Roasted Green Beans with Orange Butter and Crispy Pancetta

Roasted Green Beans with Orange Butter and Pancetta is a super easy yet elegant side dish.  With so much flavor, you will never be bored with green beans again.

Flavor-packed green beans

I know a recipe is a winner when I can't stop myself from eating it straight off of the pan - complete with orange butter dripping down my fingers.

This may not be a good display of manners, but these beans are so finger-licking good! The beans still have texture, the pancetta is salty, and the orange butter provides just the right amount of sweetness.

Just heavenly!

Ingredients

• Green beans - Fresh is really best. We want the green beans to retain a crisp-tender texture after roasting.
• Pancetta provides a wonderfully crispy, salty bite which pairs so wonderfully with the beans and the orange sauce. You can find sliced or diced pancetta near the packaged meats in the deli section of the supermarket. Bacon can also be used.
• Oranges - I love using fresh oranges so I can garnish with the zest from the orange. In a pinch, you can use bottled orange juice.

Instructions

See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. On a baking sheet, toss green beans with oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast 10-15 minutes until slightly brown and tender. If using slender haricots verts, reduce the cook time by a few minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, fry pancetta slices until brown and crisp, 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe the pan clean with a paper towel.
4. Over medium-low heat, melt the butter and whisk in the juice of ½ an orange until the sauce comes together. Season with salt sparingly since the pancetta is already salty.
5. Transfer the roasted green beans to a serving platter and pour the sauce over the top. Garnish with orange zest and crumbled pancetta.

Tips for roasting green beans

• Buy fresh beans with a vibrant green color.
• Pat the beans dry before tossing with oil. Wet beans will become soggy when roasted.
• Be careful not to over-crowd the pan. Crowding can cause the beans to steam and become soft and soggy.
• Don't over-roast. Just 10-15 minutes is enough to slightly caramelize the beans while still leaving them crisp-tender.
• Toss the beans with a flavorful sauce for the perfect finishing touch.

Fancy yet perfect for everyday

The simplicity of these green beans makes this dish perfect for casual weeknight dinners.  But, don't let the simplicity fool you. 

These beans look fancy when plated which also makes them perfect for an elegant dinner party.  No matter how you serve these, you will be a rock star.

This dish is so fuss-free and so full of flavor - you will want to make these roasted green beans again and again. 

Equipment

Sheet pan | Non-stick skillet | Measuring spoons | Juicer

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This post was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated.