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!
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9x13-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 1/2 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.