Vanessa Levis
There’s a reason we reach for mince meat at the supermarket time and time again — it’s economical, versatile and can be refrigerated or frozen easily.
Plus, mince meat doesn’t discriminate. We have recipes starring the humble protein that span every cuisine and use case, from Italian sloppy joes and polpette in sugo to numbing Sichuan-style mapo tofu, balanced Thai larb and Okiniwan beef taco rice.
So whether you’re in the mood to labour over a hearty lasagne or indulge in a comforting shepherd’s pie with classic mince beef (sometimes referred to as ground beef), or opting for something lighter along the lines of sang choi bau with mince pork, we’ve got you covered for all sorts of mince recipes, be it chicken, pork, beef or even lamb.
The next time you’re wondering what to do with that tray of mince meat, turn to these winning mince recipes and take your pick.
Our best mince recipes to cook in 2026 — beyond spaghetti Bolognese
Dainty Sichuan’s ma po doufu
Fiery, numbing, salty and sweet, this Sichuan dish of humble origin is today a worldwide hit.
10 William St’s Pici Bolognese
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for pici Bolognese by Daniel Pepperell from 10 William St, Sydney.
Shepherd’s pie with lamb shoulder
We’ve ratcheted up the humble shepherd’s pie, replacing the mince with shredded lamb shoulder. The anchovies are a natural salty match to the lamb and add seasoning rather than the fishy flavour you might expect.
A classic lasagne
The ultimate in comfort food.
Sang choi bau with pork and shiitake
Our take on the Chinese classic makes for an easy and quick dinner idea.
Tortellini Bolognese
Which body part is said to have inspired one of pasta’s most distinctive shapes? Emma Knowles investigates.
Lamb meatballs with tahini and pine nut sauce
A recipe that riffs on the Palestinian lamb siniyah.
Pork and fennel meatball strozzapreti with braised chicory and chilli
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Pork and fennel meatball strozzapreti with braised chicory and chilli from Manly Pavilion
Polpetti with roasted tomato sauce and pappardelle
For these simple meatballs, we like to use a mixture of mince: the fine mince to help bind the meatballs and coarse mince for fat, flavour and texture.
Sunda’s lamb ma po tofu with green beans
Chef Khanh Nguyen learnt this recipe during his time at Sydney’s Mr Wong, and now it’s a hit at staff meals at his Melbourne restaurant.
Amy Chanta’s guide to making larb gai
One of the great salads of the world, larb is quick to prepare, but makes a lasting impression. We have the late and great Amy Chanta to thank for this recipe.
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Kare pan toasties (Japanese curry bread)
The famous Japanese curry bread gets a fast makeover in this easy toastie recipe.
Pork and fennel polpette
Polpette can be roughly translated to mean “meatball”, and trust us, these Italian showstoppers are simple and delightful.
Beef taco rice
Beef taco rice is an Okinawan specialty that is an example of how fusion is by no means a dirty word.
Louis Tikaram’s stir-fried snake beans with pork
It’s one of the Stanley chef’s all-time favourite Chinese dishes, for good reason.
Alex Wong’s ricotta gnocchi with mapo Bolognese
Creamy ricotta and doubanjiang are the stars of the show in this twist on Bolognese.
Paola Toppi’s pasta with ragù
Where simplicity and flavour meet.
Burgers with pickled beetroot
Lisa Featherby recipe for fast burgers with pickled beetroot.
Shepherd’s pie
Arguably one of the most comforting foods around, this simple but satisfying sheperd’s pie is a winner any day of the week.
Spiced chicken Martabak with sweet onion sambal
Not for the fainthearted, this dish is spiced with sambal oelek for a hit of nose-tingling heat. Spread liberally with sweet onion sambal for a perfectly balanced sweet-and-spicy delight.
Fast chilli con carne
Some purists believe there is no room for beans, but we think they add a rich, earthy flavour.
Italian sloppy Joes
Italian sloppy Joes recipe – Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat, add onion and chopped garlic and sauté until golden (2-3 minutes). Add beef and brown well, breaking up lumps with a wooden spoon
Beef koftas with green couscous and pistachio nuts
Put this on high rotation in your household.
Shaanxi-style lamb with cumin and celery
This simple stir-fry might be quick to prepare, but it’s full to bursting with flavour, thanks to a heady mix of ginger, cumin, cinnamon and star anise.
Baked pork and veal meatball sub
These baguettes are rich and comforting, with the added satisfaction that comes with shaping, frying and simmering your own meatballs.
Noodle soup with chicken and chive dumplings
A chicken soup to cure all ills.
Sunda’s Thai-style chicken larb
This vibrant salad by Melbourne restaurant Sunda fires on all cylinders.
Kibbeh
A blend of lamb mince, bulghur and spices, these Middle Eastern meatballs are comforting in winter and make a great summer starter when you’re entertaining.
Turkish flatbread with beef and yoghurt
Turkish flatbread with beef and yoghurt recipe – For flatbread, combine yeast, 80ml warm water and 2 tsp salt in a large bowl and stir until yeast dissolves.
Spicy Sichuan-style lamb dumplings with chilli oil
Lamb dumplings spiced with cumin and coriander and cooked in a spicy sauce. What more could you want?
Crisp pork and ginger gyozas with sesame rayu
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside – these pork and ginger gyozas always delight.
Burghul with spiced lamb
A dish packed with flavour, plus it makes for an easy weeknight dinner.
Rigatoni with chicken ragù and green sauce
This light ragù is freshened up further with a herb-packed green sauce.
Cheat’s wonton soup
This wonton soup is an express version of the recipe that cuts time, not flavour.
Braised white beans with chicken meatballs and parmesan
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for braised white beans with chicken and parmesan.
Tiny chicken meatball and orzo soup with silverbeet and feta
Recipe for tiny chicken meatball and orzo soup with silverbeet and feta.
Spaghetti and meatballs
The definition of comfort food.
Lamb dolmades
Australian Gourmet Traveller Greek recipe for lamb dolmades.
Greek lamb meatballs with orzo, tomato-garlic sauce and fried oregano
A quick and easy lamb meatballs recipe primed for weeknight dinners.
Kafeneion’s keftedes (Con’s mum’s famous meatballs)
Melbourne’s Kafeneion has perfected the art of keftedes (Greek meatballs).
Braised sobrasada meatballs
These meatballs are also great served with crusty bread, roasted potatoes or rice.
Pork and ginger meatballs with choy sum
The meatballs are roasted in a hot oven to save time, then served with Asian greens and steamed rice for a quick meal.
Spiced lamb larb with crisp vermicelli
This fragrant salad works beautifully with lamb but the fresh mint, basil and coriander will go just as well with beef, chicken or duck.
Lamb koftas with beetroot salad
Fast, fresh and flavoursome – this one’s the whole package.
The Agrarian Kitchen’s lamb kofta with toum
Farm-to-table is served up in this lamb dish.
Sichuan-style green beans with pork mince
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Sichuan-style green beans with pork mince
Minced pork tossed noodles (Zhajiang mian)
Australian Gourmet Traveller Chinese recipe for minced pork tossed noodles (Zhajiang mian) by Tony Tan
David Thompson: Stir-fried minced beef with chillies and holy basil (Neua pat bai grapao)
Australian Gourmet Traveller Thai recipe for stir-fried minced beef with chillies and holy basil (Neua pat bai grapao) by David Thompson.
Cacio e pepe sausage rolls
The much-loved pasta sauce makes a welcome appearance in Australia’s favourite finger food.
Minced pork noodles
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for minced pork noodles.
FAQs
What to make with mince that isn’t Bolognese?
Spaghetti Bolognese is a household favourite for a reason, but if you’re tired of recycling the same recipe every time you buy mince beef, there are plenty more options out there. A fiery Thai-inspired mince beef, chilli and holy basil stir-fry with a bowl of fluffy white rice will do the trick, or perhaps cacio e pepe sausage rolls. Otherwise, you’ve got a huge host of meatball options, chilli con carne varieties, beef kibbeh, pie and lasagne alternatives at your disposal.
What’s the best way to cook minced beef?
The best thing about cooking with mince beef is that there are no wrong answers. Roll it into meatballs and pair with a silky tomato sugo and pasta, bake it between sheets of lasagne or fry it with some spices, and you have a flavour-packed dish every time.
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