Can Bacon Be Substituted for Pancetta?

Pancetta and bacon are both pork products, but they have some distinct differences that impact their use in recipes If an Italian recipe calls for pancetta, can you substitute bacon instead? I did some research to find out.

What is Pancetta?

First let’s look at what exactly pancetta is

• Pancetta is an Italian cured pork belly product similar to bacon.

• It is cured with salt, pepper, and spices but is not smoked like most bacon.

• The curing process leaves pancetta dry and firm, with a concentrated pork flavor.

• Pancetta is often used diced in pasta sauces, soups, and risottos for a meaty flavor.

So pancetta provides a distinct cured, porky but not smoky flavor in dishes. Keep this taste profile in mind when substituting.

Bacon as a Substitute

Bacon seems like an obvious swap for pancetta, but there are a few considerations:

• Most bacon is smoked, unlike pancetta, giving it a smokier, more robust flavor.

• Bacon is also quite fatty compared to the leaner pancetta.

• And bacon often has added sugars and other flavorings.

So straight swapping in standard bacon may overpower a dish with smoky, fatty, sweet notes.

Tips for Using Bacon

That said, bacon can work as a pancetta stand-in if you:

• Use an uncured, unsmoked bacon when possible for a closer flavor.

• Reduce amount of bacon from the pancetta measurement by 20% to account for fattiness.

• Cook bacon first to render out some fat before adding to the dish.

• Briefly blanch smoked bacon to mellow the smoky taste.

• Seek out Italian-style bacon for a closer match.

With some tweaking, bacon can mimic pancetta’s salty, meaty flavor in a pinch!

Other Pork Substitutes

If you can’t find uncured bacon, other pork swaps include:

• Guanciale: Cured, unsmoked pork jowl, more authentic than bacon in pasta.

• Prosciutto: Dry-cured, unsmoked ham, often cheaper than pancetta.

• Salami: Diced hard salami can work in some recipes.

• Ham: Diced ham is a budget way to get the pork flavor.

While not exact substitutes, these unsmoked, cured pork products can provide that savory, meaty quality pancetta lends when it’s unavailable.

Recipes Using Bacon for Pancetta

To see bacon pancetta swaps in action, here are some recipe ideas:

• Pasta carbonara – use less smoked bacon, cook until crispy to cut fattiness.

• Minestrone soup – blanch diced bacon first for a cleaner taste.

• Risotto – stir in a bit of cooked crumbled bacon at the end for flavor.

• Brussels sprouts – roast sliced bacon to top instead of pancetta.

• Pizza – sprinkle crispy bacon bits over veggie pizzas for a meaty crunch.

With the right prep and usage, bacon can mimic pancetta well enough in most recipes.

The Bottom Line

While pancetta has a distinct cured, porky flavor, bacon can be used in its place with some modifications. Opt for uncured or lightly smoked bacon in smaller amounts, cook it first, or blanch to reduce smoky notes. For best results, dice or crumble the bacon so it blends into the dish instead of taking over. And consider other cured pork like prosciutto for a closer match. With the right techniques, bacon can be a tasty substitute when you can’t find pancetta!