This easy minced beef hash with potatoes, onions and red peppers is the perfect solution for a tasty, filling meal you can get on the table in half an hour. Whether you serve it with a fried egg on top or with a side of baked beans, this is an easy, nutritious meal that will fill the family without breaking the bank!
I based this recipe on my popular corned beef hash recipe. But because corned beef isn't everyone's cup of tea, I thought I'd create a version using beef mince (ground beef) instead.
And I have to say, I think this is a winner! Hubby devoured it and asked for seconds, which is always a good sign!
This easy minced beef hash recipe features crispy fried potatoes, sautéed with onions and red peppers, and combined with tasty, browned beef mince. There's no gravy in this dish, which is why I like to serve it with baked beans (just as I would with corned beef hash) and a side of green salad. However, there's nothing stopping you from adding veggie sides of your choice, or even topping it with a fried egg!
Let me tell you one of my favourite tricks for making minced beef hash. Once everything has been combined, I let the hash on moderate to high heat, without stirring, just for a few minutes, to allow the bottom of the hash to develop a crispy crust. It makes all the difference.
This budget-friendly minced beef hash recipe is a great way to stretch a 225-gram pack of beef mince to serve 4 people. The potatoes and vegetables add bulk, making it a filling family dinner without breaking the bank. If your family has a larger appetite than mine, you could simply add extra mince.
This is rustic, homestyle cooking at its best. You probably won't find it on the menu in any restaurant anywhere in the world. But it's a nutritious meal that feeds a hungry family with very little effort on your part!
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Why you'll love this dish
- Quick and easy - this is a quick and easy meal, made with everyday ingredients. It comes together in no time for a fast, no-fuss meal that doesn't compromise on flavour.
- Family friendly - minced beef hash is a simple meal the entire family can enjoy. There's plenty of flavour, but no spicy chilli that some family members might not enjoy or tolerate.
- Makes great leftovers - sandwich leftovers between two slices of bread with a dollop of tomato sauce (or leftover baked beans) and pop it in the air-fryer or snackwich maker for a few minutes! Don't judge me, but this is one of my guilty pleasures for a quick and tasty lunch-time snack! You can also enjoy leftover hash for breakfast with a runny fried egg on top!
- Budget-friendly - this easy minced beef meal (costed at UK prices), will easily feed 4 people for around £1 per head or £2 if you include the salad and baked beans.
- A meal in one dish - this is all cooked in one pan, which means less washing up afterwards!
Recipe information
Prep time: 10 minutes (for preparing the vegetables)
Cook time: 25 minutes
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for this dish.
- Beef mince - I normally recommend low-fat beef mince, but for this dish, it doesn't matter. You can fry the potatoes and onions in any fat that renders from the beef.
- Potatoes- peeled and chopped into roughly one-inch cubes.
- Onion - peeled and cut into half-inch dice.
- Red pepper - you may know this as capsicum or bell pepper- deseeded and cut into half-inch dice.
- Dried thyme - you can substitute this with dried oregano, Italian herbs or even dried rosemary.
- Tomato puree - this is concentrated tomatoes. You may know it as tomato paste.
- Worcestershire sauce - for a little saltiness.
- Salt - not pictured and optional. I normally add a little salt when I'm frying the potatoes (otherwise they can be quite bland). I also season the beef mince lightly with salt when it is being fried. However, because Worcestershire sauce can be quite salty, I tend to season very lightly and adjust the seasoning once I've tasted the finished dish.
- Sunflower oil - not pictured - used for browning the meat.
**You can find the exact ingredient measurements for making this easy minced beef hash on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.**
Instructions
Step 1: Heat the oil in a sauté pan or saucepan. Add the beef mince, season lightly with salt and fry on medium heat, breaking it up with a spatula, until it is brown and crumbly. This will take about 5 minutes. Transfer the meat to a plate, leaving any oil in the pan.
Step 2: Add the potatoes, season lightly with salt and stir-fry them for 4 to 5 minutes until they start to brown.
Step 3: Stir in the thyme, onions and red pepper (capsicum).
Step 4: Turn the heat to low, cover the pan with a lid and leave for about 5 minutes to allow the onions and peppers to soften.
Step 5: Return the meat to the pan and add the tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce, and stir to combine.
Step 6: Leave the hash on medium to high heat for 5 to 7 minutes to allow it to develop a brown crust on the bottom.
Serving suggestions
I like to serve minced beef hash with a helping of baked beans and a fresh green salad.
However, there are quite a few other dishes that would make a nice accompaniment to this ground beef and potato dish:
- a dish of garlic mushrooms or creamed mushrooms;
- minted smashed peas or mushy peas;
- oven-roasted tomatoes;
- spicy beetroot salad or coleslaw;
- top the hash with a fried or poached egg;
- cover with a sprinkling of grated cheese, either while it's still in the pan or once you've served it.
And if all else fails, simply add a slice of crusty bread or a cheesy garlic baguette!
Tips for a successful outcome
Here are my top tips to ensure your minced beef has always turns out perfectly:
- Use waxy potatoes such as Charlottes or Yukon Gold that hold their shape well and develop a delicious golden crust without turning into mush.
- Use a hot frying pan to ensure the potatoes develop a lovely crispy edge.
- Season both the meat and the potatoes to build up flavour throughout the dish.
- Once the meat has been added back, let the hash sit undisturbed in the pan on a moderate heat for a few minutes so that it can develop a slightly crispy brown crust on the bottom.
Equipment
A large frying pan is the best pan to use for this dish as the shallow pan allows the potatoes to brown and crisp nicely. Make sure the pan has a lid so you can allow the onions and capsicum to steam and soften.
The only other items of equipment you will need are:
- sharp knife - for chopping up the vegetables;
- chopping board - to protect your work surface;
- spatula - for stirring the minced beef hash.
Leftovers
You can store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. They can be reheated in a frying pan and served as part of a breakfast fry-up.
Leftovers can also be spooned between two slices of bread and toasted in an air fryer (200C / 400F for 4 minutes per side and use a spatula to turn them) or in a snackwich maker (butter the outside of the bread rather than the inside).
FAQ
Yes, leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months. To use, allow them to defrost in the refrigerator, then reheat in a frying pan until hot. (Or use the defrosted leftovers for tasty sandwiches - see Leftovers above).
Save for later
If you would like to try this easy recipe for minced beef hash, why not save the recipe to one of your Pinterest boards so you can find it easily? Just click on the image below.
Alternatively, you can save the recipe by clicking on the floating heart icon on the right-hand side of the screen.
Related recipes
Visit my beef recipes page for more easy ways of using beef mince. Here are a few you might enjoy:
📋The recipe
Easy minced beef hash - old-fashioned comfort food
(Click the stars to rate this recipe)
Equipment
- Large frying pan
- Sharp Knife
- Chopping Board
- Spatula
Ingredients
- ½ pound / 225 grams beef mince
- 1 pound / 450 grams potatoes 3 to 4 medium-sized potatoes (peeled and coarsely diced)
- 1 medium onion peeled and coarsely diced
- 1 medium red pepper (capsicum / bell pepper) deseeded and coarsely diced
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree (tomato paste)
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 to 2 tablespoons sunflower oil for frying
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a saute pan or large saucepan. Add the beef mince, season lightly with salt and fry on medium heat, breaking it up with a spatula, until it is brown and crumbly. This will take about 5 minutes. Transfer the meat to a plate, leaving any oil in the pan.½ pound / 225 grams beef mince, 1 to 2 tablespoons sunflower oil, Salt
- Add the diced potatoes, season lightly with salt and stir-fry them for 4 to 5 minutes until they start to brown and crisp. If there is not sufficient fat left in the pan after frying the meat you can add another splash of sunflower oil.1 pound / 450 grams potatoes, Salt
- Stir in the thyme, onions and red pepper (capsicum).1 medium onion, 1 medium red pepper (capsicum / bell pepper), 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Turn the heat to low, cover the pan with a lid and leave for about 5 minutes to allow the onions and peppers to soften.
- Return the meat to the pan and add the tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine.2 tablespoons tomato puree (tomato paste), 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- Leave the hash (uncovered) on medium to high heat for 5 to 7 minutes to allow it to develop a brown crust on the bottom. Take care not to let it burn.
- Servethe minced beef hash hot, with a side of baked beans and a green salad.
Notes
- Use waxy potatoes such as Charlottes or Yukon Gold that hold their shape well and develop a delicious golden crust without turning into mush.
- Use a hot frying pan to ensure the potatoes develop a lovely crispy edge.
- Season both the meat and the potatoes to build up flavour throughout the dish.
- Once the meat has been added back, let the hash sit undisturbed in the pan on a moderate heat for a few minutes so that it can develop a slightly crispy brown crust on the bottom.
- a dish of garlic mushrooms or creamed mushrooms;
- minted smashed peas or mushy peas;
- oven-roasted tomatoes;
- spicy beetroot salad or coleslaw;
- top the hash with a fried or poached egg;
- cover with a sprinkling of grated cheese, either while it's still in the pan or once you've served it.
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist. The nutrition information has been calculated using an on-line calculator, and is intended for information and guidance purposes only. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should consider calculating it yourself, using your preferred tool.
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