A skillet filled with Cowboy Spaghetti is the kind of fusion dish that will have them running to the table. Filled with spaghetti, cheese, chili seasoned beef, smokey bacon, kidney beans and slices of jalapeno it’s sure to bring the heat to supper any day of the week.
There’s a mysterious allure when a dish has the word “cowboy” in the title. It implies hearty and flavorful and that’s exactly how I would describe this Cowboy Spaghetti. Jalapenos bring the heat to this dish but, if your a bit spice shy feel free to pull back on the amount or leave them out altogether. The meat sauce is chocked full of onion, tomatoes and kidney beans and a seasoning blend that pulls the whole dish together. I like to serve this dish with assorted toppings just in case my boys want to kick it up with sour cream, olives, pico de gallo, guacamole and beyond. A basket of green chile cornbread or homestyle garlic bread and a salad would round out the meal nicely. See also Cowboy Rice Skillet.
You may also like: Cowboy Rice Salad, Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans and Cowboy Pasta Salad.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Cowboy Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 1/2 lbs ground sirloin
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- 3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 15 oz can light red kidney beans drained
- 1 14 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 10 oz can Rotel Chili Fixins Tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp dark chili powder
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp lemon pepper
- 1 tsp Mexican oregano
- 3 cups shredded Pepper-Jack cheese divided
- 12 oz thin spaghetti
- pickled jalapeno slices, amount to taste
- sliced green onions for garnishing
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush the bottom and sides of a 12-inch cast iron skillet with olive or vegetable oil. Set aside.
In a separate large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain and crumble. Reserve 3 Tbsp drippings in skillet.
Add the ground sirloin and diced onion to the bacon drippings. Cook over medium-high heat until no pink remains and the onion is softened.
Lower the heat and add the Worcestershire sauce, beans, tomato sauce, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, garlic salt, lemon pepper and oregano. Mix well and leave on low until pasta is cooked.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti per the package directions in salted water until al dente. Drain well.
Add cooked spaghetti and crumbled bacon to the sauce reserving 2 Tbsp bacon for garnishing. Mix until ingredients are combined. and pasta is evenly coated with sauce,
Pour half into the bottom of the cast iron skillet. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups cheese and arrange jalapeno slices on top. Repeat layers with spaghetti, jalapeno slices and remaining cheese.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted and golden.
Serve immediately garnished with green onion and reserved bacon.
Recipe Notes
This dish may be baked in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, if desired.
Gayle says
The instructions say to add tomatoes, yet there are no tomatoes listed in the ingredients.
Melissa says
Rotel Chili Fixins are tomatoes that are seasoned for chili.
lc says
so good!
Liz says
Delicious comfort food with the perfect amount of heat!
Joanna Cismaru says
This looks really good, my kind of dinner!
Joanne says
Such a satisfying dish that I can serve to a big crowd. Love it!
Jennifer Farley says
Now this is a hearty meal!
Cathy @ Noble Pig says
You had me at the addition of bacon.
Stephanie Manley says
Growing up in the South, I am familiar with chicken spaghetti, but I gotta try this!
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
I’m sold… but only if an actual cowboy comes with the recipe 🙂
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
This will be a sure hit any night of the week!