Easy Beef Picadillo

If you've never had Picadillo before then you must try this Easy to make Beef Picadillo. One of the easiest and tastiest dishes out there!

I love Picadillo. One of my all-time favorite Picadillo recipes is my Authentic Cuban Picadillo Recipe. But if you are looking for an easier Picadillo recipe, this Easy Beef Picadillo recipe might be just what you are looking for.

🍲 What is Picadillo

In its simplest form, a picadillo usually includes some sort of sofrito (garlic, peppers, onions and various spices), meat (beef, turkey or chicken), raisins and olives. Different countries prepare their picadillo differently. Regardless of where it comes from, they are all delicious!

While this picadillo recipe does call for quite a few ingredients, don't let that scare you away. This picadillo recipe is quite easy to make and well worth the effort. It's delicious!

I like to use an 85 / 15 blend of ground beef when making picadillo. A leaner ground beef makes this dish a little on the dry side for my tastes. Feel free to experiment though and select the one that is right for you.

🐄 How to Handle Raw Beef

Thaw raw ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid dripping onto other foods.
Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
Use a Thermometer to ensure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.

💭 Recipe Tip

Don't you hate it when raisins get stuck together in a big clump? To unstick the raisins, wet your hands with a little water then work the raisins apart.

This Picadillo dish is best served over a bed of white rice or roasted potatoes. But feel free to experiment on your own!

For more great recipes with Cocoa Powder, I suggest you check these recipes out:

📋 What Ingredients do I need

You will need the following ingredients to make this Easy Beef Picadillo recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Olive Oil, Yellow Onion, Garlic Cloves, Ground Beef, Crushed Tomatoes, Green Olives, Raisins, Tomato Paste, Red Wine Vinegar, Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, Ground Cumin, Salt and Slivered Almonds.

🥣 How to make Easy Beef Picadillo

In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is tender, about 5 minutes.
Stir in ground beef and cook, until meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes, olives, raisins, tomato paste, vinegar, cocoa, cumin, and salt. Stir to combine and heat to boiling.
Reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in almonds and serve.