I don’t think I can remember a weekly meal in this house that doesn’t feature my slow cooker mince and onions in some form or another and today, I’m going to share exactly why that is.😁
Slow cooker mince and onions is budget-friendly, easy to make, and it’s so so versatile that I wouldn’t be without a batch (or six) in our freezer. It takes about 3 minutes to prep and then the slow cooker does the hard work for you so I often buy a pack of mince specifically to make a batch of this for the freezer and if ever I see reduced mince in the clearance section then I will buy it and make a batch of this with it which makes it even better value for money.
Once it’s cooked, you’ve got a rich, savoury base that’s perfect for turning into all sorts of hearty meals. Here’s my six favourite ways to use up your slow cooker mince and stretch it into something different each time.
1. Cottage Pie
The ultimate comfort food. Spoon your mince into an oven dish, top with creamy mashed potato, and bake until golden and crisp. You can even stir in a handful of grated cheese or a spoon of mustard to make the mash extra tasty.
2. Mince and Yorkshire Puddings
For a proper Sunday-style dinner, pour your hot mince and gravy into a giant Yorkshire pudding or serve it with a few individual ones on the side. Add some peas, carrots, or roast veg for an easy meal that feels a bit special.
3. Mince and Dumplings
Soft, fluffy dumplings sitting on top of rich mince and gravy – it doesn’t get much better. Just mix self-raising flour, suet, and a pinch of salt with a splash of water to make the dough, then drop spoonfuls on top of your mince to cook through.
4. Savoury Mince Pies
Not the sweet kind! Use your mince as a filling for proper homemade pies. Line a dish or a few small tins with shortcrust or puff pastry, spoon in the mince, pop on a pastry lid, and bake until golden. Serve with chips or mash and some veg for a hearty dinner.
5. Jacket Potato Topping
This is such an easy win for lunch or a quick tea. Warm up a portion of mince and spoon it over a baked potato. Add a sprinkle of cheese if you fancy — it’s simple, filling, and so good on a chilly day.
6. Loaded Roasties
If you’ve got leftover potatoes, this is a brilliant way to give them new life. I just give them a bit of a squish and cook them with some oil suntil they’re crispy (we call them crushed roasties), then top with hot mince, scatter some grated cheese on top, and pop them back in the oven for a few minutes until everything’s melted together. Add a spoonful of gravy to finish —and I guarantee this is comfort food at its best.
Batch-cooking slow cooker mince means there’s always something hearty and homemade ready to go, even on the busiest nights. Freeze it in portions and mix things up through the week — it’s one of those simple little habits that saves time, money, and effort. 😀
I always make any of my mince dishes with the ‘less than 5% fat mince’ as I don’t like using the higher fat content mince personally but you can save a bit of extra money using them if you want to – my only advice would be to make sure that you brown off the mince first with any higher fat content mince so you can drain away the excess fat first. I don’t like the taste of the higher fat content mince though so I stick to the leaner mince.
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