Pancetta is one of those ingredients that you can pop into a recipe, and it gives your dish a flavor boost. We have found 28 perfect pancetta recipes that make delicious dinner ideas for any day of the week.
But these recipes are not confined to just the dinner menu and many can be eaten for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Try them and find out when is the perfect time to enjoy these tasty pancetta dishes.
1. Lasagna
Lasagna is a feel good food and there are many recipes for the perfect lasagna. But we think this one is the closest you will get to that Italian authenticity.
This does take a bit of cooking, but the end result is definitely worth it. Making the sauce with a good Italian red wine and plum tomatoes gives it a rich, deep flavor.
Meanwhile, the ground sirloin meatballs, pancetta and Italian sausage provide just the right amount of texture.
2. Baked Beans
These smokey baked beans are a perfect side dish for your next backyard barbecue. Make sure to leave plenty of time for the beans to bake as they do require a few hours in the oven.
Start by sautéing the pancetta then add the onions until soft. Now, pop in the rest of the ingredients, bring to the boil and put in the oven.
Stir once an hour, then leave the lid off for the final hour to thicken the sauce.
3. Pea And Pancetta Risotto
The key to a good risotto is patience and good ingredients. The pay-off is a dish that you will want to cook again and again.
Saute the pancetta, add the onion until both are tender. Stir in the rice and then the wine. Now you add a ladle of chicken broth at a time stirring constantly until the rice is soft. Add the peas.
Finally, stir in the shredded mozzarella and stir. Garnish with some fresh sage and serve.
4. Breakfast Pancetta, Lettuce & Tomato
This is a great breakfast treat but with incredible ingredients such as goat cheese, quail eggs and sliced pancetta, you may be asked to cook breakfast for dinner more than once.
The sauce is made with mustard and goat cheese, while the pancetta is fried until crispy. Once the quail eggs are cooked, you can begin building your PLT.
Put some sauce on a toasted bagel half, add the pancetta, tomato and arugula. Top with the fried quail egg.
5. Pancetta Wrapped Roast Pork
Succulent roast pork wrapped in crispy pancetta, this dish is a great special occasion main course.
A mixture of garlic, thyme, rosemary and oil is spread over the pork joint, and then wrapped in the pancetta. You can leave it to marinate for an hour or overnight.
When you are ready to cook the pork, add chicken broth and white wine to the roasting pan. Then top up every twenty minutes during cooking. Cook for 1 hour or until tender.
6. Baked Eggplant & Pancetta Pasta
A quick and easy pancetta pasta dish for when you are hungry but in a hurry.
Saute the pancetta in a skillet, then remove and cook the eggplant in the same oil to absorb the pancetta flavors. Add both to a bowl.
Cook the pasta, drain and add to the pancetta and egg plant. Cover with a marinara sauce and half the cheese, stirring to combine.
Put the mixture into a pan and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
7. Carbonara Stuffed Potatoes
The combination of a great carbonara with a fluffy baked potato is just the kind of comfort food that winter evenings are made for.
Saute the pancetta, and microwave the potatoes for 15 minutes. Once the pancetta is crispy, remove and then stir the half and half into the same pan.
Scoop out the flesh from the baked potatoes and mix half with the pancetta, scallions and Parmesan.
Refill the potato halves and crack an egg into each one. Bake until set.
8. Breakfast Tart With Pancetta
A delicious tart with pancetta and cheese that makes a good breakfast dish but can also be a dinner recipe served with a green salad.
Bake a ready made pie crust, brushed with beaten egg white and set aside. Saute the pancetta and drain on paper towels.
Then beat the gruyere and mozzarella cheese, eggs, and green onions together. Add some seasoning and the pancetta.
Put the mixture into the baked pie crust and bake for 18 minutes.
9. Pancetta And Butternut Squash Pasta
A delicious pasta dish filled with healthy ingredients that even your kids will love.
Cook the pasta, reserving three cups of the water. Saute the pancetta, onion and butternut squash until the pancetta is crispy and the squash is tender.
Stir in the herbs and sun-dried tomatoes. Add the kale, Parmesan and wine.
Combine with the pasta, reserved water and allow the kale to wilt and the sauce to thicken.
Garnish with pine nuts, Parmesan and basil.
10. Root Vegetable And Pancetta Gratin
Despite its long list of ingredients this dish doesn’t take long to prepare and cook.
Slice the root vegetables using a food processor. Toss all but the beets in a bowl in olive oil and seasoning.
Saute the pancetta, onion and garlic. Make the cheese sauce and then combine the pancetta with the panko and Parmesan.
Layer the vegetables and sauce in a dish and top with the breadcrumb mixture. Cover with foil and bake.
Remove foil for the last 10 minutes to brown.
11. Savory Apple Galette With Pancetta
A visually appealing and tasty dish that will impress family and friends.
Use a food processor to make the crust dough for speed and convenience.
Combine vinegar, mustard and olive oil and season with salt. Roll the dough out and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
Cover the dough with gruyere and apple slices, 2 inches from the edge. Then fold the edge over the apple around the whole circumference.
Brush with heavy cream and bake for 30 minutes.
12. Brasato All Birra
A tasty beef dish that takes minimal supervision. First butterfly the beef and lay the pancetta strips on top, tying off with twine in 3-4 places.
Brown in a casserole, add the beer and bring to the boil. Transfer to a slow cooker and cook on low for 5 hours.
Add the broth, mustard, thyme and potato starch and cook for another 4 hours. Remove and keep warm while you reduce the sauce.
Slice the beef and pour over the sauce. Serve and enjoy!
13. Sun Dried Tomato Sweet Potato Hash
This is a colorful and tasty weeknight dinner dish that will be ready in just 40 minutes.
Begin by browning the pancetta in a skillet and then adding the sweet potato to the same pan to absorb the flavor.
Then add the onion and sun-dried tomatoes, sprinkling with salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are softened.
If adding eggs, create four wells and crack in the eggs. Cover until cooked and then garnish with some chopped basil.
14. Galician Stew
Perfect for cold winter days, this Galician stew is a hearty and filling meal.
Soak the beans the night before to soften them. Cook the broccoli rabe in boiling water until tender.
Add the pancetta, beans and marrow bones to a casserole and cover with cold water. Simmer, then add the potatoes, chorizo and pork fat.
When the beans and potatoes are soft, take out the bones. Add the broccoli rabe to the pot for the last few minutes.
Serve with fresh crusty bread.
15. Sauteed Brussels Sprouts And Chestnuts
Ready in just 35 minutes, this savory dish will complement your holiday spread.
Remove the outer leaves of the Brussels sprouts, wash and boil until tender. Halve and leave aside.
Cook the chestnuts in the microwave, making a slit in each to speed up the cooking. Peel and put to one side.
Saute the pancetta until it renders its fat then add the Brussels sprouts and chestnuts.
Stir and cook until the edges of the sprouts are crispy.
16. Bolognese Ragu
For a delicious bolognese ragu to serve over freshly cooked pasta, this recipe won’t disappoint.
Saute the onions, carrots and celery in butter and oil until softened. Then add the beef, pork and pancetta, cooking until browned. Stir in the wine and tomatoes and simmer for an hour.
Warm milk in a saucepan and slowly add to the sauce. Simmer and add stock gradually until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.
Serve with fresh pasta and grate over Parmesan cheese.
17. Cold Green Bean Salad
These cold green beans with pancetta are a great side dish for a hot summer spread.
Simply top and tail the green beans and then quickly blanch by cooking in boiling water and then refreshing in iced water.
Cook the pancetta until crispy, then lay on paper towels to absorb the fat.
In a mixing bowl, combine red wine vinegar, olive oil, shallots, pancetta and seasoning.
Serve the cold green beans with a main course or as a picnic dish.
18. Zucchini Burger With Sriracha & Pancetta
A low calorie burger full of healthy goodness and a spicy kick.
Mix grated zucchini with egg, breadcrumbs and seasoning including sriracha. Form into burger patties and place on parchment paper.
Heat the grill and cook for 5 minutes on each side.
Use two spatulas when flipping the burgers as they will fall apart easily. While the burgers are cooking, fry the pancetta until crispy.
Top the burgers with pancetta, arugula and cheese. Serve with fries and salad.
19. Bacon, Egg And Leek Risotto
Everyone loves bacon and eggs, coupled with a leek risotto, you have a memorable and tasty dish.
Cook the pancetta, then remove and saute the leeks in the bacon fat. Leave both to one side.
Fry the onion until soft then add the rice. Pour in the wine and then spoon the broth in a ladle at a time. Cook for 25-30 minutes.
Stir in the bacon, leeks and cheese. Serve the risotto with a fried egg on top of each serving.
20. Fazzoletti Pasta With Pork Ragu
Pasta and pancetta were made for each other and this pork ragu with fazzoletti pasta is an Italian treat. It’s a filling and comforting dish.
Simply saute the vegetables and then add the meats including the pancetta. Brown for around 20 minutes. Deglaze with wine, add the tomatoes and simmer for 2 hours.
Cook the pasta and toss with the ragu, and fresh herbs. Serve drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.
21. Cast Iron Seared Pork Chops
These pork chops are cooked in a cast iron skillet for the best flavor.
Cook the chops until brown on both sides. In another skillet, fry the pancetta until crispy.
Mix the butter, anchovies, and seasoning. Put half on the chops letting it melt over them, add garlic cloves and thyme.
Remove the chops then add the remaining butter mixture to the pan, whisk to make a sauce.
Pour over the pork and serve. Garnish with thyme and lemon zest.
22. Salmon Wellington
A decadently delicious salmon and quinoa dish wrapped in puff pastry.
Cook the quinoa, add the spinach and fried pancetta. Add the seasoning and cream.
Lay the first salmon fillet down, and top with the quinoa mixture. Cover with the second fillet. Place the pastry over the salmon and seal the edges.
Brush with egg yolk and milk, bake for half an hour or until golden.
Serve with a cream, lemon and herb sauce and a salad.
23. Brunswick Stew
This traditional stew of the South is a mixture of chicken, rabbit and pancetta with lots of hearty and healthy vegetables.
Fry the pancetta, remove and saute the chili flakes in bacon fat. Cook the seasoned rabbit and chicken in the same pan.
Add the chicken broth, meat, celery, potatoes and seasoning to the pan. Cook for 1 ½ -2 hours.
Shred the meat and put back into the pan. Finally, add the vegetables and the rest of the seasoning, including the hot sauce.
24. Grilled Boneless Pork Chops
For these scrumptious pork chops add all the marinade ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth. Coat the chops with it and refrigerate overnight.
Fry the pancetta, and separately cook the shallots. Add the vinegar and sugar, cooking until dissolved. Stir in the pancetta and seasoning.
Discard the marinade from the chops and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side.
Spoon the shallot and pancetta mixture over the pork and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
Serve with polenta.
25. Pancetta & Arugula Polenta Pizzettes
These delightful little polenta pizzas are a treat for a weeknight dinner or weekend brunch.
Roast the fennel in the oven for 40 minutes then process with the sage and sauce until smooth.
Heat some oil in a skillet and fry the polenta slices for about 12 minutes each or until golden brown. Arrange on a lined baking sheet.
Top each one with the sauce, arugula, pancetta, cheese and mushrooms. Bake for eight minutes or until cheese is melted.
26. Chicken With Beer And Mushrooms
A chicken dish with portobello mushrooms and beer, what a tasty combination!
Begin by marinating the chicken in lime juice and Worcestershire sauce. Fry the pancetta, onions, garlic and mushrooms.
Add the beer and allow the alcohol to evaporate. Meanwhile sear the chicken and add to the beer mixture.
Cook for 15 minutes, then add the butter, mixing it slightly. Serve with a portion of rice.
27. Savory Cheese And Bacon Strudel
With just 6 ingredients and 45 minutes you can have this savory bacon and cheese strudel on the table.
Lay the puff pastry out. Mix the eggs with both of the cheeses and spread on top of the pastry. Put the slices of pancetta on top of the cheese mixture.
Fold the filled pastry over to form a strudel and put on a lined baking sheet. Brush the pastry with milk and bake for 25 minutes until golden brown.
28. Pancetta, Kale And Chickpea Fusilli
This pasta and pancetta dish is tasty and healthy, and only takes 50 minutes to prepare.
Cook the fusilli and drain. Saute then remove the pancetta from the pan, add the chopped onion to the bacon fat with the garlic and chili flakes.
Put the kale in the pan, cover and cook until tender. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer uncovered until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Stir in the pasta, pancetta and cheese. Serve garnished with additional cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can Pancetta Be Used For?
Pancetta can be bought as slices or as small cubes of cured pork. The slices can be used for wrapping around various foods and the cubes can be added to onion to form the base of stews or soups.
How Do You Know When Pancetta Is Done?
When you cook pancetta the fat will melt or more accurately, render. Then it will start to crisp up and darken in color slightly.
Is Pancetta Already Cooked?
Pancetta is Italian bacon that has been cured rather than cooked through heat. It is cured with salt, herbs and spices. Thin slices of pancetta can be eaten without cooking but not the cubed pancetta.
Can You Cook Pancetta Without Oil?
You can cook pancetta in a non-stick pan and allow the fat to render. But occasionally you may want to add some oil to stop the pancetta burning before it renders its fat.
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