Mince and Tatties

By Lucy Parissi

4.50 from 6 votes

, Updated Jul 27, 2025

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Classic Scottish comfort food – beloved Mince and Tatties! Savory minced beef simmered with onions, carrot and celery in a rich gravy, served over creamy mashed potatoes. A family‑friendly, freezer‑friendly meal that’s hearty, simple and oh-so-satisfying.

A bowl of mashed potatoes topped with chopped parsley sits next to a rich Mince and Tatties—a classic Scottish recipe featuring ground beef and vegetables in dark gravy. A fork rests in the potatoes, with red wine and a small dish in the background.

Table of Contents

What’s Mince and Tatties?

Mince and Tatties is one of those meals that brings back childhood memories of school lunches and cozy family dinners, especially if you were raised in Scotland.

This dish has been a staple in Scottish homes for decades, where it is rumored to be eaten at least once a week! In fact, it’s so well-known that there’s even a Mince and Tatties Championship that takes place every year on the Isle of Mull (fact!).

This classic pairing of savory ground beef and creamy mashed potatoes continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Scots and with good reason! It is truly comfort food at its best, with a side serving of cultural pride.

“Mash and mix the tatties
Wi mince into the mashin / And sic a tasty denner Will aye be voted ‘Smashin!’”

JK Annand

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I always jump at the chance to make a recipe that I know my kids will devour without any fuss… and believe me these are not easy to come by! I know you will love it too – and let me count the reasons…

  • The ultimate comfort food – cozy, nostalgic flavors that remind you of home.
  • Kid‑friendly—even picky eaters will devour the gravy on tatties.
  • Minimal fuss, maximum flavor – simple steps, hearty payoff.
  • Freezer‑friendly – make a big batch and you’ve got dinner on standby!
Close-up of a hearty Mince and Tatties, a classic Scottish recipe, featuring ground beef, diced carrots, onions, and fresh chopped parsley, all being stirred with a wooden spoon.

Here’s What You Will Need

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this simple hearty meal! Use a cooking spray, lean ground beef and omit the beer if making a slimming version.

  • Vegetable oil or cooking spray
  • Minced Beef (ground beef) – ideally Scottish steak mince 12% fat
  • Onions, diced or minced using a mini chopper
  • Carrots, celery and garlic
  • Beef stock cube (an Oxo Beef Cube for authenticity)
  • Tomato paste (just a smidge!)
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Red wine or beer – this is totally optional and not traditional but adds flavour
  • Beef broth (such as canned Beef Consommé) or Knorr beef stockpot 
  • Salt and pepper
  • Flat leaf parsley (optional, but I do like a garnish!)
  • Potatoes and butter (take a look at my Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes)
A skillet filled with cooked ground beef, chopped carrots, celery, and fresh herbs in a rich brown sauce—a classic Scottish recipe reminiscent of Mince and Tatties—being stirred with a spoon.

How to Make Mince and Tatties

  1. Heat a little vegetable oil and brown the mince (ground beef), breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon. Cook over high heat for five minutes, until nicely coloured.
  2. Add the onions, carrots, celery and crumbled Oxo cube and cook, stirring, for five minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and garlic.
Ground beef is being browned in a black frying pan on a stovetop, with some pieces still showing a bit of pink. Steam rises from the cooking meat, perfect for starting a classic Scottish recipe like Mince and Tatties.
A frying pan filled with chopped onions, carrots, and ground beef is being sautéed on a stovetop. The ingredients are mixed and partially cooked, creating the savory base for a classic Scottish recipe like Mince and Tatties.
  1. Stir in the wine or beer (or you can simply use more beef stock) and simmer until most of the liquid is gone.
  2. Add the beef broth and bring to a rolling simmer. Partially cover the pan, lower the heat and gently simmer for an hour. Give the mince an occasional stir to check on liquid levels.
  3. Have a taste and add salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with mashed potatoes.
Ground beef, chopped carrots, celery, and onions simmer in a pan as red wine is poured in, creating a rich and savory mixture—perfect for a classic Scottish recipe like Mince and Tatties.

Slow Cooker Instructions

If you want to cook mince and tatties in a slow cooker you can follow the same recipe, browning the beef and cooking the vegetables then transferring to a slow cooker with only 240ml (1 cup) of beef broth and cooking for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high. Since the slow cooker doesn’t allow for any evaporation you might need to add a little cornstarch slurry to thicken the gravy.

To cook in an Instant Pot use the sauté function to brown the beef and cook the vegetables then cook on High Pressure for 30 minutes. Use 180ml (3/4 cup) of total liquid and stir in some cornflour slurry to thicken if needed.

A bowl of mashed potatoes topped with a hearty ground beef and vegetable stew, inspired by the classic Scottish recipe Mince and Tatties, is being served with a spoon. A glass of red wine and a small dish of salt are in the background.

Recipe Tips

  • The rich beef in gravy makes a great base for Cottage Pie. You can also use it as a filling for pasties, empanadas and tacos (a bit of a cultural meet-cute).
  • Storing and Freezing Mince and Tatties keeps like a dream. Spoon cooled leftovers into an airtight container and stash in the fridge for up to four days. Freeze portions of the mince (and even the mash, if you like) for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
  • Reheating To reheat, gently warm on the stovetop with a splash of water to loosen the gravy, or microwave in short bursts, stirring in between.
Pan with Scottish Mince and Tatties (ground beef and mashed potatoes)

HAVE YOU MADE MY MINCE AND TATTIES RECIPE? Please leave a comment and rating below, your feedback helps other home cooks too! And if you want to show off on social, please tag me on Instagram @supergolden88 and TikTok @supergoldenbakes  🙂

A bowl of mashed potatoes topped with chopped parsley sits next to a rich Mince and Tatties—a classic Scottish recipe featuring ground beef and vegetables in dark gravy. A fork rests in the potatoes, with red wine and a small dish in the background.
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4.50 from 6 votes

Mince and Tatties

By Lucy Parissi | Supergolden Bakes
Mince and tatties is a classic Scottish recipe that’s easy to make and incredibly delicious. Tender minced beef in a rich gravy served with mashed potatoes is total comfort food heaven!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients

For the Mince

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil or cooking spray for SW version
  • 1 pound (250) steak mince or lean ground beef
  • 2 yellow onions , finely diced or minced
  • 2 carrots , diced
  • 1 celery stalk , finely diced
  • 1 beef stock cube , crumbled to a powder
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp garlic paste or minced garlic
  • ¼ cup (60ml) beer or red wine (optional!)
  • 2 cups (500ml) canned beef broth or beef stock
  • salt and pepper , to taste
  • Flat leaf parsley to garnish

Mashed Potatoes

  • 5 large floury potatoes , peeled and cubed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • salt and pepper , to taste

Instructions 

  • Heat a little vegetable oil and brown the beef, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon. Cook over high heat for five minutes, until nicely colored.
    2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 pound (250) steak mince
  • Add the onions, carrots, celery and crumbled stock cube and cook, stirring, for five minutes.
    2 yellow onions, 2 carrots, 1 beef stock cube, 1 celery stalk
  • Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and garlic.
    2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp tomato paste, 1 tsp garlic paste
  • Add the wine or beer (or you can simply use more beef stock) and simmer until most of the liquid is gone.
    ¼ cup (60ml) beer
  • Add the beef broth and bring to a rolling simmer. Partially cover the pan, lower the heat and gently simmer for an hour. Give the mince an occasional stir to check on liquid levels.
    2 cups (500ml) canned beef broth
  • Meanwhile boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes or until fork tender. Drain, reserving some of the liquid. Mash with the butter adding some of the cooking water or a bit of milk if needed. Taste and season.
    5 large floury potatoes, 1 tsp salt, 2 tbsp butter, salt and pepper
  • Taste the mince and add salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped parsley or celery leaves.
    salt and pepper, Flat leaf parsley to garnish

Notes

Slow Cooker Cooking Instructions
If you want to cook your mince and tatties in a slow cooker you can follow the same recipe, browning the beef and cooking the vegetables then transferring to a slow cooker with only1 cup (250ml) of beef broth and cooking for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high. Since the slow cooker doesn’t allow for any evaporation you might need to add a tablespoon of cornflour to thicken the gravy.
Instant Pot Cooking Instructions
To cook in an Instant Pot use the sauté function to brown the beef and cook the vegetables then cook on High Pressure for 30 minutes. Use  3/4 cup (180ml) of total liquid and stir in some cornflour slurry to thicken if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 574kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 1445mg | Potassium: 1768mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5304IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.

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