Southwestern Spaghetti

Name: Southwestern Spaghetti
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 5 servings.
Ingredients: 3/4 pound lean ground beef (90% lean); 2-1/4 cups water; 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 1 package (7 ounces) thin spaghetti, broken into thirds; 6 small zucchini (about 1 pound), cut into chunks; 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Chili powder and cumin give a mild Mexican flavor to this colorful one-skillet supper. With chunks of fresh zucchini, it's a nice change of pace from typical spaghetti dishes. —Beth Coffee, Hartford City, Indiana

Ingredients

3/4 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
2-1/4 cups water
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 package (7 ounces) thin spaghetti, broken into thirds
6 small zucchini (about 1 pound), cut into chunks
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Remove beef and set aside. In the same skillet, combine the water, tomato sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and salt; bring to a boil. Stir in spaghetti; return to a boil.
Boil for 6 minutes.
Add the zucchini. Cook 4-5 minutes longer or until spaghetti and zucchini are tender, stirring several times. Stir in beef and heat through. Sprinkle with cheese.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 340 calories, 11g fat (5g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 600mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1/2 fat.

Originally published as Southwestern Spaghetti in Quick Cooking November/December 2002

Reviews

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Average Rating:

sgronholz

Oct 31, 2018

I’m so glad I tried this recipe; we really enjoyed it! I did sauté the zucchini with some chopped onions until soft (we don’t care for crisp-tender zucchini) and doubled the seasonings. I also added oregano and some black olives. It was delicious, and I will be making this again!
puffandgus2014

Jan 18, 2015

This recipe is quick, delicious and inexpensive. My whole family adores it. I like to add a little chopped green pepper, celery and onion to the ground beef or turkey, while it's browning. I also add a little sugar to the tomato sauce for flavor. The cheddar cheese is great, but my sister likes it with shredded mozzarella. So yummy! Been making it for years.
retiredcookie2000

Jul 8, 2014

I followed the recipe exactly and it was quite good. I will definitely make it again. So glad I found another way to make spaghetti (my husband's favorite).
juicyfruit007

Jun 13, 2011

Nobody liked this. I am giving it a three-star instead of a two-star because I did have to substitute tomato paste & water for the tomato sauce. That may have changed the taste somewhat.
allaboutcookies86

Jul 12, 2010

I did like this very much I liked having the zucchini for something different, but it is a little bland to me. It needs a bit more flavor. Next time I will add some more seasonings, but besides that it was good.