Go Back
–+ servings
Cuban Beef Picadillo

Cuban Beef Picadillo: Comfort Food for Any Weeknight

Cuban Beef Picadillo is a comforting dish featuring savory ground beef, briny olives, and sweet raisins in a rich sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Cuban
Calories: 470
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Picadillo
  • 1 pound ground beef Choose 80/20 for richness or 90/10 with olive oil
  • 1 medium onion Diced
  • 3 cloves garlic Minced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper Diced
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup green olives Sliced
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1 leaf bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • optional cilantro For garnish

Equipment

  • large skillet

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
  2. Add diced onion, minced garlic, and diced red bell pepper; sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned, around 6-8 minutes.
  4. Stir in ground cumin, paprika, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Toast spices for 1 minute.
  5. Mix in tomato sauce, sliced green olives, and raisins. Stir well.
  6. Reduce heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
  8. Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired, and serve hot over rice or tortillas.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 470kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 30gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 700mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 600IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 3mg

Notes

For extra flavor, serve with fried plantains on the side.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!