5 Easy Meals With Minced Meat

 1) Thai chicken, basil and chilli stir-fry

Stir-fry 500g chicken mince until browned. Remove from wok. Stir-fry 2 thinly sliced eschalots, 2 cloves crushed garlic, 1 stick finely chopped lemongrass and 2 thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves. Return chicken to wok with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 2 tablespoons lime juice and 1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves and mint leaves. Serve on cooked rice noodles.

2) Meatballs

Combine 500g pork and veal mince with 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, 1 lightly beaten egg and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley. Roll level tablespoons of mixture into balls. Cook meatballs in a frying pan, in batches, until browned all over. Meanwhile, cook 1 chopped brown onion and 2 crushed garlic cloves in a large saucepan until softened. Add a 700g jar tomato pasta sauce and 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves. Add meatballs. Simmer for 5 minutes or until cooked through. Serve with cooked pasta and extra grated Parmesan

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3) Mexi-beans and mince

Cook 1 chopped brown onion and 2 crushed garlic cloves until softened. Add 600g beef mince. Cook, stirring, until browned. Add 1 teaspoon chilli powder and 2 teaspoons ground coriander. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in 1 tablespoon plain flour, 2 tablespoons tomato paste and 1 cup beef stock. Simmer for 10 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened. Stir in 2 x 125g cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through. Serve with corn chips or warmed corn tortillas, sour cream and guacamole.

4) Lamb and hokkien noodle stir-fry

Cook fresh hokkien noodles following packet directions. Drain. Stir-fry 500g lamb mince until browned. Remove from wok. Stir-fry 1 brown onion, cut into wedges, 3 crushed garlic cloves, 2 cups broccoli florets, 1 thinly sliced carrot and 1 chopped red capsicum until just tender. Return mince to wok with 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup barbecue sauce and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Add noodles. Stir-fry until heated through.

5) Sloppy joes

Cook 1 chopped brown onion and 2 cloves crushed garlic in a frying pan until softened. Add 600g beef mince. Cook, stirring, until browned. Add 1 teaspoon chilli powder. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until sauce thickens. Spoon mixture onto the base of toasted bread rolls and top with sliced dill pickles, coleslaw and roll tops.