Memphis Style BBQ Pork Shoulder Spaghetti

What Is BBQ Spaghetti? A Memphis-Style Pulled Pork Pasta Recipe

BBQ spaghetti may sound unusual if you did not grow up around Memphis barbecue, but it is one of the most interesting regional barbecue dishes in the country. Instead of treating spaghetti as a strictly Italian dish, Memphis-style BBQ spaghetti combines pasta with smoked pork, barbecue sauce, peppers, onions, garlic, and a rich, smoky sauce that lands somewhere between a pasta sauce and a barbecue side dish.

This version uses chopped smoked pork shoulder, Croix Valley Memphis Rub, and a blend of Croix Valley Memphis Style BBQ Sauce and Carolina Style BBQ Sauce to create a dish that is smoky, tangy, sweet, savory, and deeply satisfying. It is also one of the best ways to use leftover pulled pork after a barbecue cook.

Where Did BBQ Spaghetti Come From?

BBQ spaghetti is most closely associated with Memphis, Tennessee, where pork shoulder, ribs, dry rubs, and tangy barbecue sauces are central to the city's barbecue identity. The dish is commonly linked to Memphis barbecue restaurants such as The Bar-B-Q Shop and Interstate Bar-B-Q, where barbecue spaghetti became a distinctive local specialty.

The idea is simple but effective: take the familiar comfort of spaghetti and combine it with the bold, smoky flavor of Memphis barbecue. Instead of meatballs or Italian sausage, BBQ spaghetti uses smoked pork. Instead of a traditional marinara alone, the sauce is built with barbecue sauce, aromatics, and seasonings. The result is not quite Italian spaghetti and not quite a standard barbecue side. It is its own thing.

Why Pulled Pork Works So Well in Spaghetti

Smoked pork shoulder is ideal for BBQ spaghetti because it brings flavor that ground beef or plain pasta sauce cannot provide. Pork shoulder has enough fat and texture to stay moist after a long smoke, and once chopped or pulled, it blends easily into sauce. Every bite of spaghetti gets a little smoke, a little pork, and a little barbecue flavor.

This is especially useful when you have leftover pulled pork. Instead of reheating the same barbecue plate again, you can turn the pork into a completely different meal. The smoky meat gives the pasta depth, while the sauce keeps everything moist and cohesive.

BBQ spaghetti is also flexible. You can use chopped pork shoulder, pulled pork, rib meat, brisket, smoked chicken, or another barbecue meat. Pork shoulder is the classic choice here because it fits the Memphis barbecue profile and holds up well in a simmered sauce.

What Makes Memphis BBQ Spaghetti Different from Regular Spaghetti?

The biggest difference is the sauce. Traditional spaghetti usually starts with tomatoes, herbs, garlic, and Italian seasonings. BBQ spaghetti starts with many of the same comfort-food instincts, but the flavor direction changes completely. Barbecue sauce brings sweetness, acidity, smoke, spice, and tang. Peppers and onions give the sauce body. Garlic adds savory depth. Memphis-style seasoning ties the pork and pasta together.

In this recipe, the sauce uses a 50/50 blend of Croix Valley Memphis Style BBQ Sauce and Carolina Style BBQ Sauce. That combination gives you the richness and barbecue character of Memphis sauce with the brighter tang of Carolina sauce. It is a smart balance because pasta needs more than sweetness. It needs acidity and contrast so the finished dish does not feel heavy.

A Great Way to Use Leftover Pulled Pork

If you smoke a pork shoulder, you often end up with more pulled pork than you need for one meal. BBQ spaghetti is one of the easiest ways to turn those leftovers into something new. It does not require a complicated process, and it uses ingredients many people already have on hand: pasta, onion, bell pepper, garlic, barbecue sauce, and seasoning.

The key is to let the sauce simmer before adding the cooked spaghetti. That gives the pork, vegetables, rub, and barbecue sauce time to come together. Once the noodles are added, the pasta absorbs some of the smoky sauce and becomes more flavorful than if the sauce were simply spooned over the top.

How to Make BBQ Spaghetti Your Own

One of the best parts of BBQ spaghetti is how easy it is to customize. For a sweeter version, use more Memphis-style or Kansas City-style barbecue sauce. For a tangier version, lean more heavily on Carolina-style sauce. For more heat, add hot sauce, crushed red pepper, jalapeños, or a spicy barbecue rub.

You can also adjust the texture. Some cooks prefer finely chopped smoked pork so the meat blends into the sauce. Others like larger pieces of pulled pork so the dish feels more like barbecue. Both approaches work. If the sauce gets too thick while simmering, add a splash of water, broth, tomato sauce, or reserved pasta water until it reaches the texture you want.

What to Serve with BBQ Pork Shoulder Spaghetti

BBQ spaghetti is hearty enough to serve as a main dish, but it also works as a barbecue side. It pairs especially well with honey butter cornbread, garlic bread, coleslaw, smoked sausage, ribs, grilled vegetables, or a simple green salad. If you are serving it as part of a barbecue spread, keep the sides bright and crisp to balance the richness of the pork and sauce.

Whether you are new to Memphis BBQ spaghetti or already know why this regional dish has a devoted following, this recipe is a practical and flavorful way to bring together pasta, pork shoulder, and barbecue sauce in one comforting meal.

The following recipe comes from Mike Schilling, AKA @smokin_highwaymen_BBQ.