Pancetta Crack Green Beans

Learn how to make Pancetta Crack Green Beans with this easy and delicious recipe. Discover the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and crispy in every bite!

When it comes to side dishes, green beans often take a backseat. However, with the right ingredients and a little creativity, they can become the star of your meal. One such recipe is the beloved Crack Green Beans. Traditionally made with bacon, this recipe takes a delightful twist by using pancetta instead.

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I’m not much of a beans person, but once I tried these, I loved them. The beans turn out sweet, but savory and full of flavor. It’s hard to stop eating these, whether hot or cold. They are so good. The inspiration for this recipe came from Megan vs Kitchen.

What exactly is Pancetta?

Pancetta is a pork belly meat that is cured, but not smoked (unlike bacon). It is often referred to as Italian bacon and brings a unique flavor profile to the dish. Pancetta is cured with salt and various spices, giving it a rich, savory taste that perfectly complements the sweetness of this sauce. Its delicate flavor and crisp texture make it a great substitute for bacon in this recipe.

Ingredients for Crack Green Beans

Frozen Green Beans – there are recipes using canned, but this one was tested with frozen beans, as I mentioned above.

Pancetta – Can be substituted with bacon.

Brown sugar – I used cane sugar as it is more widely available here. Normal brown sugar should work, too.

Dark soy sauce – can substitute with regular soy sauce (though the color of the dish will be lighter) or Amino Acids.

Worcestershire sauce

Butter – everything tastes better with butter:)

Seasonings – Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Black Pepper, Salt (omit if using bacon), Chili flakes

How to Make Crack Green Beans

Heat up a skillet to medium/high heat. Cut the Pancetta into small pieces, however big or small you like them to be. Add to the skillet and fry until desired consistency is reached. I like mine on the crispier side, but not too crispy so that it’s still pleasant to eat with the beans.

Remove bacon from skillet and place on a paper towel to soak up the extra fat. Remove extra fat from the skillet, if there is a lot. Then add the green beans. Sauté the beans until they are warmed through.

Add the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, butter, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper. Stir everything to combine. Keep stirring until the sugar is melted and the sauce is thickened and coats everything well (about 5 minutes).

Remove from heat and serve. The beans taste great hot or cold. Either way they are good!

What to Serve with Crack Green Beans

These are perfect to serve as a side dish when you are grilling something, like my favorite grilled chicken thighs, or steak. They are also good with mashed potatoes, and a simple salad, like this arugula salad.

How to Store and Re-heat Green Beans

If you have any leftover green beans, store them covered in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. To re-heat, add to a skillet and gently re-heat using low heat. These crack green beans also taste good cold.

Other Great Side Dishes to Try

If you’re looking for more side dishes to make with dinner, here are some of my other favorites:

• Grilled Radishes
• Sautéed Bok Choy
• Garlic Asparagus with Immersion Blender Hollandaise
• Fun Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

Lastly, if you make this Pancetta Crack Green Beans side dish, please take a moment to comment below and leave a rating. It’s such a help for others who might want to try the recipe. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram if you make this recipe. I’d love to see the photos of the recipes you have made!