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One Pot Cowboy Spaghetti Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 52 reviews

This One Pot Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty and flavorful dish combining crispy bacon, smoky kielbasa, and ground beef simmered with spaghetti in a savory tomato broth. With the convenience of cooking everything in a single skillet, this recipe delivers a comforting and cheesy pasta dinner garnished with fresh chives for a touch of brightness.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Protein

  • 4 strips bacon, chopped
  • 1 ring (13 ounces) kielbasa sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds
  • 1 pound ground beef

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 1 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • chives, chopped, for garnish

Liquids and Sauces

  • 1 ½ cups (12 ounces / 360 g) beef broth
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce, or to taste
  • 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
  • ½ cup (122.5 g) tomato sauce

Dry Ingredients and Seasonings

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces dry spaghetti, broken in half
  • ½ cup (56.5 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon, stirring occasionally, until browned and slightly crisp, about 7–8 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, reserving 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the skillet.
  2. Cook kielbasa: Add the sliced kielbasa to the skillet with the bacon grease and cook until browned on both sides, about 4–5 minutes. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
  3. Sauté onion and garlic: Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3–5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper, cooking for an additional 1 minute.
  4. Cook ground beef: Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until no longer pink, about 5–8 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
  5. Add liquids and seasonings: Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce until evenly combined.
  6. Combine cooked meats: Return the cooked bacon and kielbasa to the skillet, stirring to combine with the meat and sauce mixture.
  7. Add spaghetti: Spread broken spaghetti pieces in a criss-cross pattern over the meat mixture to help prevent sticking.
  8. Pour tomatoes and sauce: Evenly pour the diced tomatoes with their liquid along with the tomato sauce over the spaghetti and meat mixture.
  9. Simmer pasta: Gently press the pasta down so it is mostly submerged in the liquid. Cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for 15–20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent sticking. Replace lid after each stir.
  10. Finish stirring: Once pasta is al dente, remove the lid and stir to fully combine the pasta and sauce. Smooth the surface with a spoon.
  11. Add cheese and melt: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top, cover, and let sit for about 5 minutes until the cheese melts.
  12. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped chives over the dish for garnish and serve hot.

Notes

  • Breaking spaghetti in half helps it cook evenly and prevents sticking.
  • Stirring every 5 minutes is important to avoid burning or sticking on the bottom of the skillet.
  • You can adjust the hot sauce amount to your preferred spice level.
  • Using sharp cheddar cheese adds a nice tangy flavor; feel free to substitute with mozzarella for a milder taste.
  • For a lower sodium version, use low-sodium beef broth and reduce added salt.

Keywords: One Pot Cowboy Spaghetti, cowboy spaghetti, skillet spaghetti, bacon kielbasa spaghetti, one pot pasta, hearty pasta recipe

Find it online: https://www.cheftara.com/one-pot-cowboy-spaghetti-recipe/