This easy savoury mince recipe is a versatile and comforting dish, perfect for busy weeknights, batch cooking, or freezing for later. A classic British favourite, this hearty minced beef recipe has been delighting families for over 50 years.
Serve it with crispy roast potatoes, creamy mash, fluffy jacket potatoes, pasta, rice, or toast. You can also use it as a base for other meals - transform it into a rich bolognese, warming chilli, or a simple minced beef pie with just a few extra ingredients.
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A Quick Look At The Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Savoury Mince
🕒 Ready In: 40 minutes
👪 Serves: 4
🍽 Calories: 429 per serving
🥣 Main Ingredients: Minced Beef, Onion, Garlic, Beef Stock, Tomato Paste, Frozen Vegetables
📖 Dietary Info: Good source of protein and fibre, freezer-friendly
👌 Difficulty: Easy
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I absolutely love this old-fashioned savoury mince, especially in the colder months when you want something rich, warming, and truly hearty.
Even better, it's budget-friendly, quick to make - ready in just 35 minutes - and only needs one pan, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
This simple minced beef recipe uses frozen vegetables and pantry staples to create a thick, flavourful gravy that perfectly coats the minced beef, giving you a comforting, home-cooked meal every time.
Looking for more easy minced beef recipes? Try my traditional South African bobotie, cottage pie, and easy lasagne recipes!
I never normally rate recipes I try, but my kids don't usually eat 100% of a meal either. This was quick, cheap, easy, and delicious. Made with stuff I had already in the kitchen (after I realised I didn't have the ingredients for what I originally thawed mince for) and best of all my kids approve! Thankyou! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Liz
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✔️ Why should you try it?
- Quick, easy, and cheap meal with mince.
- Great for batch cooking and freezing.
- Old-fashioned comfort food.
- It's a versatile recipe that can be transformed into bolognese, lasagne, or minced beef chilli with a few added ingredients.
Made this Savoury Mince over the weekend and it was a hit! Thank you for sharing!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jo
This is the best savory mince I have ever eaten. I've made it about 10 times!! My family reckon they could eat it every night. It's quick and easy to make and so tasty. Very hearty and healthy as well as comforting on a cold night.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lyn
🥘 Ingredients
A full ingredients list along with Metric and US Customary measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Minced Beef - use lean minced beef (ground beef) or you could substitute for Quorn mince for a veggie alternative. Try the savory mince recipe with lamb mince, pork mince, or turkey mince too, for a different taste.
Olive Oil - for frying.
Onion - finely chopped onion or swap for a sweeter red onion.
Garlic - 2 cloves, finely chopped.
Dried Italian Herbs - or use a combination of dried thyme, oregano, and rosemary.
Tomato Purée (tomato paste) - adds richness and depth of flavour.
Flour - plain flour helps to thicken the sauce.
Beef Stock Cube - creates the gravy. You could also use vegetable or chicken stock for a lighter tasting meal.
Frozen Mixed Vegetables - I used a mixture of frozen peas, carrots and green beans. Frozen sweetcorn is another great option.
Marmite - the secret ingredient that adds so much flavour! Use vegemite if you're in Australia or NZ or swap for 1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce.
Salt & Pepper - for seasoning.
Need to substitute an ingredient?
Have an allergy or dietary preference? Let AI customise the recipe for you.
📖 Variations
- Change the protein - swap beef mince for lamb, pork or chicken mince for a richer flavour, or make it vegetarian by using Quorn mince or another meat-free alternative.
- Spice it up - add a pinch of chilli powder or some chilli flakes for a bit of heat. For a quick and easy chilli con carne, stir in a can of kidney beans in chilli sauce.
- Veggie boost - while frozen mixed vegetables work perfectly, fresh veg like peppers, celery, courgettes, or sweetcorn all taste fantastic. You can also add mushrooms for extra depth.
- Sauce variations - stir in a tin of chopped tomatoes or tomato purée to enrich the sauce even more.
- Herb swaps - swap dried herbs for fresh ones - thyme, rosemary, or parsley work beautifully.
- Slow cooker option - make this a set-and-forget meal by cooking it in a slow cooker - it develops even more flavour over a few hours.
🔪 How to make savoury mince
One: Heat the oil in a shallow casserole or large pan and fry the chopped onions and garlic until soft.
Two: Stir through the dried Italian herbs then turn up the heat and add the beef mince. Break up the mince with a wooden spoon and continue to stir until the mince changes colour.
Three: Stir in the flour and cook for a minute, before adding the tomato puree, beef stock, and marmite. Simmer for 15 minutes on a low heat, stirring occasionally.
Four: Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables and cook for 6-8 minutes until the vegetables are tender. If you would like to thicken the gravy up further, add a tablespoon of thickening granules or whisk in a cornflour slurry.
Top Tips
- Opt for good quality lean beef mince. Aim for less than 12% fat.
- Ensure you brown the mince before adding any liquids.
- Season well and taste as you go along. This allows you to adjust the flavours according to your preference.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Serve the savoury beef mince with crispy polenta roast potatoes, creamy cheese mash, roast sweet potato, or rice and pasta, with a side of vegetables such as cauliflower, roast courgettes, broccoli, corn on the cob, or garlic green beans.
Home-baked focaccia or air fryer garlic bread can be used for mopping up the thick beef gravy-style sauce.
I've also served it in a giant Yorkshire pudding before, which the kids really liked, and even topped it with puff pastry to make a minced beef pie.
Leftovers could be used to make easy lasagne or cottage pie, spoon it through cheesy pasta, or use it as a topping for jacket potatoes.
Storage
Store - leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat - in the microwave until piping hot. You could also reheat it in a saucepan on the hob.
Freeze - once cooled, place the mince in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before reheating.
❓ FAQS
Dried herbs like thyme, rosemary and oregano are good with beef. Marmite is also a great flavour enhancer (as is Worcestershire sauce) and is added to beef stews and recipes using minced beef such as bolognese and chilli.
Minced beef (ground beef) is widely available in supermarkets. If you prefer to make your own minced beef the best way of doing it is to cut a beef joint into cubes (brisket is good for this), freezing the cubed beef for half an hour, then placing in a food processor and pulsing until you get your desired consistency.
Fry the beef on a fairly high heat and whilst doing so, use a wooden spoon to break it up into small pieces.
Of course, feel free to add some chilli powder or fresh chillies to increase the heat to your liking.
Here are some ideas for dishes you can make with ground/minced beef:
Bolognese sauce - A classic pasta sauce made with mince, tomatoes, herbs and wine. Toss with spaghetti or tagliatelle.
Chilli con carne - A hearty beef chili with beans, tomatoes, onions and spices. Serve with rice.
Tacos - Season the mince with taco seasoning and serve in tortillas with toppings.
Meatballs - Roll the minced beef into balls and bake or fry. Serve with pasta.
Meatloaf - Mix the beef mince with breadcrumbs, eggs and seasonings and bake in a loaf pan.
Burgers - Form the mince into patties and grill or pan-fry. Serve on buns with condiments.
Pies - Top a pie crust with minced beef filling made with onions, carrots and gravy. Bake until the pastry is golden.
Troubleshooting Guide
Problem: Mince is dry or tough
Fix: Make sure you brown the beef properly to lock in flavour. Using a mix of beef and pork mince can keep it juicier.
Problem: Sauce is too thin
Fix: Let the mince simmer a little longer to reduce the liquid, or stir in a teaspoon of flour or cornflour mixed with water to thicken.
Problem: Sauce is too thick
Fix: Add a splash of beef stock, water, or milk to loosen it.
Problem: Lack of flavour
Fix: Boost taste with Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or a little balsamic vinegar. Adding fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or rosemary at the end brightens the dish.
Problem: Vegetables overcooked or mushy
Fix: Add frozen veg towards the end of cooking. Dice fresh veg evenly so they cook at the same rate.
😋Related recipes
More easy mince recipes to try!
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Recipe
Easy Savoury Mince Recipe
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Equipment
- Knife
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Onion peeled and finely chopped
- 2 Garlic cloves peeled and finely chopped
- 500 g Minced Beef (Ground Beef) use lean mince
- 2 teaspoon Dried Italian Herbs or use dried thyme
- 2 tablespoon Plain Flour (All-purpose Flour)
- 450 ml Beef Stock
- 3 tablespoon Tomato Puree (Tomato Paste)
- 1 teaspoon Marmite or use a splash of Worcestershire Sauce or vegemite
- 200 g Frozen Mixed Vegetables
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a shallow casserole and fry the chopped onions and garlic until soft.1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Onion, 2 Garlic cloves
- Stir through the dried Italian herbs then turn up the heat and add the beef mince. Break up the mince with a wooden spoon and continue to stir until the mince changes colour.2 teaspoon Dried Italian Herbs, 500 g Minced Beef (Ground Beef)
- Stir in the flour and cook for a minute, before adding the tomato puree, beef stock and marmite. Simmer for 15 minutes on a low heat, stirring occasionally.2 tablespoon Plain Flour (All-purpose Flour), 450 ml Beef Stock, 3 tablespoon Tomato Puree (Tomato Paste), 1 teaspoon Marmite
- Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables, season, and cook for 6-8 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Serve with roast potatoes or mash.200 g Frozen Mixed Vegetables, ¼ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Video
Notes
- Use lean beef mince (under 12% fat) for best results.
- You can swap beef for lamb, pork, or Quorn mince for a vegetarian option.
- Frozen veg works well, but fresh vegetables like mushrooms, courgette, peppers, or sweetcorn are great too.
- Browning the mince before adding liquids improves flavour and texture.
- Adjust seasoning to taste and add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or Marmite for extra depth.
- For a thicker gravy, add a cornflour slurry or thickening granules.
- This recipe is perfect for batch cooking and freezing - store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Dean says
Thank you Beth, great recipe. I had my own method for savoury mince, but fussy family eaters didn't like. Tried your recipe and instant hit! I now cook once per fortnight and also include some hidden frozen spinach. I'm from Australia and use Promite, which similar to Marmite.
Beth Sachs says
Hi Dean. So glad it's a hit with the family!
Jayne says
So tasty and so easy, had to use Worcestershire instead of Marmite. Highly recommend, thank you.