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    Home » Recipes » Cuban

    Easy Beef Picadillo

    Published by Rodney on May 20, 2020 - Jump to Recipe - 1 Comment

    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!
    easy beef picadillo

    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.

    meat in skillet

    🍲 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!

    easy beef picadillo simmering

    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!

    red wine vinegar
    Red Wine Vinegar

    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.

    easy beef picadillo with rice

    🐄 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.

    easy beef picadillo

    💭 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.

    easy beef picadillo

    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 Green Olives, I suggest you check these recipes out:

    • roast beef sandwich with olives
      Roast Beef Sandwich with Olives
    • three olive quesadillas
      Three Olive Quesadillas
    • caesar cocktail
      The Best Caesar Cocktail
    • Turkey Meatball and Olive Casserole
      Turkey Meatball and Olive Casserole

    📋 Gather your Ingredients

    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.

    📖 Recipe

    beef picadillo

    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!
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep TimePrep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook TimeCook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total TimeTotal Time 1 hour hr
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Cuban, Mexican
    Author Rodney
    Servings 6
    Calories 508 kcal

    Equipment

    • Skillet

    Ingredients
     

    • 4 teaspoon Olive Oil
    • 1 medium Yellow Onion, finely chopped
    • 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
    • 2 lbs Ground Beef
    • 15 oz Diced Tomatoes
    • ½ cup Green Olives, chopped
    • ⅓ cup Raisins
    • 3 tablespoon Tomato Paste
    • 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ cup Almonds, slivered & toasted

    Instructions
     

    • 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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 508kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 29gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 639mgPotassium: 762mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 249IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 5mg

    Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.

    Tried this Recipe?Leave a Comment below and share a picture on Instagram and tag @hot_rods_recipes and hashtag #hotrodsrecipes!

    More Delicious Cuban Recipes

    • grilled cubano sandwich
      Grilled Cubano Sandwich
    • cuban mojo pork
      Slow Cooker Cuban Mojo Pork
    • cuban meatballs
      Traditional Cuban Meatballs (Albondigas)
    • bowl of guiso de maiz
      Cuban Corn Stew (Guiso De Maiz)
    hot rods recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alice

      April 20, 2023 at 1:58 pm

      This Beef Picadillo has a great taste. My family loves green olives and raisins. This was one of the reasons I tried this recipe. It turned out great and everyone loved it.

      Reply

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