In case you’re not familiar with pancetta, it’s an Italian cured meat that uses black pepper and other spices during the curing process. It’s just like bacon, but with a much more intense flavor. The taste is so bold, you won’t need to add too much of it to flavor a dish! Honestly speaking, any dish with pancetta in it is sensational. That’s what made this next collection so difficult to narrow down. But after much deliberation, I finally managed to curate my top 25 pancetta recipes! Each one’s a must-try. Complete from breakfast to dinner, this list is as comprehensive as it gets. So, if you’re new to adding pancetta to your meals, these recipes make a perfect starting point.
1. Classic Carbonara Pancetta and Egg Pasta
Let’s kick things off with a classic pasta recipe every parent should have a recipe of in their back pocket. Everyone loves carbonara, and I’ll bet your family will love it more if there are bits of salty pancetta involved. Also, if you’re used to making carbonara using a cream sauce with heavy cream, I have news for you: that’s not the classic way to make carbonara. You’ll actually only need eggs and parmesan to make that thick, creamy sauce. It’s so much easier, and it results in a much richer, more flavorful dish!
2. Gnocchi with Sauteed Spinach and Crispy Pancetta
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again and again. Repeat after me: gnocchi is the best pasta known to man! I can’t get enough of how chewy and pillowy these bite-sized dumplings are! That texture is so iconic, you’ll want to let it shine. That said, don’t go overboard with the sauce. A simple dressing of sauteed spinach in butter and sherry vinegar and crispy bits of pancetta will do just fine.
3. Creamy Pancetta Pasta del Maresciallo
Don’t let its foreign name intimidate you! Pasta del Maresciallo is nothing but a humble Italian pasta dish that uses a creamy tomato sauce for its dressing. Adding cream to tomato sauce became a huge trend in Italy back in the ‘80s. It creates such a flavorful pasta sauce, it remained popular to this day. It’s already delicious even without any more toppings, but of course, let’s throw in some pancetta to make it even more irresistible.
4. Collard Greens with Pancetta, Ham and Pinto Beans
One of the few things that can make bland collard greens a hit with the kids is pancetta. With its crunchy texture and salty flavor, it can transform any boring dish like no other. It also features ham and pinto beans, making it such a hearty and flavor-packed side dish.
5. Spinach and Pancetta Quiche
This quiche is fully loaded with spinach and pancetta. It’s just as colorful as it is delicious! You’ll love the combination of umami-rich eggs, fiber-rich spinach, and salty pancetta. Together, they make a wonderful harmony of flavors and textures. It’s a hearty and healthy breakfast that’ll keep you fueled the entire morning.
6. Simple Pancetta Pasta with Peas and Parmesan
The three P’s in this pasta dish are what makes it extra special. Peas, parmesan, and pancetta join forces to make this spaghetti dish sensational! It might look simple, but there’s absolutely nothing basic about its flavors. Sweet, salty, and rich in umami goodness, this pasta is heaven in a bite.
7. Brussels Sprouts Hash with Pancetta and Shallots
We all know Brussels sprouts aren’t the most beloved vegetable there is, but with pancetta, nothing is impossible. With this crispy, salty cured meat, Brussels sprouts will transform into a delectable side dish even the kids won’t have a problem eating! It might even elicit cries for a second helping.
8. Pasta with Pancetta and Mushrooms
Pancetta and mushrooms are a match made in heaven, as is evidenced by this phenomenal pasta dish. From the al dente spaghetti to the earthy mushrooms to the indulgent pancetta, this pasta dish gets a 10/10 across the board. It’s already such a treat, but a topping of grated parmesan will make it even more delightful.
9. Creamy Leek and Pancetta Pappardelle Pasta
While this pasta recipe technically makes two servings, I’d make more, if I were you. I for one definitely won’t mind having the entire thing to myself. That’s just how incredibly delectable it is! It features a mix of papardelle, heavy cream, caramelized leeks, parmigiano-reggiano, and lots of pancetta. I can’t even begin to explain just how wonderfully umami-rich this pasta dish is.
10. Kale and Pancetta Pasta with Lemon and Garlic
If a wonderful harmony of flavors is what you’re looking for, the search is over. This pasta dish is the clear winner! Here, you’ll get a combination of pasta, pancetta, kale, lemon, garlic, and indulgent cream sauce. The richness of the pancetta and cream sauce is contrasted by the heat from the garlic and the tanginess of the lemon. You’ll love how despite the bold flavors, this pasta isn’t overwhelmingly rich, instead, but perfectly balanced instead.
11. Pancetta Pasta with Peas
Here’s another pasta recipe that combines pancetta and peas to make a beautiful flavor and texture combination. I love the use of orecchiette pasta here, as it really gives the dish personality and character. If you can’t find it, any kind of short pasta works, too. As simple as the ingredients are, you can still expect every mouthful to be an explosion of happy flavors.
12. Shrimp Scallop Pasta with Crispy Pancetta
Shrimps, scallops, and pancetta together in one? This is what pasta dreams are made of! It’s sweet, salty, creamy, and everything you can ask for in a pasta dish. As if it couldn’t get any better, a finishing of parmesan enriches the already satisfying dish even further.
13. Frittata with Spring Greens, Parmesan, and Pancetta
This colorful frittata is a hearty breakfast or brunch dish perfect for any occasion. It’s appetizing enough to be served on a special celebration, but also easy enough to make any day. Between the crispy pancetta, rich egg base, and nutty parmesan, it’s hard to decide what to love most about it. Good thing there’s no need to pick!
14. Brie Pasta with Pancetta
This is one simple yet spectacular dish you’ll want to make again and again! Brie and pancetta are a perfect match. Together, these two are unstoppable. Case in point? This pasta dish! Together with short pasta, fresh spinach, garlic, and a splash of lemon, the brie and pancetta create a delectable yet refreshing dish. You’ll crave it for days on end.
15. Pancetta and Rosemary Mashed Potatoes
Level up the classic mashed potatoes just by adding two ingredients! In this beautiful mash-up, potatoes team up with salty pancetta and earthy rosemary. It makes the most scrumptious, most addictive mashed potatoes known to man.
16. Potato and Pancetta Pizza
Topped generously with pancetta, potato rounds, mozzarella, and gouda, this pizza Bianca has everything you can ever ask for in a pizza! This pizza may not have marinara, but the olive oil and rosemary more than make up for it. You’ll have to create dough from scratch in this recipe, but it’s worth it and also not as difficult as you think.
17. Pancetta Wrapped Asparagus
There’s bacon-wrapped asparagus, then there’s pancetta-wrapped asparagus. They might look similar, but the latter has a more intense, more amazing flavor! Asparagus on its own doesn’t exactly conjure up mouthwatering images but wrap those stalks in pancetta and a magical transformation happens. These wraps are crispy, crunchy, and so incredibly delish. You’ll love the balance between the salty pancetta and vegetal asparagus spears.
18. Green Beans with Shallots and Pancetta
As someone who’s not a huge fan of green beans, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this dish. The crunchy green beans, sweet shallots, and salty pancetta work together so well in giving you a well-balanced dish. It’s salty and sweet, as well as tender and crunchy. In other words, it’s amazing.
19. Pasta with Pancetta and Tomato Sauce
If you’re running out of pasta ideas to serve for lunch and dinner, this recipe is exactly what you need. The addition of pancetta gives the dish a different flavor from typical pasta dishes. But the flavor combination of pasta in sauteed onions, garlic, and tomatoes is tried and true. It’s something old and something new, and it’ll definitely satisfy you!
20. Creamy Lemon Cacio e Pepe with Pancetta
Cacio e Pepe or cheese and pepper pasta is such a simple dish bursting with flavors. The main flavor profile in this dish comes from, as you may have guessed, cheese and pepper. But adding more goodness to those classic flavors are fatty pancetta and tangy lemon. It makes the already delicious dish even more to die for!
21. Orecchiette Pasta with Pancetta and Radicchio
It may not be the easiest dish to pronounce, but here’s all you need to know about it: it’s phenomenal. Here’s how it goes. As the word “orecchiette” literally translates to “little ears,” it’s not hard to identify what this pasta variety looks like. Tossed in pancetta, garlic, and radicchio (a leafy veggie that looks like red cabbage), this dish is simple, but as I’ve said, it’s incredible. The best part is it comes together in just 10 minutes! It’s an ideal meal for a busy weeknight.
22. Penne Alla Vodka with Pancetta
Trust any type of alcohol or liqueur to transform a humble pasta dish into a fancy entree. In this recipe, al dente penne noodles are tossed in a tomato cream sauce and loaded with pancetta bits sauteed in vodka. If you find marinara to be too acidic, try mixing it with cream! The richness cuts through the acidity of the tomatoes, resulting in a well-balanced sauce. The vodka amps up the flavor of both the pancetta and sauce, as well. Don’t worry, the alcohol evaporates during cooking, so this dish is totally safe for kids.
23. Angel Hair Alfredo with Jalapeño and Pancetta
There’s something so special about angel hair pasta. I’m just so enamored by how delicate it is, and how its texture adds that extra something to pasta dishes. The sauce is a creamy Alfredo, which is jazzed up with fiery jalapenos and pancetta. It results in a pasta dish with bold flavors that work wonderfully with each other.
24. Bolognese Sauce
While there are tons of bolognese sauces that are sold by the jar, nothing beats homemade. If you consider yourself a serious home cook, you have to have a recipe for bolognese sauce in your arsenal. If you haven’t found the right one yet, consider giving this one a try. This bolognese sauce is made extra special with dry white wine and fatty pancetta. Toss it with pappardelle, or any kind of pasta, for that matter, and you’ll have yourself a stunning lunch or dinner.
25. Chicken Cacciatore (Pollo alla Cacciatora)
Chicken cacciatore is one of those dishes that you can’t just have one serving of. Seriously, I just look at this photo and my stomach already starts to rumble. And I just had lunch, by the way, so that’s saying a lot. It’s a classic Italian stew made with tender and juicy chicken thighs swimming in a rich tomato-based sauce. Hearty vegetable and salty pancetta add more oomph to it, as well as herbs, olives, and seasonings. It’s Italian comfort food at its best! Click on a star to rate it!
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