This savoury mince with rice is a quick, comforting mince and rice dish (although I've given a couple of other options) made with lean beef mince, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and vegetables. It's an easy weeknight dinner that it's a great option for leftovers as the flavours deepen overnight, it's versatile and reheats well.
Nan used to make savoury mince whenever we went to her house, usually alongside curried sausages depending on the mood that day. I still remember her spooning leftovers into an old Tupperware container for Dad to take home because he was completely obsessed with it.
That's probably why savoury mince still feels like one of those proper comfort meals to me. This version keeps the nostalgic flavour of Nan's version, but I serve it with rice so it becomes an easy, balanced meal prep that works for lunches, dinners or even a savoury breakfast with toast and a fried egg on top. Make sure you check out my other beef mince and rice recipes.
TL;DR
- Servings: 8
- Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes
- Meal prep: It contains lean beef mince for protein, rice (or alternatives) for carbs, and frozen veg all in the one container.
- Fridge storage: 5 days (airtight containers).
- Freezer storage: 3-6 months. Freeze rice separately or on top.
- Reheating: Microwave or stove top with a sprinkle of liquid.
- Customise: Swap vegetables, use turkey mince, add spice, serve on toast or potatoes.
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Why you'll love this recipe
Affordable. Lean beef mince, rice and frozen vegetables keeps things simple and cost effective while still making multiple portions similar to my curried mince and rice.
Healthier option. I've taken the traditional savoury mince and made it with lean beef mince to give you plenty of protein with less excess fat.
Simple. Everything is made with pantry staples and one pan, making this ideal for busy weeknights when you cannot be bothered cooking.
Ingredients
Lean beef mince. I recommend lean beef mince so you still get rich beef flavour without excess grease pooling in the pan or containers.
Garlic. Fresh garlic gives a stronger flavour than jarred and helps the mince taste homemade rather than flat. You can use jarred in a pinch, but just make sure you taste and adjust.
Tomato paste. Adds richness, colour and concentrated savoury flavour. I don't recommend skipping it.
Beef stock. Use a stock with recognisable ingredients and lower filler content. Homemade chicken stock works well if you have it, but I wouldn't recommend substituting for a store-bought chicken or vegetable stock as they won't pack the same punch.
Worcestershire sauce. One of the key ingredients for classic savoury mince flavour. It adds umami, tang and depth that salt alone cannot replace. This is also my secret ingredient in my spaghetti bolognese with vegetables.
Frozen mixed veg. Carrot, corn and peas are convenient, affordable and cook quickly. You can also use whatever vegetables need using up.
Rice. A neutral carb that absorbs the sauce well and turns this into a balanced meal prep.
Please check the recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantity. See below for substitutions and variations.
Substitutions and variations
Turkey mince. Great if you want a lighter version. Add a little extra Worcestershire for depth.
Extra vegetables. Zucchini, capsicum, spinach or mushrooms all work well.
Spicy version. Add chilli flakes or sriracha if you prefer more kick.
Carb. Mix-and-match how you serve it. This version is with rice as it makes a really easy option for meal prepping, but you could have it on toast, mash potatoes (or even just roast potatoes, pasta, with an egg on top, even as a pot pie!
How to make savoury mince
Step 1: Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add diced onions and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened and lightly golden. Add garlic toward the end.
Step 2: Add beef mince and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it up, until browned.
Step 3: Add the tomato paste, stock and worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine and simmer for 8-10 minutes until slightly thickened and reduced.
Note - if you want to cook for longer, add more stock.
Step 4: Add frozen veg and cook for 5 minutes until hot through and tender.
Note - if meal prepping, no need to wait for them to heat through, you can turn heat off now.
Step 5: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve over rice or toast.
Lauren's Top Tips
Brown properly. Let the mince colour before stirring constantly-this adds flavour.
Do not overcook frozen veg. Add them late so they stay bright and not mushy. If you're meal prepping, you don't even need to wait for them to warm.
Meal prepping savoury mince
This savoury mince with rice is a great meal prep option because it includes protein from beef mince, carbs from rice and vegetables from the frozen veg mix. It also tastes better the next day once the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and stock have had time to settle into the mince.
It is also one of those recipes that can be portioned a few different ways depending on whether you want lunches, dinners or quick savoury breakfast options.
Storing
Allow the savoury mince and rice to cool before sealing containers to avoid condensation, which can make the rice soggy and shorten shelf life. Store in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Lauren's Meal Prep Tip
if you know some portions will be eaten later in the week, keep the rice and mince separate so the texture stays fresher.
What can you serve savoury mince with?
Rice is my go-to because it turns this into a balanced and filling meal prep, but there are plenty of other ways to use savoury mince through the week so it doesn't feel repetitive.
- Toast. The classic option. Two pieces of toast with a fried or poached egg on top is elite breakfast meal prep.
- Mashed potato. Great for a comfort-food style dinner.
- Baked potato or sweet potato. Easy, filling and good for higher fibre meals.
- Pasta. Toss through cooked pasta for a quick savoury beef pasta bowl.
- Wraps. Add savoury mince, lettuce and cheese for easy lunch wraps.
- Steamed vegetables. A lower-carb option that still feels filling.
- Rice cups or frozen rice portions. Great for quick grab-and-go lunches.
Lauren's Meal Prep Tip
Rotate your carb source through the week so the same savoury mince mixture gives you multiple meals with different vibes.
Reheating
Microwave from chilled for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through. Add a tablespoon of water or stock (or even worcestershire for added flavour) over the rice and mince before reheating if it looks dry.
You can also reheat the savoury mince in a pan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes. This will give it some crispness back. Then serve with freshly cooked rice, toast or vegetables.
Freezing
Freeze for up to 3-6 months. I highly recommend freezing the savoury mince mixture on its own where possible, as this helps hold the integrity of the rice and gives you more flexibility later.
One of my favourite methods is portioning the mince into 1 cup Souper Cubes. I've found this is the perfect serve for a couple of pieces of toast, or to pair with 1 cup rice from Souper Cubes (or freshly cooked rice). It makes mix-and-match freezer prep incredibly easy.
If you do want to freeze the mince and rice together, layer the rice on top of the mince rather than underneath. This helps stop the rice absorbing too much moisture and going soggy as it defrosts.
If you want more meal prep information, check out my Meal Prep for Beginners post and my Meal Prep Basics E-Book.
FAQs
The best way to thicken savoury mince is to simmer it uncovered so the excess liquid evaporates naturally. This concentrates the flavour at the same time, rather than dulling it with extra flour or cornflour.
If it still needs thickening, reduce the heat slightly and let it bubble for another 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Make sure you do this before adding extra liquid, as many mince recipes simply need more time rather than more ingredients.
Usually bland savoury mince comes down to one of three things: not browning the mince properly, not enough seasoning, or not enough flavour builders like Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste. Browning creates depth, while the sauce ingredients add savoury richness.
It can also taste flat if it hasn't simmered long enough. Even 10 extra minutes can make a big difference as the stock reduces and the flavours concentrate. Taste before serving and adjust with salt, pepper or another splash of Worcestershire sauce if needed.
This usually happens if the pan is overcrowded, the mince was not browned properly first, or frozen vegetables released extra moisture. Simmer uncovered until the sauce reduces.
Other ground meat recipes you'll like
Or, you can have a browse through my ground meat meal prep recipes for more delicious eats.
Recipe
Savoury Mince
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Equipment
- Rice Cooker, optional
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 kg (2 lb) lean beef mince, see note 1
- 2 onions
- 4 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 250 ml (1 cup) beef stock, see note 2
- 2 tablespoon worcestershire
- 500 g (3 cups) frozen mixed veg, see note 3
- 500 g (2 ½ cups) rice, yields ~ 8 cups
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Preparing
- Dice 2 onions and finely mince 4 cloves garlic.
- Cook 500 g (2 ½ cups) rice according to packet instructions or your preferences.
Cooking
- Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil. Add diced 2 onions and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden. Add 4 cloves garlic in the final 30 seconds and cook until fragrant.
- Add 1 kg (2 lb) lean beef mince and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no pink remains. Let it sit briefly between stirs so the mince colours properly.
- Stir through ¼ cup tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavour and remove the raw edge.
- Pour in 250 ml (1 cup) beef stock and 2 tbsp worcestershire. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until slightly thickened and reduced. Note - If cooking longer, I recommend adding extra stock so it can reduce more.
- Add 500 g (3 cups) frozen mixed veg and cook for 5 minutes until hot through and tender. If meal prepping, you can turn the heat off slightly earlier as the vegetables will continue to soften when reheated.
- Taste and adjust Salt and pepper if needed. Serve over the cooked rice or portion into containers for meal prep.
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