Yes, USB-A adapters and USB hubs with Thunderbolt ports work perfectly with the Apple Mac Mini 2023 with M2 chip - but there are a few things to bear in mind:

Compatibility at a glance
1. thunderbolt/USB-C ports:

The Mac Mini M2 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C).

You can connect USB-C to USB-A adapters as well as complete USB hubs.

2nd USB-A adapter (single):

Yes, a USB-C to USB-A adapter works, e.g. for keyboard, mouse or USB stick.

Recommended: Adapter with USB 3.0 for full speed.

3. USB hub with 4× USB-A:

Yes, works - as long as the hub is equipped with Mac-compatible hardware and a USB-C connector (or is connected to USB-C/Thunderbolt via adapter).

A USB-C hub with at least 4 USB-A ports is ideal, optionally with its own power supply (for devices with higher power requirements).

Recommendation for 4× USB-A on the Mac Mini:
USB-C hub with 4-7 USB-A ports, e.g. from Anker, Satechi or Belkin.

Make sure that it supports USB 3.0 or better (not just USB 2.0).

If you connect a lot of power-hungry devices (e.g. external SSDs, MIDI controllers): It is better to choose an active (power supply-based) USB hub.

Would a USB hub work? I need 4 USB A ports.

A USB-A adapter with a Thunderbolt port is not directly compatible as the Thunderbolt ports on the Mac Mini 2023 are specifically designed for Thunderbolt 4 devices. However, you can use a USB-A adapter if you connect it to one of the USB-A ports available on the Mac Mini. You do not need adapters to use Thunderbolt devices as the Thunderbolt 4 ports are already integrated. However, if you want to connect an older Thunderbolt 2 device, you will need a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter.