Southern barbecue covers many styles and subcultures, and it’s impossible to say which is “best.” (Or at least, we wouldn’t dare.) That said, certain regions get huge national acclaim for their smoked meats, and the west Tennessee city of Memphis fits into this category.
Memphis barbecue focuses on pork and a bold tomato-based sauce, and while fall-off-the-bone ribs smoked over hickory are a non-negotiable order, they’re far from the only way to enjoy the Bluff City’s unique barbecue. BBQ spaghetti, a quirky side dish created in Memphis, perfectly explains what makes Memphis barbecue so impressive and beloved.
What Is BBQ spaghetti?
“BBQ spaghetti is a Memphis staple, combining the classic Italian dish with the sweet and tangy Memphis-style BBQ sauce,” explains Melissa Cookston, chef and owner of Memphis BBQ Company in Horn Lake, Mississippi. Essentially, BBQ spaghetti consists of cooked spaghetti noodles tossed in cooked-down tomatoes and onions, pulled smoked pork, and Memphis BBQ sauce. Barbecue joints that serve BBQ spaghetti usually include it on their side-dish menu, as it pairs nicely with platters of ribs, pulled pork, and sausage.
Eric Vernon, co-owner of The Bar-B-Q Shop in Memphis, says that he grew up eating BBQ spaghetti with buttered toast. “To this day, I tell customers to put the BBQ spaghetti on buttered toast to give it that extra flavor,” Vernon tells us…