How to Make the Perfect Dirty Spaghetti
Italian-American · Medium · 45 min · 6 servings
Dirty Spaghetti is a bold and flavor-packed pasta dish loaded with Italian sausage, crispy bacon, and a savory tomato sauce that earns its name from the deep rich color and intense flavors. Every bite is layered with smoky, spicy, and hearty goodness that makes it impossible to stop eating.
Why this recipe works
This Dirty Spaghetti recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 45 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 610 calories with 30g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 8 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 0.5 lb Italian sausage casings removed
- 6 slices bacon chopped
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 28 oz
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 0.5 cup grated pecorino romano cheese
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Cook the Bacon and Sausage
In a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside leaving the fat in the pan. Add the Italian sausage to the same pan and cook breaking it apart until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
Step 2: Saute the Aromatics
In the same pan with the remaining drippings add the diced onion and cook over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
Step 3: Build and Simmer the Sauce
Pour the crushed tomatoes into the pan and stir to combine with the onion mixture. Return the cooked bacon and sausage to the pan. Season with salt and black pepper and let the sauce simmer over low heat for 20 minutes stirring occasionally to develop deep flavor.
Step 4: Cook the Spaghetti
While the sauce simmers bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
Step 5: Combine and Serve
Add the drained spaghetti directly to the sauce and toss vigorously to coat all the pasta. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. Serve immediately topped with grated pecorino romano cheese.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- Italian sausage → ground beef or ground turkey
- pecorino romano → grated parmesan cheese
- bacon → pancetta for a more traditional Italian flavor
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Not reserving pasta water before draining which makes it impossible to adjust sauce consistency
- Rinsing the cooked pasta which washes away the starch needed for the sauce to cling properly
- Cooking the sauce for too short a time which results in a thin and underdeveloped flavor
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 610 calories, 30g protein, 58g carbs, 28g fat, 4g fiber.
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