Picadillo is savory, spicy, Mexican-inspired consolation meals constructed from juicy floor beef and tender potatoes stewed in seasoned tomato sauce. It’s straightforward to place collectively in a single skillet and scrumptious served with comfortable tortillas or rice!
In the event you love Mexican flavors as a lot as I do, attempt extra one-pan wonders like this weeknight burrito skillet and scorching steak fajitas subsequent.


This Mexican picadillo is a one-pan recipe with tender floor beef stewed with diced potatoes and veggies in a wealthy, spicy tomato sauce. In a manner, it’s a bit just like the Latin American model of Irish corned beef and hash. Filled with Mexican-style seasonings, picadillo is wealthy and savory with a contact of chili. Simply all-around scrumptious!
Why You’ll Love This Picadillo Recipe
- Daring flavors. Picadillo is the proper consolation meals. It’s savory and somewhat spicy (with the choice to adapt the warmth, after all), full of tender potatoes, bell peppers, and juicy floor beef. This simplified recipe makes use of straightforward elements you’ll discover in most grocery shops.
- One skillet. You may make picadillo on the stovetop in underneath an hour. Every little thing will get sautéed, simmered, and served proper out of the identical pan.
- Versatile. Whether or not you serve your picadillo over rice, in a taco, rolled up inside a burrito or in any other case, one factor is just about assured: It’ll be gone from the plate in minutes!


What Is Picadillo?
Conventional picadillo is a spicy Latin-American hash. It’s simmered like a stew or birria with floor meat and veggies, typically served as a filling for tacos or with rice and beans. It’s a humble, flavorful dish which you can put together in a single skillet, with a great deal of methods to customise the recipe.
Cuban vs. Mexican Picadillo
The recipe we’re making right here is extra of a Mexican picadillo, with elements like chili peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes. In the meantime, Cuban picadillo recipes are usually tangier, with crimson wine, vinegar, and add-ins like bay leaves and raisins. You’ll discover Puerto Rican variations and picadillo from different cultures, too! Even the Philippines (of Filipino hen adobo fame) has their model, known as giniling.


Elements For Picadillo
I’ve tailored the elements in conventional picadillo to make this recipe a bit extra approachable for people at dwelling. It is probably not an genuine picadillo, per se, however I feel it captures the essence and flavors whereas utilizing available elements.
You’ll discover some fast notes beneath. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable recipe particulars, adopted by a step-by-step overview with photographs displaying the right way to make it.
- Olive Oil – Or one other cooking oil with a gentle taste, for sautéeing.
- Floor Beef – I like to recommend lean floor beef. You can even make picadillo with floor pork, hen, or turkey.
- Potatoes – The most effective potatoes for picadillo are russet and Yukon potatoes. Peel and cube the potatoes beforehand.
- Onion and Bell Peppers – Yellow onion and bell pepper; any shade will work, however I take advantage of inexperienced and crimson. Take away the seeds from the peppers earlier than you cube them.
- Chili Pepper – This may be poblano pepper (the basic selection for Mexican picadillo), jalapeño, serrano, or any selection you’d like. I extremely suggest eradicating the seeds to mood the warmth a bit. In a pinch, you need to use dried chilies or chili flakes. Adapt the quantity of chili or depart it out when you want a milder dish.
- Garlic – Freshly minced, or you possibly can substitute ½ teaspoon of garlic powder per clove.
- Tomato Sauce – Select your favourite store-bought or do-it-yourself tomato sauce, passata, or tomato purée.
- Seasonings – Cumin and oregano increase the Mexican-inspired flavors. You can even swap in a mix, like fajita seasoning, or add somewhat cinnamon for heat.


Recipe Suggestions
- Drain any extra grease. After browning the meat, when you discover fairly a little bit of grease accumulating within the skillet, make sure you drain it earlier than you add the veggies. This typically occurs when you’re utilizing beef with a better fats content material. You don’t need a greasy picadillo.
- Serve with lime. A squeeze of contemporary lime brings out the picadillo’s savory, spicy flavors. All the time serve with lime wedges!
- Extra add-ins. Be at liberty so as to add chopped carrots, pitted olives (for Puerto Rican-style picadillo), or raisins for a sweet-savory distinction.
- Amp up the warmth. In the event you like your picadillo with extra spice, stir in somewhat adobo sauce from a jar or chipotle in adobo. You can even add further chili to style.


Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Retailer leftover picadillo in an hermetic container and refrigerate it for as much as 4 days. I typically use leftover picadillo because the filling for Southwest egg rolls or beef enchiladas!
- Reheat. Heat your leftovers within the microwave or on the stovetop. In the event you discover that the feel is a bit dry, add somewhat extra tomato sauce, broth, or water when reheating.
- Freeze. Picadillo freezes effectively for as much as 2 months. Thaw the leftovers within the fridge in a single day earlier than you reheat them.
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- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean floor beef
- 3 to 4 small potatoes, peeled and diced, about 2 cups
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- ½ crimson bell pepper, seeded, chopped
- ½ inexperienced bell pepper, seeded, chopped
- 1 small chili pepper, like poblano or jalapeno, seeded and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- salt and freshly floor black pepper, to style
- 1 teaspoon floor cumin
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
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Brown the meat. Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the meat, season it to style with salt and pepper, and cook dinner till browned. Take away the meat from the skillet and put aside.
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Prepare dinner the veggies. In the identical skillet, add the potatoes and cook dinner them for five minutes. Add onion, bell peppers, chili pepper, and garlic. Prepare dinner, stirring for five minutes.
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Put all of it collectively. Add the meat and return it to the skillet. Add tomato sauce, cumin, and oregano. Season to style with salt and pepper. Simmer the picadillo for 20 minutes.
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End. After 20 minutes, verify the potatoes for doneness. They need to be cooked at this level.
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Serve. Serve the picadillo with some freshly cooked rice or with tortillas.
- Drain extra fats. In case you are utilizing beef with a better fats content material, make sure that to empty extra grease from the skillet.
- Serve it with limes. Picadillo flavors pair wonderful with lime juice, so all the time serve your picadillo with some lime wedges.
- Extra veggies. If you need some further veggies in your picadillo, you possibly can add corn or chopped carrots.
- Potato choices. The most effective potatoes for this dish are russet and Yukon gold potatoes.
Energy: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 20g | Fats: 7g | Saturated Fats: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Trans Fats: 0.3g | Ldl cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 253mg | Potassium: 961mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 602IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 4mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might range in response to the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
How one can Make Picadillo
You’re about 45 minutes and one skillet away from this straightforward do-it-yourself Mexican picadillo. Observe the steps beneath:




- Brown the meat. First, season the bottom beef, then brown it in a skillet with olive oil. Take away the meat to a plate afterward.
- Prepare dinner the veggies. In the meantime, add the potatoes to the skillet. Prepare dinner for five minutes, then add the onions, bell peppers, chilies, and garlic. Sauté the veggies for an additional 5 minutes in order that they soften.




- Put all of it collectively. Now, return the cooked beef to the skillet. Stir within the tomato sauce, then the cumin and oregano, and season to style. Simmer the picadillo for about 20 minutes, till the potatoes are carried out.
- Serve. Dish up your picadillo with rice or comfortable tortillas. See the part earlier for simpler serving concepts.

