Description
Cowboy Spaghetti is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal featuring ground beef simmered with a medley of tomatoes, beans, and spices, served over tender spaghetti noodles. This Tex-Mex inspired dish is perfect for family dinners and customizable with various toppings such as cheddar cheese, sour cream, and avocados.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
Tomato and Bean Mixture
- 2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained (15 oz. each)
- 1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes, undrained (10 oz.)
- 1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)
- 1 can black beans, drained (15 oz.)
Spices
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- Pinch of cayenne powder (optional)
Pasta and Toppings
- Spaghetti noodles (quantity as per package directions for 8 servings)
- Shredded Cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Black olives
- Green onions
- Avocados
- Chopped tomatoes
- Crushed Fritos
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef along with the chopped onion and green pepper until the meat is fully browned and no longer pink, breaking it up into crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if necessary to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Simmer the sauce: Add the diced tomatoes, Ro-Tel tomatoes, tomato sauce, black beans, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, onion powder, oregano, and optional cayenne powder to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the mixture uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld the flavors together.
- Cook the spaghetti noodles: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti noodles and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the noodles thoroughly to prevent sogginess.
- Assemble and serve: Place a serving of cooked spaghetti on each plate. Spoon the beef and tomato sauce generously over the noodles. Top each serving with your choice of shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, black olives, green onions, avocados, chopped tomatoes, and crushed Fritos to add flavor and texture variations. Serve warm and enjoy this comforting, hearty meal.
Notes
- You can adjust the spiciness by varying the amount of chili powder and cayenne pepper or omitting the cayenne for a milder dish.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with plant-based meat or extra beans.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days and can be reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
- Adding crushed Fritos on top right before serving adds a delightful crunch and Southwestern flair.
