Summer meals for us are all about ease – quick cooking, flexible portions, and food that works across more than one meal. The entertaining months are in full swing, not to mention the kids are on school holidays (and hungrier than ever) and keeping the fridge or freezer stocked with the cuts that know will go far for the season, is top of our priority list.
Beef cuts like mince, sausages, schnitzel, burgers and meatballs are super budget friendly because they’re:
- Easy to portion
- Quick to cook
- Versatile on their end use, meaning you don’t need to be planned right down to the single meal
Instead of being locked into one way of cooking, these beef cuts can be stretched, shared and repurchased – helping your build-a-box or beef box, go further without sacrificing on flavour.
MINCE: The Ultimate Multi-taster
Rather than being tied to just one meal – mince can be shaped, seasoned and used in so many different ways. This cut in particular works hard all-year round, but in summer, we love it either on the stovetop or oven (enjoying it as mince on its own) or transforming it into burger patties, rissoles or meatballs and then letting the BBQ do the rest. Ideal for cooking once.. and eating twice!
Dishes we love to use it in during the summer months:
A few favourites of ours include:
- Korean Beef Mince Bowls
- Pan Fried Beef Tortillas with Mint Yoghurt
- Beef Mince Lettuce Cups
- Angus Beef and Bean Tortillas
- Beef Hot Honey Protein Bowls
- Beef and Parsley Rissoles
SAUSAGES: Built for Easy Summer Meals
Our classic Angus Beef Sausages are rated 5-star and a customer favourite for a reason. Our summer go-to as nothing feels like summer more than a good ol kiwi classic sausage! They’re quick to cook, easy to share, and pair effortless with simple sides and salads. In Summer, they don’t need much more than a hot BBQ and a fresh salad (or even white bread) to become a complete meal.
What we love to use them in:
- Sausage Banh Mi (but substitute the pork sausages with our beef ones)
- Sausage and Caramelised Onion Baked Potatoes
- Sausage Sandwiches with Garlic Mayo
- Sausage and Egg Bread Cups (particularly great for when school starts back as they make great lunchbox fillers).
SCHNITZEL: Light, Fast and Flexible
Because Schnitzel is a thin cut, it cooks quickly and suits lighter summer eating. We love serving it hot with salads but possibly love it more enjoyed cold the next day as leftovers, slapped between two pieces of bread! Because of this – we vote this cut to be perfect for flexible meal planning.
Two of our favourite Schnitzel recipes include:
- Japanese Edamame Slaw with Sesame Schnitzel
- Beef Schnitzel with Lemon Mash (however usually for the summer months, we’d substitute the mash with a fresh summer salad).
BURGERS: Portion-friendly and Crowd-Ready
Burger patties make summer entertaining simple. They’re super quick to cook, easy to portion and can be served in different formats depending on the occasion – from classic burgers to sliders, or burger bowls!
Burger recipes worth trying:
- Angus Beef Cheeseburger
- Build-your-own Big Mac Burger
- Double Angus Beef Brisket and Chuck Burgers and Fries
- Eggplant Beef Burger Roulade
- Beef Bao Buns (just substitute the Beef and Beetroot patties with our Angus Beef Burgers).
For more beef burger recipes, visit our recipes page.
MEATBALLS: Small Bites, Big Flexibility
Meatballs are ideal for sharing and stretching across meals. Their size makes them easy to portion, they’re perfect for families and they work across a range of cuisines and serving styles – especially during the summer.
We particularly love them on:
- Meatball Pizza
- Meatball Subs
- Flatbreads with Meatballs, Hummus and Garlic Yoghurt
- Baked Gnocchi with Meatballs (since we longer make the Beef and Beetroot meatballs, we substitute with our Angus Beef Meatballs as its such a great timeless recipe).
Summer cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Choosing beef cuts that are flexible, easy to portion, and quick to cook means your beef box works harder for you – whether you’re feeding the family, hosting friends, or just keeping things simple during warmer days.
