When you see a pack of mince sitting on the top shelf of your fridge, what’s the first recipe that comes to mind? Is it a classic spaghetti bolognese or something Mexican-inspired?
One of the most versatile and inexpensive offerings from either butcher or supermarket, mince ticks all the boxes. Kids love it for its easy-to-eat texture. You can cook it in a flash for a quick weeknight meal or invest more time on a feast inspired by your choice of global cuisine. Whatever you’re looking for, mince your money-maker to the meat section!
Whether it’s beef, lamb, pork, chicken or turkey, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how many different ways there are to use a tray of mince.
From scrumptious pies to hearty casseroles, here are our top 32 recipes that are great for family meals and even for home entertaining.
How do you fry mince?
Sometimes when frying mince, the water escapes and the meat can turn a little brown. To stop this from happening and lock in all the moisture, Fast Ed says to add a little bit of bicarb soda. Read how to do it here.
How long should you cook mince for?
Despending on the type of mince you are using, it can anywhere between 5 and 15 minutes for it to cook. Beef mince is cooked when it has browned all over. Chicken mince will turn white once it is cooked. But it’s always best to follow the recipe.
Can you put hot mince straight in the fridge?
It’s a good idea to let your mince cool before placing it in the fridge. As a general rule of thumb, you want your mince to be in the fridge within two hours of cooking.
How long does cooked mince last in the fridge?
Mince leftovers in the fridge should be consumed within three days.
1. Beef larb
Meet your new dinner winner – it’s fast and Thai flavoured. For a delicious change, try serving this beefy dish in a crisp iceberg lettuce leaf.
2. Cottage pie
Bring a little country into your kitchen with this tasty twist on a classic. Parsnips are a classic winter vegetable and they have a starring role in this filling meal.
3. One pot penne pork bolognese
The ultimate family staple. It’s inexpensive and easy – here you throw everything, including the pasta, into a big saucepan!
4. Gluten-free Mediterranean stuffed capsicums
With the addition of beef mince, this recipe keeps costs per serving low, making it a great lunch to pack for work or a quick and easy mid-week dinner.
5. Best spaghetti bolognese
We should all send a thank you card to the town of Bologna, Italy, for this glorious pasta sauce made with beef and pork mince.
6. Chilli con carne
Give your dinner a kickstart and bring a classic dish out of the doldrums – all this easy recipe needs is a dash of spicy flavour and a pack of mince.
7. Baked beef meatballs with fresh tomato sauce
Short on time? This easy-to-prep beef meatballs dish is infused with flavour and goes straight into the oven. While it’s filling enough for a main, you can serve it as a side dish or pair it with some handmade pasta for a more traditional meal.
8. Herb and lamb mince flatbreads
Family dinner is an endless challenge and sometimes that means just using what you have the fridge and cupboard. With just some lamb mince, vegetables and flat breads, this is a meal the whole family will love, even the kids!
9. Meatball and risoni bake
A hearty casserole for all the family, this meatball and risoni bake is a one-pan wonder. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any day of the week.
10. Beef and bean nachos
Arriba arriba! Put Mexican on the menu tonight. Dine in, in-style with this easy bean and beef mince nacho dish for one. Who said meals for one were boring?
11. Cottage pie jacket potatoes
A marvellous mash-up of two recipes, baked potatoes and cottage pie. Simply scoop out your spuds, fill with a classic beef mince mixture, top with creamy mashed potato and bake.
12. Slow cooker bolognese
A fresh take on every family’s favourite Italian dish slow-cooked to perfection.
13. Moroccan beef pie
A hearty pie with bags of flavour. Serve hot and sprinkle with dukkah for extra crunch!
14. Rice and beef enchiladas
With rich Mexican flavours and plenty of vegies, these filled tortilla rolls are a quick and easy way to get a bit saucy for the main event.
15. Gluten-free beef and garlic bread lasagne
An Italian-style dish without the pasta. Yep, you read right! Your gluten-free nonna is going to love it. Promise!
16. Cheesy taco pasta
An Italian classic with a cheesy Mexi flavour hit. Serve with salsa for a complete Mexican feast!
17. Sausage rolls
Why venture all the way to the shops when you can whip up a dynamite version of this classic right in your own home? So easy!
18. Pork and beef meatloaf with haloumi
Double the meats and added nuts, this meatloaf goes great with a light spring salad.
19. Tex-Mex cottage pie
The pie the whole family will love. Garnish with coriander and serve with sour cream, salsa, guacamole, lime wedges and extra corn chips.
20. Sesame chicken balls with roasted nori
Give tender chicken mince balls a Japanese twist with a drizzle of Kewpie mayo and a sprinkle of seaweed. Yum!
21. Spiced lamb and eggplant spiral pie
You’ll find it impossible to resist dipping pieces of this oh-so-flaky pastry into Greek-style yoghurt in this Middle Eastern-inspired delight.
22. Chicken, bacon, pea and mint spaghetti
Twirl dainty nests of fine angel hair spaghetti into a chicken mince and bacon sauce bursting with flavour – thanks to the mint, parmesan and chilli.
23. Tray-baked Greek sausages
These homemade lamb sausages use all the best, mouth-watering Mediterranean flavours and are baked on a bed of rich tomato sauce. Whip them up in under 30 minutes, and while they roast, throw together a refreshing green salad to serve on the side.
24. Mexican chicken tortillas
25. Pork and chorizo orecchiette with mozzarella with chilli flakes
Did someone say chorizo pasta? This fast orecchiette recipe will give the classic spaghetti bolognese a run for its money. It’s not only quick and easy to make, but the star ingredient pork mince helps keep this midweek dinner in a budget friendly price range.
26. Apricot chicken rissole bake
This retro dish has had an easy tray-bake revamp!
27. Chicken carbonara meatballs
Family friendly meatballs paired with flavour-packed chorizo elevates the classic carbonara to new (and even tastier) heights.
28. Potato bolognese gratin
Give pasta the night off and combine hearty bolognese with a potato gratin for an oh-so satisfying bake. Make the sauce the night before for a super-easy dinner!
29. Lamb, tomato and capsicum pide
A flatbread with filling – usually spiced mince and veg – pide is traditional Turkish pizza.
30. Larb Thai fried rice
In Thai cooking, larb is often a type of salad featuring ground meat. Here, the larb refers to the chicken mince which has an appetising umami taste via lemongrass, chilli, lime and fish sauce.
31. Moussaka-stuffed eggplants
This delish take on a Greek fave, moussaka – a traditional eggplant and mince dish – makes the most of the eggplant. You use it for the shells, in the mince mixture and roast it to make your baba ghanoush (eggplant dip).
32. Mexican-style baked meatballs
Pump up the flavour on your Mexican-style baked meatballs with staples from your spice rack and wallet-friendly canned goods.
33. Ed’s two-step beef and vegetable bake
Complementing the beef mince are some fresh seasonal herbs and vegetables. Ed’s spicing his dish up with a little Peri Peri flavour, but adding spice is up to you.
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