If you’re craving a comforting, flavor-packed dish that comes together with simple ingredients, picadillo is the perfect choice. This traditional Latin American favorite combines ground meat, savory spices, and a mix of sweet and salty elements like olives and raisins. Whether served over rice, stuffed into tacos, or used as a filling for empanadas, this homemade picadillo is hearty, satisfying, and full of authentic flavor.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 small onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2–3 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (or 1 can diced tomatoes)
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1/3 cup green olives, sliced
1 small potato, peeled and diced
1/4 cup raisins (optional, for a sweet touch)
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions:
Cook potatoes: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced potatoes and cook until golden and tender, about 5–7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Sauté aromatics: In the same skillet, add onions, bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté until soft and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes.
Brown the meat: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
Add flavor: Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
Mix everything: Return cooked potatoes to the pan. Add olives and raisins (if using). Simmer for another 10 minutes until flavors combine and the mixture thickens slightly.
Serve: Enjoy hot with white rice, over mashed potatoes, or in tortillas.
Note:
Picadillo is incredibly versatile! You can adjust it to your taste—skip the raisins if you prefer it savory, or swap ground beef for turkey or chicken. Some versions even add capers or a splash of vinegar for extra zing. It also makes great leftovers and freezes well, so feel free to double the batch!
