Memphis BBQ Spaghetti
Smoky pulled pork and tangy barbecue sauce turn ordinary spaghetti into a Southern favorite.
Dietary
Nut free
Allergens
Wheat, Dairy, Red meat
This Memphis-style pasta folds smoky pulled pork and sweet-tangy barbecue sauce through tender spaghetti for a hearty, saucy weeknight dinner. Sautéed onions and bell peppers add depth, while a splash of pasta water keeps everything glossy and well coated. It's a fun way to repurpose leftover pulled pork or a store-bought rotisserie-style barbecue meat into a filling one-bowl meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 cups pulled pork, shredded
- 1 1/2 cups Memphis-style barbecue sauce
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Method
-
Bring a 6-quart pot of salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti until al dente, about 10 to 11 minutes.
-
Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the spaghetti and set aside.
-
Heat vegetable oil in a 9-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
-
Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
-
Stir in pulled pork, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes.
-
Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet along with the butter and reserved pasta water. Toss with tongs until the pasta is evenly coated and the sauce is glossy, about 2 minutes.
-
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or barbecue sauce as needed.
-
Divide among bowls and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
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Memphis BBQ Spaghetti
This Memphis-style pasta folds smoky pulled pork and sweet-tangy barbecue sauce through tender spaghetti for a hearty, saucy weeknight dinner. Sautéed onions and bell peppers add depth, while a splash of pasta water keeps everything glossy and well coated. It's a fun way to repurpose leftover pulled pork or a store-bought rotisserie-style barbecue meat into a filling one-bowl meal.
45 min 6 servings 520 cal
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 cups pulled pork, shredded
- 1 1/2 cups Memphis-style barbecue sauce
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Method
- 1
Bring a 6-quart pot of salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti until al dente, about 10 to 11 minutes.
- 2
Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the spaghetti and set aside.
- 3
Heat vegetable oil in a 9-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- 5
Stir in pulled pork, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes.
- 6
Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet along with the butter and reserved pasta water. Toss with tongs until the pasta is evenly coated and the sauce is glossy, about 2 minutes.
- 7
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or barbecue sauce as needed.
- 8
Divide among bowls and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
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