Minced meat recipes usually end up as one of the same three dishes on repeat: spaghetti, meatballs and stuffed peppers. In the studio we have dozens, from a pan that's ready in 25 minutes to a Sunday bake, and we rotate beef, pork and turkey depending on what suits the dish. Here are ten recipes that show minced meat can do a lot more than a spaghetti sauce.
Cottage cheese is in the name, minced beef is in the bowl
The Mexican bowl with sweet potatoes and cottage cheese carries 513 kcal and 36 g P. You'll only find the cottage cheese as a spoonful of seasoning on top, 80 grams with chilli flakes and honey. The real base is 135 grams of minced beef browned with taco seasoning, together with roasted sweet potatoes and fresh cucumber. The chilli flakes and honey in the cottage cheese bring a sweet and spicy touch to the bowl, but the beef and sweet potatoes do the filling.
A tip straight from the recipe in the studio: If you don't have taco seasoning, you can use a mix of ground paprika, cumin, garlic powder and a pinch of chilli.
Three quick minced meat meals under 30 minutes
| Recipe | kcal | Protein | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taco bowl with beef and sweet potatoes | 475 | 23 g P | 25 min |
| Mexican-style minced beef | 513 | 35 g P | 25 min |
| Express bolognese rigatoni | 471 | 39 g P | 30 min |
The taco bowl and the Mexican beef are on the table before a delivery would even reach you. Save the rigatoni for evenings when you want pasta with a proper sauce but have neither the energy nor the time for an hour of simmering. If you're working out what to cook quickly during the week on a bigger scale, there are more ideas in our quick lunch recipes.
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Sunday bakes, where minced meat gets more time
| Recipe | kcal | Protein | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy koložvárska kapusta with a cheese and cream topping | 456 | 40 g P | 45 min |
| Baked minced pork with sun-dried tomatoes, Balkan cheese and sweet potatoes | 465 | 42 g P | 60 min |
| Shepherd's pie with minced meat | 602 | 48 g P | 50 min |
Koložvárska kapusta is a layered sauerkraut bake: it brings together minced pork, rice and braised sauerkraut, topped with cream cheese and cream, and bakes in the oven until the topping turns lightly golden. The shepherd's pie is a turkey version of the classic with a potato top that you crisp up under the grill for the last few minutes.
Beef and turkey, for when you want to mix things up during the week
| Recipe | kcal | Protein | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef ćevapčići with mashed potatoes | 591 | 41 g P | 50 min |
| Greek keftedes meatballs with bulgur salad and dip | 457 | 50 g P | 25 min |
| Lazy lasagne with turkey ragù and cottage cheese béchamel | 419 | 37 g P | 50 min |
The ćevapčići stay juicy thanks to minced beef with a higher fat content, finely grated onion and a pinch of bicarbonate of soda. If you want turkey instead of beef, we cover more braised variations in turkey in gravy with rice.
Frequently asked questions
What's the easiest meal to make with minced meat?
A pan of minced beef with onion and spices, like the Mexican beef or the rigatoni above, is ready in under 30 minutes.
What can you cook with minced meat and potatoes?
The classic is shepherd's pie with mashed potato on top, or ćevapčići, where the mash goes on the side next to the meat.
Can you make minced meat with pasta?
Yes, the express bolognese rigatoni is made for exactly that; finely grated carrot and a little pasta water will rescue the sauce if it gets too thick.
How do you cook minced meat in the oven?
For shepherd's pie or koložvárska kapusta, you brown the meat in a pan first and only then bake it in the oven, so the top stays crispy.
Is minced beef, pork or turkey better?
None is better across the board: beef with a higher fat content holds its shape in ćevapčići, while turkey is leaner and shines in bakes with a sauce.
Are minced meat recipes suitable for kids?
Most of them, yes, being mildly seasoned and not spicy; stuffed peppers and shepherd's pie are among the dishes even pickier eaters tend to love.
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