Cowboy Spaghetti
Cowboy Spaghetti packs smoky bacon, hearty ground beef, and spaghetti into a bold, peppery tomato sauce with a gentle kick from hot sauce and green chiles. Finished with melted sharp Cheddar and fresh green onions, it’s rich, savory, and satisfying. Ideal for a cozy weeknight when you want a one-skillet pasta that feels hearty and fun.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves5
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Cowboy Spaghetti, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 7 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 91 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 21
- Heart Health
- 71
- Metabolic
- 40
- Digestive
- 24
- Inflammatory
- 42
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Place the bacon in a large cast iron skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning now and then, until slightly crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer the bacon slices to a paper towel-lined plate. When cool enough to handle, roughly crumble and set aside.
- 2
Add the onion to the same skillet with the bacon grease and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, and stir until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- 3
Add the ground beef. Cook and stir until the beef is crumbly and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, then stir in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Stir in half of the crumbled bacon.
- 4
Break the spaghetti noodles in half. Scatter them over the ground beef, ensuring the noodles are separated. Pour the tomatoes with green chiles, the fire-roasted tomatoes, and the tomato sauce over the noodles. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- 5
Remove the lid and stir to combine the pasta and sauce. Smooth the mixture and scatter the shredded cheese evenly over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining bacon. Cover and let the cheese melt, about 5 minutes. Garnish with green onions; serve immediately.
- Calories 533.6 kcal High 27%
- Protein 26.03 g Good Source 52%
- Carbohydrate 55.33 g 20%
- Total Fat 21.95 g High 28%
- Saturated Fat 9.39 g High 47%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 73.2 mg High 24%
- Sodium 774.28 mg High 34%
- Dietary Fiber 5.76 g Good Source 21%
- Total Sugars 5.8 g --
- Added Sugars 0.41 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 158.27 mg Moderate 12%
- Iron 4.08 mg Good Source 23%
- Potassium 493.83 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin A 15.51 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 9.71 mg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Corn 🌽
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Cowboy Spaghetti is made with 15 ingredients and serves 5. It takes about 55 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Bacon, Beef Broth, Black Pepper, and Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies. Each serving provides about 533.6 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Cowboy Spaghetti made of?
- The main ingredients are Bacon, Beef Broth, Black Pepper, Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes. The full list of 15 is above.
- How long does it take to make Cowboy Spaghetti?
- About 55 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 533.6 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Cowboy Spaghetti easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 15 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Cowboy Spaghetti healthy?
- Cowboy Spaghetti has an easyChef Pro health score of 46/100. Per serving, it provides 533.6 calories and 26.03 g of protein, or 52% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 774.28 mg (34% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 9.39 g (47% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Corn, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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