Cowboy Spaghetti Casserole is tender saucy spaghetti in a marinara sauce loaded with beans, cheese and finished with crisp bacon! This dish is easy to make and leftovers are even better on day two!
It's a classic twist on your favorite spaghetti. Two favorite dishes combine to make chili spaghetti!
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ Kid friendly and budget friendly, this spaghetti brings the flavor!
✔️ Saucy and delicious.
✔️ Your favorite flavors in one delicious meal!
Ingredients
Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.
- spaghetti noodles, thin spaghetti, fettuccine pasta, linguine - really you can use any type of pasta.
- smoky bacon
- lean ground beef or ground turkey
- a medium onion
- kidney beans
- tomato sauce
- One can of Rotel
- cream of chicken soup
- Worcestershire sauce
- taco seasoning
- pepper jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, or sharp cheddar cheese - use your favorite!
- Optional garnish - cilantro or sliced green onions
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom.
- Preheat the oven. Cook spaghetti according to package directions in a large pot of water. Drain, and set aside.
- In a 12-in. cast iron skillet, cook and crumble bacon. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Save a little excess fat in the skillet for the next step.
- Add beef and diced onions to bacon drippings. Cook and stir until beef is no longer pink, breaking meat into crumbles.
- Next stir in tomato sauce, drained and rinsed beans, diced tomatoes, cream of chicken soup, Worcestershire sauce and taco seasoning.
- Drain spaghetti; add to skillet. Toss well with the saucy meat mixture. Stir in half the cheese and half the bacon. Mix well to combine.
- Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through, 20-25 minutes. Top with remaining cheese.
- If desired, place the casserole dish under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining bacon and chopped cilantro.
Equipment
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FAQ's
Cowboy Spaghetti has all the flavors of your favorite spaghetti. Adding kidney beans and bacon takes this meal to a whole new level!
Absolutely. You can use almost any type of pasta available. Linguine, Fettuccini, Rotini, Elbow Macaroni pasta, whatever you have on hand.
Deb's tips
- Follow package directions and cook the pasta to al dente. Because it finishes cooking in the oven, you want to make sure the pasta isn't soggy.
- Ensure this is plenty saucy before the casserole dish is placed in the oven. Nothing is worse than dry pasta!
Variations
- No rotel? Substitute with salsa or picante sauce.
- Add diced green chilies for a little extra heat!
- Another tasty addition is ¼ cup BBQ sauce. It's a great spicy/sweet combination.
Storage
Refrigerate - Allow the casserole to cool completely. Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Leftovers of cowboy spaghetti can be refrigerated for up to three days.
Freezer - This recipe freezes great! Place in an airtight container, and freezes up to three months.
Reheat - Thaw overnight in the refrigerator—place in a casserole dish and reheat for 30 minutes or until the pasta is hot and bubbly. When you reheat leftovers, top with a little extra cheese. That will make it even tastier!
More ground beef casseroles recipes
- The Stuffed Pepper Casserole is a great make ahead dinner. It's a meaty, tasty meal.
- If you like potatoes and cheesy, be sure to try the Hobo Casserole. This is perfect for potlucks and Sunday supper.
- Learn how to cook frozen burgers in the oven. It's perfect for that night when you forget to take something out of the freezer but still want to eat at home!
- The Burrito Casserole is so simple and so good, it's great for back to school and busy weeknight meals.
Favorite spaghetti recipes
- Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti - the second MOST popular dish on the blog!
- Give pasta night a twist when you make Pizza Spaghetti Casserole! This one is so good!
- Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs - this casserole is hearty and cheesy.
- Another fun twist on traditional spaghetti is the Taco Spaghetti Casserole. So tasty and just a little bit spicy!
- Monterey Chicken Spaghetti is one of my personal favorites! I just love the sauce, cheesy and the additional of spinach - so yummy!
For a ton more great recipes
Serve with
No reason to make it complicated! Keep your meal simple and serve crispy, crunchy Air Fryer Garlic Bread and a simple green salad. That's all you need!
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Cowboy Spaghetti Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounce package spaghetti
- 8 slices bacon chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion diced
- 15 ounce can kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 8 ounces can tomato sauce
- 10 ounce can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
- 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
- 3 cups shredded pepper jack cheese divided
- optional toppings; chopped cilantro sliced jalapeños, lime wedges and/or sliced green onions for garnish optional
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain well, set aside.
- In a 12-in. cast iron skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on a paper towel.
- Add beef and onion to bacon drippings. Cook and stir until beef is no longer pink, breaking meat into crumbles.
- Next stir in tomato sauce, drained and rinsed beans, diced tomatoes, cream of chicken soup, Worcestershire sauce and taco seasoning.
- Drain spaghetti; add to skillet. Toss well with the saucy meat mixture. Stir in half the cheese and half the chopped bacon. Mix well to combine.
- Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through, 20-25 minutes. Top with remaining cheese, placed under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining bacon and chopped cilantro.
Heather Reed
Can I make this earlier in day and bake it off at dinner time?
Bowl Me Over
Absolutely, you can make the casserole that morning, cover and refrigerate. Bake as directed when you get home from work. You'll need to add probably 15 minutes to ensure the entire dish is hot and bubbly. Enjoy!