This BBQ spaghetti recipe features tender pulled pork simmered in a blend of diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and your favorite barbecue sauce. Whip up a batch and get ready for a taste of Memphis at your dinner table with one of our best leftover pulled pork recipes.
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Imagine a dish that perfectly marries the smoky allure of Memphis barbecue with the comfort of spaghetti. That's what you get with this BBQ Spaghetti recipe, a mouthwatering creation that hails from Marrekus' hometown and the barbecue capital of America, Memphis, Tennessee.
BBQ Spaghetti also the perfect choice if you're looking for leftover pulled pork recipes! With the meat already cooked, you skip the long smoking or roasting process. The meat is already infused with delicious smoky, savory flavors from the initial barbecue cooking. By incorporating it into this dish, you're not only preventing food waste but also maximizing the taste of your dish!
What is BBQ Spaghetti?
BBQ Spaghetti is a unique and flavorful dish that originates from Memphis, Tennessee. It's essentially a fusion of smoky barbecue meat with spaghetti pasta. The dish typically consists of a meat, with options like pulled pork, pulled chicken, or brisket, mixed with a tomato-based sauce that's been jazzed up with barbecue sauce and a blend of spices.
The smoked meat is served over cooked pasta noodles, and the dish is garnished with cheese and fresh herbs like parsley. This BBQ Spaghetti recipe offers a wonderful balance of rich, slow-cooked meat and the comforting appeal of pasta. It's a true southern delight and a testament to the creativity and deliciousness of American regional cuisine.
BBQ Spaghetti Recipe Ingredients
- 2 pounds cooked pulled pork: Using leftovers significantly reduces your cooking time. Since the pork is already cooked, you can add it directly to the pan, allowing it to simmer and soak up the smoky flavors quickly.
- 16 ounces spaghetti pasta
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 medium white onion, finely diced
- 3 small bell peppers, finely diced (red, yellow, and/or green)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 14-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 14-ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Spice Blend
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional
- fresh grated parmesan cheese, for garnish
- chopped parsley, for garnish
Leftover Pulled Pork
Our BBQ Spaghetti recipe is perfect if you are looking for leftover pulled pork ideas. It not only prevents food waste but also results in a quick, flavorful, and versatile meal that celebrates the smoky goodness of barbecue without the need for extensive preparation. It's a win-win for both your taste buds and your time.
Another leftover pulled pork recipe we love are these Pulled Pork Parfaits featuring BBQ baked beans, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, pickles, and BBQ sauce layered in old-fashioned mason jars.
Spaghetti BBQ Sauce
It includes diced tomato, tomato and barbecue sauce, enriched with a mix of bell peppers, onions, and garlic sautéed in a skillet. Marrekus uses a homemade spice blend he likes to call "Bluff City". Once the smoked meat is incorporated, boil pasta noodles according to package instructions. To finish, don't forget to garnish the dish with freshly grated cheese and chopped parsley.
Instructions
- Start the Flavor Base: In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil and some butter until it's sizzling.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Add diced onions and bell peppers to the pan. Sauté them for about 3-4 minutes or until they become tender and fragrant. Stir in some minced garlic and continue to sauté for another 1-2 minutes.
- Create the Sauce: Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, a bit of tomato paste, and BBQ sauce to the pan. Give it all a good stir so those flavors start mingling.
- Spice It Up: Mix in chili powder, dried oregano, dry mustard, dried basil, along with a sugar, salt, and pepper. These spices will give your dish that signature smoky-sweet flavor.
- Add the Pulled Pork: Now, reduce the heat to low, and gently add the smoked meat to the pan. Cover it up and let everything simmer together for 45 minutes, giving it an occasional stir.
- Cook the Pasta: While the mixture is simmering, get a pot of water boiling and cook your pasta according to the package instructions. Once it's done, give it a quick rinse and drain it.
- Combine: With your pasta ready, add it to the saucepan with the spaghetti sauce. Gently toss everything together, making sure it coats the pasta evenly.
- Finishing Touch: To make your barbecue spaghetti extra special, garnish it with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh, vibrant parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
This dish is highly adaptable to your preferences, allowing you to use whatever barbecue sauce you want or even substitute smoked pork with pre-cooked pulled pork from the store or rotisserie chicken.
Whether you're new to Memphis BBQ or a long-time enthusiast, this dish is a must-have in your culinary repertoire, bringing the unique flavors of Memphis right to your table.
Commonly Asked Questions
What kind of pulled meat should I use?
Can I use store-bought?
What type of BBQ sauce is best?
What pasta type is best for BBQ Spaghetti?
What side dishes go well with this BBQ Spaghetti recipe?
Have you tried our delicious BBQ Spaghetti recipe? Share your thoughts in the comments below! If you're snapping pics or shooting videos of your culinary masterpiece, be sure to tag us at @cookswithsoul on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! We can't wait to see and share your incredible creations with our community.
📖 Recipe
BBQ Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 2 pounds pulled pork cooked
- 16 ounces spaghetti
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 medium white onion finely diced
- 3 small bell peppers finely diced (we used 1 red, 1 yellow, and 1 green)
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 14- ounce tomato sauce canned
- 1 14- ounce petite diced tomatoes canned
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Spice Blend
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional
- parmesan cheese grated, for garnish
- parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil and butter until it's sizzling.
- Add diced onions and bell peppers to the pan. Sauté for 3-4 minutes or until they become tender and fragrant. Stir in minced garlic and continue to sauté for another 1-2 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, BBQ sauce to the pan.
- Mix in chili powder, dried oregano, dry mustard, dried basil, along with sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Reduce heat to low, and gently add pulled pork to the saucepan. Cover and let everything simmer for 45 minutes, giving it an occasional stir.
- While sauce is simmering, cook pasta according to the package instructions. Once it's done, rinse and drain.
- Add pasta to saucepan with the spaghetti sauce. Gently toss everything together, making sure the mixture coats the pasta evenly.
- Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh, vibrant parsley, if desired.
Tom Parkey says
Fantastic. I substituted garlic powder for minced fresh cloves because I'm lazy but it was still great.
I've had it at a restaurant with green onions garnished on top which was really tasty. They probably meant it as a subtle homage to Booker T and MGs but it worked.
Krysten Wilkes & Marrekus Wilkes says
Hi Tom! I really love this, and I love the homage to the band. Thank you so much for showing love. BBQ Spaghetti is such a rare gem, so it’s always nice to see it appreciated!