Cowboy Spaghetti

Cowboy Spaghetti Recipe – This one-pan wonder brings together savory ground beef, zesty chili seasoning, spaghetti sauce, corn, peas, and a heap of cheddar cheese. Topped with crispy French fried onions, it’s a Tex-Mex twist on a classic favorite. A perfect family meal that’s as easy to make as it is delicious. Can make ahead and refrigerate or freeze for later. All you need is a salad and bread and dinner is done! Everyone cleaned their plate!

spaghetti on a fork with text overlay

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Easy Baked Spaghetti Recipe

Cowboy spaghetti casserole is a flavor-packed, hearty dish that’s a true crowd-pleaser. Ground beef infused with zesty chili seasoning, diced tomatoes and green chiles for a hint of spice, and a jar of comforting spaghetti sauce. This flavor medley combines with the heartiness of spaghetti, sweet corn, and green peas to create a satisfying, one-pan meal that’s both comforting and exciting. But the real cowboy twist comes when you top it all off with crispy French fried onions and a generous helping of shredded cheddar cheese. As it bakes to golden perfection, the cheese becomes delightfully gooey, and the onions add a fantastic crunch. This is the ultimate comfort food with a bold, southwestern flair, making it a must-try dish that’ll leave your taste buds wrangling for more.

spaghetti casserole in a baking dish

How to Make Cowboy Spaghetti Casserole

This casserole is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Cook lean ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add spaghetti noodles to the pot and cook to al dente. Drain and set aside. 

In a large bowl, combine cooked ground beef, Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, spaghetti sauce, chili seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, corn kernels, and green peas. Season with salt and black pepper. Add the cooked pasta to the ground beef mixture and toss well. Transfer the pasta mixture to a baking dish and top with cheese and French fried onions. Bake uncovered in a preheated oven until bubbly. Garnish with green onions or parsley.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

  • I use ground sirloin. You can use any lean ground beef or ground turkey in this recipe.
  • Variations/Additions:
    • bacon
    • yellow onions
    • green bell peppers
    • hot sauce
    • mushrooms
    • kidney beans
  • My favorite store-bought spaghetti sauces are Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Carbone, Rao’s, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
    • Substitute ½ cup BBQ sauce for some of the marinara.
  • I use a packet of Chili-O chili seasoning.
    • Feel free to add individual spices to the casserole. Chili powder, garlic, onion powder, oregano, and cumin are a good combination of flavors.
  • I use sharp cheddar cheese. You can use any cheese that you enjoy. Pepper Jack cheese is equally delicious.
  • Can I Make Baked Spaghetti in Advance? You can make this Southwestern Baked Spaghetti in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake. Take the casserole dish out of the refrigerator and preheat the oven. You may need to add 5 or 10 minutes to the baking time when baking straight out of the refrigerator.
  • Can I Freeze Baked Spaghetti? Yes! This Southwestern Baked Spaghetti makes a great freezer meal! I will sometimes split the casserole between two pans. I will bake one and freeze the other one for later. To bake after freezing, thaw completely in the refrigerator and follow the baking directions below.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    • Reheat in the microwave.
spaghetti on a fork

What to Serve With Baked Cowboy Spaghetti

When you’re serving up cowboy spaghetti, it’s all about complementing its hearty and flavorful profile with sides that add balance and variety to the meal. Consider starting with a crisp, garden-fresh salad with homemade dressing, to provide a refreshing contrast to the rich and savory flavors of the pasta. Steamed or roasted vegetables like broccoli or green beans are fantastic choices to add a touch of color and healthy goodness to the plate.

A basket of warm, crusty garlic bread or our yummy Beer Cornbread on the side can complete the meal with a delightful, comforting touch. And if you want to continue with the cowboy theme, serve it up with a side of coleslaw or some pickled jalapeños for an extra kick. The key is to strike a balance between the hearty, cheesy pasta and lighter, crisp elements, creating a well-rounded, satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.

Looking for more side dish ideas? Here are some popular recipes from the website:

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baking dish of baked spaghetti with text overlay

Cowboy Spaghetti Recipe

Yield: 8 people
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Cowboy Spaghetti Recipe – This one-pan wonder brings together savory ground beef, zesty chili seasoning, spaghetti sauce, corn, peas, and a heap of cheddar cheese. Topped with crispy French fried onions, it's a Tex-Mex twist on a classic favorite. A perfect family meal that's as easy to make as it is delicious. Can make ahead and refrigerate or freeze for later. All you need is a salad and bread and dinner is done! Everyone cleaned their plate!

Ingredients:

  • 12- oz spaghetti
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 (1.75-oz) packet chili seasoning
  • 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes & green chile’s
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 (24-oz) jar spaghetti sauce
  • 1 (10-oz) package frozen corn, thawed
  • 1 (10-oz) package frozen green peas, thawed
  • 1 (3-oz) package French fried onions
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
  • In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Drain fat.
  • In a large bowl, combine cooked ground beef, chili seasoning packet, diced tomatoes and green chiles, Worcestershire sauce, spaghetti sauce, corn, and peas. Add cooked pasta and stir until combined.
  • Pour spaghetti mixture into prepared pan. Top with French fried onions and cheese.
  • Bake uncovered for 40 to 50 minutes.

Notes:

  • I use ground sirloin. You can use any lean ground beef or ground turkey in this recipe.
  • Variations/Additions:
    • bacon
    • yellow onions
    • green bell peppers
    • hot sauce
    • mushrooms
    • kidney beans
  • My favorite store-bought spaghetti sauces are Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Marinara (green label), Carbone, Rao’s, and La Famiglia DelGrosso.
    • Substitute ½ cup BBQ sauce for some of the marinara.
  • I use a packet of Chili-O chili seasoning.
    • Feel free to add individual spices to the casserole. Chili powder, garlic, onion powder, oregano, and cumin are a good combination of flavors.
  • I use sharp cheddar cheese. You can use any cheese that you enjoy. Pepper Jack cheese is equally delicious.
  • Can I Make Baked Spaghetti in Advance? You can make this Southwestern Baked Spaghetti in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake. Take the casserole dish out of the refrigerator and preheat the oven. You may need to add 5 or 10 minutes to the baking time when baking straight out of the refrigerator.
  • Can I Freeze Baked Spaghetti? Yes! This Southwestern Baked Spaghetti makes a great freezer meal! I will sometimes split the casserole between two pans. I will bake one and freeze the other one for later. To bake after freezing, thaw completely in the refrigerator and follow the baking directions below.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    • Reheat in the microwave.

Steph

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