pancetta

noun

pan·​cet·​ta (ˌ)pan-ˈche-tə 

: unsmoked bacon used especially in Italian cuisine

Examples of pancetta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Today’s recipe When the summer New York City heat turned his ripe summer tomatoes into a juicy heirloom mush, The Times’ cooking editor Cody Reiss created this recipe for pancetta, tomato and pickled pepper vinaigrette. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

As the pancetta cooks, its savory, aromatic drippings become the backbone of the dish. — Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026

Stoke the mix with 2 cups of corn and crispy, salty pancetta (bacon’s thinner, quicker-cooking cousin). — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2026

Transfer the pancetta to a plate lined with a paper towel. — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from diminutive of pancia belly, paunch, from Latin pantic-, pantex

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pancetta

• beretta
• pieta
• vendetta
• betta
• keta
• setae
• henrietta
• operetta
• typothetae
• periplaneta