them with the sauce
  • 1 cup frozen corn, thawed and well drained
  • 8 ounces Monterey jack or pepper jack cheese, shredded
  • 4 scallions chopped
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cook spaghetti (1 pound) per box instructions, in well-salted water, just to al dente. Drain.
  • Add the chopped bacon (8) to a large pot (large enough to accommodate sauce and cooked pasta later) and cook over medium-high heat, until bacon is cooked through and is crispy, about 5 minutes. Transfer cooked bacon, with a slotted spoon, to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Drain most of the bacon drippings, leaving just enough to coat the bottom of the pot. Discard drippings or save for another use (I always save mine!).
  • Brown and crumble ground beef (1 pound) in the pot over medium-high heat until there's no pink left in the beef.
    Step 1 how to make cowboy spaghetti, Brown the beef.
  • Stir onions (1 medium) and garlic (1 tablespoon) into the meat.
    Step 2 how to make old fashioned cowboy spaghetti, Add the onions and garlic to the meat.
  • Add Worcestershire sauce (1 tablespoon), Cajun seasoning (1 teaspoon), chili powder (1 tablespoon), oregano (2 teaspoons), cumin (2 teaspoons), sugar (1/4 teaspoon), and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
  • Pour beer (1/2 cup) into the pot and continue to cook for 5-6 minutes, scraping the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon, to loosen any brown bits.
  • Stir in undrained Rotel (1 can), tomato sauce (1 can), chili beans (1 can), and corn (1 cup). Cook until heat through.
    Step 3 how to make cowboy spaghetti with beans, Add the seasonings and spices. Pour the beer, and stir in the undrained Rotel, tomato sauce, chili beans, and corn.
  • Add cooked and drained pasta while it's still hot. Add cooked bacon to the sauce and toss well to coat the pasta.
    Step 5 how to make old fashioned cowboy spaghetti, Add the cooked bacon and toss to coat the pasta. Adjust the seasonings.
  • Adjust seasonings if needed and serve in shallow bowls. Top with Monterey or pepper jack cheese (8 ounces) and scallions (4). Grate some cheese over the pasta and sprinkle with scallions. Garnish with crisp bacon.
    old fashioned cowboy spaghetti

Notes

  1. Spice It Up: This is a versatile dish. Feel free to spice it up or down!
  2. Change The Meat: Substitute ground turkey or whatever protein you prefer. 
  3. Change The Shape: Instead of spaghetti, feel free to use penne pasta or any shape of pasta you have on hand.
  4. Beer Or No Beer: Use your favorite beer or substitute with chicken broth.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 667kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 820mg | Potassium: 850mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1067IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 304mg | Iron: 6mg