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    OnlineCook
    OnlineCook

    April 29, 2025

    Barbecue spaghetti is a delicacy that’s most commonly found in the BBQ Capital of America: Memphis, Tennessee, and it’s made just the way it sounds. You start with a tomato-based sauce that’s jazzed up with your favorite barbecue sauce, then add traditional barbecue spices and smoked meat. The co-creator of the recipe, Marrekus Wilkes of Cooks with Soul, uses his own smoked pork butt, but the recipe is adaptable. Many grocery stores carry pre-cooked pulled pork that you can use, and some sell their own smoked pork. Or you can substitute rotisserie chicken. If you have never had the pleasure of experiencing the barbecue in Memphis, then this recipe is one you should definitely keep in your repertoire. Likewise, if you know and love Memphis fare, particularly barbecue spaghetti, then this dish will make you feel right at home. The recipe is a Yummly original created by Marrekus and Krysten Wilkes of Cooks with Soul.

    23 Ingredients
    Pictures
    Pulled Pork BBQ Spaghetti
    Pulled Pork BBQ Spaghetti cover
    From the Cook
    1/2

    Pulled Pork BBQ Spaghetti

    Ingredients

    Servings
    0 allergens identified

    Instructions

    1
    |
    Heat vegetable oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion and bell peppers until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and continue to sauté 1-2 minutes more.
    2
    |
    Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and barbecue sauce, and stir to combine. Mix in chili powder, oregano, dry mustard, and basil. Add salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes and sugar if you like.
    3
    |
    Reduce heat to low and add pulled pork. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain.
    4
    |
    Divide pasta among wide bowls. Ladle the spaghetti sauce over it, top with Parmesan cheese and parsley, and serve.

    Smart Nutrition

    Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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    Tips & Tricks (5)

    • Smoke Depth Secret 🔥
      If using store-bought pulled pork, quickly sauté it with a dash of chili powder and dry mustard to reinvigorate the smoky flavor profile.
    • Sauce Complexity Hack 🥄
      Layer your barbecue sauce with tomato paste and additional spices to create a more complex, depth-charged sauce that mimics authentic Memphis-style flavor.
    • Pasta Water Magic 💧
      Reserve 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water before draining to help bind the sauce and pulled pork more effectively to the spaghetti.
    • Bell Pepper Technique 🫑
      Char your bell peppers briefly over an open flame before dicing to unlock a deeper, smokier undertone that complements the BBQ theme.
    • Spice Balance Trick 🌶️
      Use a pinch of sugar to counterbalance the acidity of tomatoes and create a more rounded flavor profile in your BBQ sauce.

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