Hearty Savoury Mince with Potatoes & Vegetables

Savoury mince is one of those proper old-fashioned dinners that many of us grew up with. It’s simple food, made from everyday ingredients, and it fills hungry bellies without costing a fortune.

This version cooks everything in one pot with beef mince, potatoes, vegetables, and a rich gravy-style sauce. It’s hearty and comforting. It’s perfect for nights when you want something warm and satisfying on the table without a lot of fuss.

Meals like this have stood the test of time for good reason. They’re practical, adaptable, and they stretch well if you’re feeding a family or hoping for leftovers the next day.

Watch the Episode

This recipe is part of a series on my YouTube channel called Old Fashioned Dinners (That Still Work Today). I cook the kinds of meals many of us grew up with. These are simple, hearty foods that still deserve a place on the dinner table today.

In this episode of Farmers Wife Homestead, I cook a big pot of savoury mince. I use basic pantry ingredients and a rich homemade gravy. It’s one of those dependable meals that’s filling, affordable, and always welcome at the table. You can watch it here: Savoury Mince with Potatoes & Vegetables – Old Fashioned Dinners Series Episode Three

If you’re following along with the series, the first episode was Old-Fashioned Fish in Parsley Sauce. It’s another simple, comforting dinner that still works beautifully in modern kitchens. You can find the recipe here: Old-Fashioned Fish in Parsley Sauce Plus, the video showing how I made it here: Fish in Parsley Sauce – Old Fashioned Dinners Video.

You might also enjoy Bangers and Mash – Old Fashioned Dinners Series Episode Two.

New episodes in this series are shared every Sunday evening at 7pm (NZST) on YouTube. My regular Wednesday uploads continue as usual.

More Hearty Family Meals

If you enjoy simple, filling dinners like this, you might also like:

• Country Chicken Casserole
• Easy Mince and Cheese Pie
• Cheat’s Chicken Pot Pie
• Hearty Potato, Bacon & Onion Soup

They’re all practical meals made with simple supermarket ingredients.

Hearty Savoury Mince with Potatoes & Vegetables

Serves: 6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30–35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 kg beef mince
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 garlic puck (or 3–4 cloves garlic, minced)
• 4 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 2 large potatoes, diced
• 4 cups water
• 3–4 Tbsp beef gravy mix (for thickening) — see my homemade beef gravy mix here

Method

1. In a large pot or deep pan, brown the beef mince and diced onion over medium heat. Cook until the meat is browned and the onion has softened.
2. Add the garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
3. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, frozen mixed vegetables, diced potatoes, and water.
4. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for about 20–25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
5. Stir in 3–4 Tbsp of beef gravy mix. Mix well and allow it to cook for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens.
6. Serve hot with your choice of bread.

What to Serve with This Recipe

Savoury mince is lovely served with something to soak up the gravy. Some easy options include:

• Toasted bread
• Focaccia
• Ciabatta
• Sourdough
• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Steamed broccoli or green beans

It’s a simple meal, so a piece of good bread and a green vegetable is often all you need.

Stacey’s Kitchen Tips

• Dice the potatoes fairly small so they cook faster in the mince.
• Frozen mixed vegetables work perfectly here and save quite a bit of prep time.
• If the mixture starts looking a little thick while simmering, just add a splash more water.
• This is a great recipe for stretching the grocery budget — one kilo of mince easily feeds a family.

Variations & Substitutions

• Swap beef mince for lamb mince for a slightly different flavour.
• Add mushrooms when cooking the onions to bulk the dish out further.
• Replace one cup of water with beef stock if you want a deeper flavour.

Storage, Freezer & Make-Ahead Notes

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if needed.
• Savoury mince freezes very well and can be stored for up to 3 months.
• Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Final Thoughts

Savoury mince is one of those meals that proves simple food is often the best. It’s hearty, affordable, and easy to make with ingredients most of us already have in the kitchen.

Meals like this are exactly why old-fashioned dinners are still worth cooking today.

Stacey