Name: How to cook mince meat recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: Serves: 4
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1tbsp sunflower oil; 1 med onion, peeled and chopped; 2 carrots, peeled and diced; 500g minced beef; 250g chestnut mushrooms, sliced; 2 level tbsp plain flour; 400g can chopped tomatoes; 1 beef stock cube

By Jessica Ransom

last updated 24 August 2023

Contributions from

Jessica Dady

in Recipes

Master how to cook mince meat with this easy recipe. It takes under an hour and can be served with pasta, jacket potato or even in a toastie.

This basic mince recipe requires eight ingredients but is easy to customise depending on what vegetables you have and need to use up. Make a big batch so you only have to cook once and then freeze in portions for future meals.

Ingredients

1tbsp sunflower oil
1 med onion, peeled and chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
500g minced beef
250g chestnut mushrooms, sliced
2 level tbsp plain flour
400g can chopped tomatoes
1 beef stock cube

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Method

Heat the oil in a sauté pan or large frying pan, add the onion and carrots and cook over a medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have started to soften.
Add the beef to the pan and cook for about 5-10 minutes, stirring to break up the meat, until it browns. Once the meat is crumbly add the mushrooms to the pan and cook for a few minutes.
Sprinkle over the flour, then mix it in well and heat for 3-4 minutes to cook the flour. The flour will absorb the fat that comes out of the meat, which will then thicken the sauce.
Pour in the can of tomatoes, sprinkle in the stock cube and bring the mixture to the boil, stirring continually, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until it thickens slightly and the vegetables are tender.
Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving, or use it as a base for another recipe. If the sauce seems very thick, just add a little boiling water.

Watch how to cook mince meat

Top tips for mastering how to cook mince meat

Mince meat or ground meat, usually refers to beef but you can also buy minced lamb, pork and chicken. The same cooking principles apply but the final flavour and texture will vary depending on the meat you use.

You can also buy lots of vegetarian and vegan alternatives. These are unlikely to brown in the same way as mince and it’s more about heating the meat substitute until it’s piping hot. You may need more spices and seasoning for vegetarian and vegan alternatives to mince meat because it will lack the flavour that meat brings naturally.

Continue reading for tips on how to prepare a basic mince recipe ahead, freeze it for future use and some serving suggestions too.

How to freeze mince meat?

You can freeze raw mince meat. It’s best to do this while still within the use by date but if you’ve bought it reduced from the supermarket or butcher you can freeze it on the day of purchase. It can be a good idea to freeze in smaller portions so you can only defrost what you need. Allow the raw mince to defrost fully before using as instructed in your recipe.

You can also freeze cooked mince meat. Allow it to cool completely then transfer to food bags or airtight containers and freeze. Once again, you should defrost fully before reheating until piping hot.

In both cases, once defrosted the food should be cooked and consumed within 24 hours.

How far in advance can you cook mince meat?

This recipe will keep in the fridge for up to two days. You should only reheat once so it’s best to do smaller portions if you aren’t sure you’ll eat all the leftovers at once.

How do I know when my mince is cooked?

Mince is cooked when it is brown and golden all over and there is no more pink. It should also reach a temperature of at least 71C when probed with a meat thermometer.

How to cook mince meat in a pan?

For this basic mince recipe we cook it in a large saucepan with a little oil. You could brown the mince with the onion and carrot in the pan and then finish in the oven. If you want to do this we recommend using a casserole dish which is suitable for use on the hob and in the oven.

What is the best fat content for beef mince?

If you want to keep the calories and fat content of your overall recipe to a minimum, it’s best to use lean mince meat with around 5 per cent fat content.

You may need to use more oil when cooking with lean mince to stop it from sticking to your pan. Using a non-stick frying pan can limit the additional oil needed. Leaner mince meats tend to dry out more so you might want to make sure your sauce brings plenty of moisture.

Beef mince with a higher fat content, most commonly, 10, 15 or 20 per cent can be good for recipes like burgers and meatballs. The additional fat adds more flavour and keeps the meat succulent. When cooking mince meat with a higher fat content, you can always drain away or dab some of the excess fat out of the pan using a little kitchen paper.

It’s important to store the raw and cooked mince meat appropriately to keep it safe for consumption. An airtight container will keep the food fresher for longer but this vacuum set from ZWILLING goes the extra mile.

Once you’ve cooked this basic recipe, making spaghetti bolognese will feel like a breeze! Adding a couple of ingredients will mean you have a hearty chilli con carne or cottage pie.

Jessica is a freelance food writer, stylist and recipe tester. She previously worked as Senior Food Writer at Future. While at Future Jessica wrote food and drink-related news stories and features, curated product pages, reviewed equipment, and developed recipes that she then styled on food shoots. She is an enthusiastic, self-taught cook who adores eating out and sharing great food and drink with friends and family. She has completed the Level 1 Associate course at the Academy of Cheese and is continually building on her knowledge of beers, wines, and spirits.

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