Mince is the staple for many families. Not only mince relatively cheap – there are just so many ways to serve it which makes it versatile. If you are stuck on different ways to serve mince – look no further – here are 100 mince recipes that you can make for your family.
Did you know that in America, Beef Mince is known as ‘Ground Beef’?
What is Actually in Mince?
Back in the olden days, mince was a combination of all the leftover scraps of meat (ie lips and arseholes) that were put through a meat grinder – and hooray – you had mince. Thankfully today’s mince is nothing like that! All meat is highly regulated and the only ingredient in mince – is 100% mince.
Mince is ‘Muscle Meat’ – that is meat that was attached to the bone. Some mince has specific labels on the part of the beast the mince came from ie ‘Topside Mince’ but generally, the meat can be from any part of the animal providing it is muscle meat. Typically, the beef mince here in Australia is made from chuck, blade, topside, brisket and round steak. Mince is cheaper because it is the leftover trimming and not the prime parts of the beast.
How is Mince Made?
All of the trimmings from a beast – that is muscle meat trimmings – are put through a mincer or meat grinder, sometimes a few times to produce consistent and tender meat.
Mince Doesn’t Just Mean Beef Mince
Before we start on all of our recipes for mince – let’s discuss the type of mince commonly available. There are:
- Beef Mince
- Chicken Mince
- Turkey Mince
- Pork Mince
- Pork & Veal Mince
- Lamb Mince
- Kangaroo Mince
All are delicious in their own way – and all are different.
Which Mince is the Best For You?
Well if you are looking for the mince that is the lowest in calories and fat, by far, Kangaroo Mince would be the winner. But Kangaroo Mince isn’t to everyone’s taste. Although very lean, it does have a slightly ‘Gamey’ flavour which might not be palatable for little kids.
Plus as Kangaroo Mince is so lean, if you are using it to make hamburgers or rissoles, you may need to add additional ingredients to make the mince bind together.
The second healthiest mince would have to be Turkey Mince. It is hard to tell Turkey Mince and Chicken Mince apart once it has been cooked – it has a similar flavour and texture. Turkey Meat in general is known to be drier than Chicken Mince – so make sure you add flavourings that really pack a punch into your mince mixture.
The Buying Guide for Mince
When choosing mince at your local supermarket, always check the label to see the type of meat the mince is made from, the percentage of fat content and if there are any additional ingredients such as binders added. Typically cheaper beef mince has a higher percentage of fat – and although usually, you can ‘pour off’ the fat during cooking, it can taste very oily.
Fat Content and Quality Mince
Beef Mince comes in many varying qualities now such as Lean, Premium, Heart Smart etc. Usually, the more expensive the mince is, the less fat content there is in the mince. Mince that contains less than 10% fat is considered ‘low-fat mince’.
Don’t Take the Colour of Mince Into Consideration
We have been conditioned by the television that bright red meat means it is fresh. But that isn’t necessarily the case. When beef mince has been exposed to the air, it can change from bright red to a dull brown colour. This doesn’t mean it is lower quality.
Instead, always do the sniff test. If the meat smells fresh, it means it is fresh. If the meat has a smell that isn’t pleasant, don’t eat it! When in doubt – throw it out!
I love mince recipes – mince is cheap, kid friendly and so versatile. Next time you feel ‘bored’ with mince recipes – try some of these!!!!
Easy Mince Weeknight Dinners:
- Savoury Mince
- Mince Wellington
- Mince and Noodle Stir Fry
- Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie
- Slow Cooker Beef Ragu
- Cheesy Chicken Meatloaf
- Golden Bake
- Pastry Free Beef Cheese Pie
- Mexican Cannelloni
- Cottage Pie
- Beef Chow Mein
- Hidden Veggie Porcupine Meatballs
- Spaghetti Bolognaise
- Chicken San Choy Bau
- Slow Cooker Chicken Meatloaf
- Family Meat Pie
- Frugal Old Fashioned Pastie Slab
- Glazed Meatloaf
Spicy Mince Recipes
- Indian Rice Pilaf with Spiced Beef
- Pastry Free Beef and Cheese Pie
- Cajun Chicken Burgers
- Thai Chicken Balls
- Beef n Bean Nachos
- Chili Con Carne
- Rogan Josh Meatballs
- Warming Mexican Beef Chilli
Kid’s Favourites:
- Potato Gem Casserole
- French Onion Soup Flavoured Rissoles
- Chicken and Vegetable Sausage Rolls
- Homemade Chicken and Apple Croquettes
- Grilled Gooey Cheesy Chicken Rissoles
- Cheesy Mince Stuffed Garlic Bread
- Gassy Lasagna
- Chicken and Broccoli Nuggets
Chicken & Turkey Mince Recipes:
- Chicken Mince Rissoles
- Turkey Bolognaise Pasta Bake
- Comforting Chicken Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy
- Asian Chicken Meatballs
- Chicken and Spinach Meatloaf
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Chicken San Choy Bau
- Greek Chicken Meatballs
- Cheesy Chicken Meatloaf
- Low Fat Turkey Burgers
- Chicken Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy
- Chicken and Broccoli Nuggets
- Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Beetroot n Basic Turkey Burgers
Mince Snacks and School Lunches:
- Mince Scrolls
- Kid Friendly Mini Chicken Poppers
- Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken Fingers
- Chicken Mince Puff Pastry Bites
- Homemade Sausage Rolls
- Kid-Friendly Mini Chicken Poppers
- Homemade Chicken and Apple Croquettes
- Cheesy Beef Puffs
- Chicken and Vegetable Sausage Rolls
- Lamb and Rosemary Sausage Rolls
Winter Warmer and Slow Cooker Mince Recipes:
- Chicken Wonton Soup
- Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheesy Chicken
- Slow Cooker Lasagna
- Slow Cooker Beef Ragu
- Slow Cooker Shepherds Pie
- Slow Cooker Chicken Meatloaf
Fancy Mince Recipes:
- Bacon Weave Meatloaf
- Mexican Cannelloni
- Mince Wellington
- Mousakka
Lamb Mince Recipes:
- Lamb and Rosemary Sausage Rolls
- Lamb Kofta Meatballs
- Greek Style Lamb Pizza
- Moussaka
- Cottage Pie
Pork Mince Recipes:
- Pork Stuffed Capsicums
- San Choy Bow
