Cowboy Spaghetti is cooked stove-top and with hearty ingredients the whole family will love. Ground beef, spaghetti, warm spices and plenty of cheese. Cowboy Spaghetti is easy to make and one of those recipes with so much flavor, you simply can’t quit eating.
If you love an easy, hearty pasta recipe for a quick dinner, don’t miss my recipe for Quicker Chicken Bolognese.
Western cuisine is known for its bold flavors and exciting spice combinations, but have you ever thought about incorporating those flavors into your pasta dishes?
Cowboy spaghetti is a delicious fusion of two popular cuisines, and it’s the perfect way to add some excitement to your weeknight meals.
The beauty of Cowboy spaghetti is that it can be customized to your liking. You can make it as spicy or mild as you want, and you can switch up protein or veggies with what you have on hand.
The basic recipe involves cooking spaghetti and tossing it in a flavorful meat sauce made with tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, and other spices.
Table of contents
What Is Cowboy Spaghetti?
Cowboy Spaghetti is a pasta dish that combines ground beef, spaghetti, peppers and warm spices with a tomato sauce. In this case we’re making things super easy and using a can of condensed tomato soup. This Cowboy Pasta recipe is a Western version of Italian Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 pound ground beef, lean
- Spaghetti
- Condensed Tomato Soup
- Shredded cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese.
- Onion
- Poblano Pepper and Orange Bell Pepper
- Frozen Sweet Corn
- Milk
- A-1 Steak Sauce
- Chile Powder, New Mexico Red Chile Powder preferred.
- Taco Seasoning I recommend that you use my recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning. If you don’t please add ¼ teaspoon of hot smoked paprika to packaged taco seasoning. It’s an important part of the end flavor of this dish.
Ingredient Substitutions
- To make this recipe gluten free, simply use use gluten free spaghetti, and a can of Amy’s Tomato Soup. Amy’s is not condensed therefore reduce the milk to ½ cup.
- Make it your own: Substitute 1 pound of ground chicken for the ground beef.
- Add 4-ounces crispy bacon, cut into bits.
- Switch up the pasta shape. Use a curly pasta shape like cavatappi and make this a Cowboy pasta recipe.
How To Make Cowboy Spaghetti, It’s Easy!
- Step 1: Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. When ready to drain, scoop out about ½ cup of the starchy pasta water. In a large skillet, brown ground beef with chopped peppers and onions, until vegetables are tender and beef is no longer pink. About 10 minutes.
- Step 2: Add taco seasoning, chile powder and milk and stir well. Add frozen corn, tomato soup, and A-1 steak sauce. Mix well and simmer for 15 minutes.
Pro Tip: Why is pasta water good for pasta sauce? Don’t throw all of that pasta cooking liquid down the drain, It’s liquid gold. It’s a must to add to any sauce for any pasta dish. It’s high in starch and this salty starchy water helps the sauce cling to the pasta while helping to thicken the sauce. It turns any pasta dish into a luxurious pasta dish.
- Step 3: Add cooked spaghetti, cheeses and ¼ cup of pasta cooking water.
- Step 4: Mix well until all ingredients are well combined. Add more pasta cooking water or milk if the mix seems dry. Serve immediately.
Poblano Peppers are routinely fairly mild in the spicy arena. However, if you’re super sensitive to spicy peppers, substitute a green bell pepper for the poblano. This recipe also calls for New Mexico Chile Powder, which can be spicy. Substitute ancho chile powder or paprika.
Recipe Variations
- Add a small (2.2 ounce can) of sliced black olives. (drained)
- Add a 14.5 ounce can of Pinto beans in chili sauce. (drained)
- Adjust the heat level. Swap out jalapeno peppers for the poblano peppers. Or add a shake or two of your favorite hot sauce.
Storage and Leftovers
- To store leftovers: Store leftover in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 – 5 days. Reheat stove top or microwave for delicious leftovers.
- Freeze any leftovers in an airtight container for up to three months. I like to use a freezer safe zip-lock style baggie. Pressing the air out, you can store leftover laying flat to optimize freezer space. Let the spaghetti thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat.
Serving Suggestions
Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty meal on it’s own. But if you’d like to make this more of a big meal presentation, serve it with Cheesy Cornbread, or take a look at this Southwestern Salad Recipe.
Cowboy Spaghetti is a great way to switch up your pasta game and impress your family or dinner guests with a unique and delicious fusion dish. This version of cowboy pasta is easy to make and customizable, making it a great addition to your weekly meal rotation. Give this recipe a try, your family will love it.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
- Simply the best Chicken Macaroni Salad
- Pasta with Ham and Peas
- Ina Garten’s Mac and Cheese with Tomatoes
And don’t miss my category for pasta recipes, you’ll find lots of great recipes including the most popular on my site for Flemings Steakhouse Mac and Cheese. And if you’re looking for more Cowboy inspired recipes, try these for Cowboy Chili and Grilled T-bone Steaks with Cowboy Butter.
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Skillet Cowboy Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef lean
- 1 orange bell pepper chopped
- 1 poblano pepper chopped
- 1 small sweet onion chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Taco seasoning
- 10 ounces tomato soup condensed, canned
- 1 teaspoon Red Chile Powder New Mexico preferred, or cayenne
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tablespoon A-1 Steak Sauce
- 1 cup sweet corn frozen, kernels
- ¼ cup pasta cooking water
- 12 ounces Spaghetti Cooked
- ½ Cup Cheddar Cheese shredded
- ½ Cup Pepper Jack Cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef with chopped peppers and onions, until vegetables are tender and beef is no longer pink. About 10 minutes.
- Add taco seasoning, chile powder and milk and stir well. Add corn, tomato soup, and A-1 steak sauce. Drizzle in some of the pasta water as needed. I usually do ¼ – ½ cup. Mix well and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Stir in cooked spaghetti and shredded cheese. Simmer for about 5 minutes until heated through.
- Serve with more grated cheese on top.
Notes
- Add a small (2.2 ounce can) of sliced black olives. (drained)
- Add a 14.5 ounce can of Pinto beans in chili sauce. (drained)
- Adjust the heat level. Swap out jalapeno peppers for the poblano peppers. Or add a shake or two of your favorite hot sauce.
Nutrition
Cowboy Spaghetti … It’s What’s For Dinner
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
Looks interesting and a nice twist on the Italian version.