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Smoky, Deep-Dish ‘Dirty’ Spaghetti with Coffee & Bacon Crumble

A close-up, appetizing photo of a mound of Dirty Spaghetti coated in a dark, rich sauce and topped with toasted breadcrumbs.
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This recipe creates a rich, intensely flavored spaghetti sauce using smoked paprika and a small amount of coffee to deepen the color and complexity, justifying the ‘dirty’ name. It is topped with a crispy bacon and breadcrumb crumble.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound spaghetti pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 4 ounces bacon, diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (or very strong brewed coffee)
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel. Leave 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet.
  2. Add the olive oil to the skillet with the bacon fat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain off excess grease.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, smoked paprika, oregano, black pepper, espresso powder, and beef broth. Bring the sauce to a simmer.
  5. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the sauce simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld. Season with salt to your preference.
  6. While the sauce simmers, cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta.
  7. In a small, dry pan, toast the panko breadcrumbs until golden brown. Remove from heat and toss with the reserved crispy bacon and the 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
  8. Toss the drained spaghetti with the sauce. Serve immediately, topped generously with the bacon-breadcrumb crumble and extra Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For an even deeper color, you can substitute 1/4 cup of dry red wine for 1/4 cup of the beef broth and let it reduce before adding the tomatoes.
  • If you do not have espresso powder, use 1 tablespoon of very strong, cooled brewed coffee.
  • This sauce freezes well for future meals.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishdiarist.com/dirty-spaghetti-smoky-coffee-bacon-crumble/