When I’m looking for unique and delicious ways to use ground beef in dinner recipes, I turn to dishes such as homemade hamburger helper, beef enchiladas, Korean beef bowls and this super easy picadillo. Whenever I go to my local Cuban restaurant, I always order the picadillo. I love the sweet and savory blend of beef, olives, raisins and veggies. I’ve since learned how to make this dish at home, and it comes out just as good as the restaurant version!
Picadillo Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need olive oil, onion, red bell pepper, ground beef, garlic, salt, black pepper, green olives, raisins, cumin, oregano, a bay leaf, tomato sauce, beef broth and parsley or cilantro.
How Do You Make Picadillo?
Start by cooking onions and bell peppers in a large skillet until they’re soft. Add ground beef, olives, raisins, spices, tomato sauce and beef broth to the pan. Simmer until the sauce is thick, then add a sprinkle of parsley or cilantro and serve.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
I typically use 90% lean ground beef as it has plenty of flavor but is not overly greasy. If you use ground beef with a higher fat content, make sure to drain any excess fat from the meat after it’s cooked before proceeding with the rest of the recipe. This dish stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, which makes it great for meal prep. I typically start a pot of rice at the same time as I start making the picadillo so that all of my dinner components are done at the same time. Try serving this dish with my cilantro lime rice or black beans and rice and some sweet plantains for a memorable meal.
Flavor Variations
This recipe is delicious as-is, but you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
Meat: You can swap out the ground beef for a different type of meat such as ground turkey or chicken. Vegetables: Feel free to add other veggies such as diced cooked potatoes, peas, carrots or green chilies. You can even add a topping of pico de gallo! Eggs: It is common to serve picadillo either with hard boiled eggs or with a fried egg on top.
I make this dish on a regular basis and there are never any leftovers – it’s just that good!
Picadillo Video
