The Smoky Sauce You Should Start Adding To Spaghetti

While we typically think of a heaping plate of leggy noodles smothered in red sauce and crowned with meatballs when we hear the word spaghetti, it's actually the name of a specific pasta shape. Although the definitions are interchangeable, there's no law insisting spaghetti be covered in a meaty tomato sauce. Like most pasta, spaghetti has a neutral, starchy flavor that's primed for painting in bigger, bolder flavors, making it the perfect carb base for experimental dishes. Though it might sound unconventional, barbecue sauce spaghetti is worth trying.

A no-frills barbecue sauce is made with tomato sauce, vinegar, and a sweetening agent. Frequently, however, it's jazzed up with garlic, onion, Worcestershire sauce, and spices like smoked paprika and chili powder, making it a full-flavored condiment that marries well with far more than just chicken wings. 

Barbecue sauce-topped spaghetti is a savory, smoky, sweet, and tangy dish that's easy to make and surprisingly delicious. Its multi-dimensional flavor pairs perfectly with hearty meats, rich cheese, and garden-fresh herbs, ensuring that you can keep some of your favorite red sauce spaghetti fixings in the mix. This barbecue sauce dish is as versatile as it is creative — you can omit tomato sauce altogether or unite the two ingredients for a multicultural mash-up.

Though it might not be familiar to you, barbecue spaghetti is a staple in Memphis, Tennessee, where culinary innovators combine quintessential Southern ingredients in an Italian-inspired format. Having trouble conjuring up an image? Think of it as a deconstructed barbecue sandwich that features all of the same primary ingredients — carbs, barbecue sauce, and meat. Just make sure to brush up on your spaghetti cooking tips and you'll be good to go.

Because barbecue sauce spaghetti isn't a common pasta entree, you may not know how to spruce it up with toppings and proteins. But don't worry, there are plenty of complementary provisions to choose from.

To enjoy a proper plate of Memphis spaghetti, top the barbecue pasta with slow-cooked pulled pork. The tender meat, satiating pasta, and flavor-forward sauce culminate in a robust and filling meal that embodies the ethos of the South with a classic Italian flair. For more of a classic spaghetti feel, pair this barbecue sauce pasta dish with ground beef or lamb meatballs and dust with a generous serving of grated Parmesan cheese. To give it a lush, fatty upgrade, a dash of heavy cream goes a long way. Vegans, rejoice! Barbecue sauce spaghetti is for everyone. Top your plate with crumbles of barbecue-sauce marinated smoked tofu to get a meaty taste, sans meat. 

Don't hesitate to include other creative toppings like crispy onion strings for a textural contrast to the tender noodles and a satisfying allium flair or chopped chipotle peppers for a trim of fiery heat. Dare we suggest a barbecued take on chicken parmesan? Whichever way you choose to zhuzh it up, opt for a high-quality barbecue sauce to get the most out of this uniquely bold — but never brash — pasta dish.