A Guide to Budget Cuts of Beef

Lately, a lot of us find ourselves needing to cook on a budget, with many of us love the satisfaction of grabbing a good bargain. But that doesn’t mean that we need to sacrifice on flavour or quality.

At Campbells, we have a range of modest options and cheap cuts of beef to suit all families, from everyday favourites to other more unusual cuts. We don’t believe that sacrificing cost should mean sacrificing quality, so all of our cheaper priced cuts of beef and other meat are still very tasty, while some also remain wallet-friendly. We also have the option of splitting your payment into several interest-free instalments so you can be a little bit more adventurous with your meat options, whilst also staying economical.

Often the barrier that many people face when it comes to trying alternative or cheaper cuts of beef is not being too sure on how to prepare them. In fact, when speaking to our butchers, a common theme that arose is that they wished more people knew about the wider variety of beef cuts available and how to prepare them. There’s actually a lot more to beef than most people think, and knowing exactly how to prepare beef cuts is the key to being able to enjoy them to the fullest.

A lot of these cuts of beef have simply ‘gone out of fashion’ or are less readily available in supermarkets and shops, although as times begin changing, some are beginning to make a comeback as slow cooking and slow cooker recipes have taken off in the last few years thanks to social media.

Below is a selection of our alternative and cheaper cuts of beef. From bargain beef steaks to cheap beef stewing options, many of which are made with premium Scotch Beef. We hope that you will find plenty of inspiration on how to cook our cheap cuts of meat and eat healthily, ethically – and tastily- on a budget.

If you are completely new to cooking steaks, have a look at our handy blog posts that include How to Cook a Steak, the Top 10 Steak Sides, and Top 10 Steak Sauces recipe blog posts. We also have our Ox Cheek Stew Recipe which will teach you the fundamentals of making any basic beef stew.

Cheap Steak Cuts

Fajita Steak

120g x 2

Our Fajita Steak is a fantastic option for those who want to indulge in a bit of steak without breaking the bank. Not only this, but it’s also incredibly simple and easy to prepare, not to mention versatile.

Originating from Mexico, we recommend lightly frying our fajita steaks, cutting them into strips and then serving them in wraps or tortillas with sliced grilled or fried peppers and cheese. We also recommend adding salsa, guacamole, and sour cream for a delicious hit of extra flavour. Of course, it’s up to you to make your wraps as simple or as complicated as you like, depending on your personal taste and budget. For something a little bit lighter, you can ditch the wrap or tortilla and serve the meat and toppings on a bed of salad.

 

Scotch Beef Picanha Steak Twin Pack

170g x 2

Also known as a rump cap Picanha cut, the Scotch beef Picanha is another one of our steak cuts that originates from South America, this time from Brazil. They are delicious when served with crispy new potatoes and a variety of sauces.

Simply cook whole then slice into thin strips of your desired size. We also highly recommend accompanying them with our very own Chimichurri recipe, which you can find in our Top 10 Steak Sauces.

One of the best things about this cut is that it comes from Scotch Beef cattle that are born, raised, and processed here in Scotland while adhering to the highest standards of animal welfare and sustainable farming practices. Not only is this cut tasty, but it’s also great value for money, and even better for Scottish farming.

 

Scotch Beef Bavette Steak Twin Pack

170g x 2
This twin pack of Bavette Steaks are extremely good value for money. Bavette Steak, also known as flank steak, is another cut that works well with a wide variety of sauces and accompaniments, making it super versatile for both weeknight dinners and hosting dinner parties. Another top tip is that this cut can benefit from a bit of marinating and being cooked with a hot and fast technique to keep an ideal texture.

 

Scotch Beef Rump Steak Twin Pack

230g x 2

Cut from the rump, this beef is not only absolutely packed with flavour, but it’s also incredibly versatile. It can be served with a variety of sides and sauces, however we highly recommend something simple and potato based, for example, chips or mashed potato.

This steak is also a perfect option for the BBQ on hot summer evenings. To find out the best way to cook up a BBQ Rump steak, take a look at our Top 5 Beef Steak Marinades that promise to provide an additional explosion of flavour.

If you prefer something lighter, this steak can also be cooked to be on the rare side and served as part of a salad.

 

Scotch Beef Minute Steaks

120g x 2

Our Scotch beef minute steaks do exactly what they say on the tin. Ready to eat in only one minute, they’re perfect for all manner of steak sandwiches and steak salads, which we thoroughly encourage you to try out. From a simple minute steak and cheese roll, to a more extravagant baguette served with a Dijon mayonnaise, this cut allows you to be as extravagant or as simple as you want. For a salad, simply slice your strips of minute steaks, crumble up some feta cheese, and add a balsamic glaze on a bed of rocket or leafy greens of your choice.

We cut our minute steaks from Scotch Beef which ensures that despite their size, these steaks provide excellent value for money, without any sacrifice on quality.

 

Cheap Stewing Cuts of Beef

These cheap cuts of beef for stews are perfect for cooking in a wide variety of dishes, including curries and casseroles.

Beef Shin Boneless

500g
Beef shin works particularly well for long and slow cooked spicy stews, curries, and tagines. The key, as with all of the stewing beef options, is to cook them long and slow to fully infuse the flavours and allow the meat to completely tenderise. This is a great option when you want to use your slow cooker, too, as you can just add in all of your ingredients and allow them to marinate all day.

 

Ox Cheek

400g – 600g

Ox Cheek has seen a recent resurgence of popularity due to the inclusion of ox cheek stews in a lot of higher end restaurants and hotels. It is still excellent value for money and deceptively easy to cook, while also being sure to impress any guests. This is our ultimate choice for a budget friendly, yet fancy dinner party. Take a look at our Ox Cheek Stew Recipe to find instructions on exactly how to make it.

 

Scotch Beef Braising Steak Twin Pack

200g x 2

Our braising steak makes an excellent alternative to Ox Cheek if you’re looking to whip up our incredibly tasty Ox Cheek Stew Recipe and is also a cheap beef cut for braising. The key to cooking braising steak is to first sear the meat on all sides by cooking for a few minutes in a hot pan. This allows for the flavours of the meat to fully develop, then slow cooking helps get the meat incredibly tender. Another Scotch Beef option that ensures quality, regardless of the price.

 

Feather Blade of Scotch Beef

500g

Feather blade is a delicious and tender cut of beef that comes from the shoulder. Lending itself to slow cooking or braising, the feather blade of beef is perfect for curries and stews. When cooked, the marbling renders down and adds plenty of flavour, while slow cooking also ensures that the cut develops a melt-in-the-mouth texture. This cut of beef is another great alternative to Ox Cheek in stews, curries or casseroles.

Cut from Scotch Beef, this is an excellent choice for the discerning and ethically minded meat lover.

We hope this guide to unusual, budget and cheap cuts of beef have been helpful. If you want to try something different, we also have sirloin steaks, ribeye steaks and fillet steak amongst many other meats. Why not try out one of our meat boxes today?