Mince and Tatties

Mince and tatties are a beloved Scottish dish, and one bite will tell you why. It is a comforting, savory meal that your family will love. It’s similar to a cottage pie, but all the cooking is done on the stovetop. It’s an easy preparation, too. Since the potatoes cook while the ground beef cooks, the meal is ready in 1 hour or less, making it a great mealtime option for any night of the week. It’s easy on the budget, too!

Feel free to add peas to the mince (or ground beef) or leave them out, and if you don’t like carrots, use another vegetable, such as corn or parsnips. A flavorful beef stock is best. I add a bouillon cube or some beef base to the beef stock. The “tatties,” or mashed potatoes, don’t have to be mashed. It’s great with plain boiled potatoes as well.

How to Make Mince and Tatties

1. Sauté diced carrots, onions, and celery in a combination of butter and oil until softened.
2. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute or two to eliminate the raw taste.
3. Add Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and a bouillon cube. Simmer the mixture until it thickens slightly and the vegetables are tender.
4. Meanwhile, boil peeled potato chunks in salted water until tender. Drain and mash with warm milk, butter, salt, and pepper.
5. Add peas to the beef if using, adjust seasonings, and serve the savory mince alongside a generous helping of mashed potatoes.

Recipe Variations

• Add more garlic. Boil a few cloves of garlic with the potatoes for added flavor in the mash.
• Use a ricer. For the smoothest mashed potatoes, put them through a ricer before adding the milk and butter.
• Swap the vegetables. Replace carrots with corn, parsnips, or turnips, or leave them out if you prefer.
• Add herbs. Try thyme or rosemary for extra savory depth.
• Use beef mince or ground beef. Both work well in this dish—British mince is very similar to American ground beef.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with buttered green peas or peas mixed into the mince.
• Pair with a simple green salad or roasted green beans for contrast.
• Add crusty bread or a biscuit for soaking up the gravy.
• Garnish with fresh parsley or chives for a pop of color.

Mince and Tatties

Diana

Treat your family to this traditional Scottish favorite. Mince and tatties is a cozy and budget-friendly one-skillet dinner!

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Servings 4 servings

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Course British Food, Ground Beef, Mashed Potatoes

Cuisine Scottish

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup diced carrot
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 1/2 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups beef broth, or more as needed
• 1 cube beef bouillon
• 1 cup peas, steamed, optional

For the Tatties

• 2 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
• 2 teaspoons salt, for the cooking water, plus more to taste
• 3/4 cup milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, optional

Instructions

• Sauté the aromatics. Heat the vegetable oil and butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the carrot, onion, and celery. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and cook for 4 minutes.
  
• Brown the meat. Add the ground beef to the pan and cook, stirring and breaking up the beef, for about 6 to 8 minutes, until the meat is no longer pink. Stir the flour into the beef mixture and continue to cook for 2 minutes.
  
• Add the liquids. Add the Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and bouillon and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and continue to cook for about 20 minutes. If too thick, add a bit more broth. Taste for seasonings and add salt and pepper, if needed. Add the steamed peas, if using, and heat through.
• Prepare the tatties. Put the chunks of potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Add 2 teaspoons of salt; place the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Meanwhile, heat the milk and butter in a saucepan or the microwave until the butter is melted.Drain the potatoes and put them in a bowl (put them through a ricer if you have one). Add the hot milk and butter mixture to the potatoes along with 1/4 teaspoon of pepper and mash until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings, as needed.
  
• Serve and enjoy. Serve the mince alongside the mashed potatoes, along with butter for the potatoes and a garnish of chopped parsley, if desired.
  

Keyword carrots, gravy, ground beef, mashed potatoes, mince and tatties

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