Why We Love This Authentic Cuban Beef Picadillo Recipe

Picadillo is a hearty dinner dish that’s popular in Latin American countries like Cuba and Mexico, plus many of the southern states of the US. While there are many recipe variations, versions nearly always include ground meat simmered in a zesty sauce made with tomatoes, raisins, and olives. It’s similar to Tex-Mex spicy taco meat, but has SO much more sweet, tangy, and earthy flavor, thanks to the extra goodies and a generous pinch of cinnamon. This Cuban Beef Picadillo recipe is simple to prepare in just one pan, and perfect to enjoy as a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner with rice and sides. Or use it to make flavorful and fun tacos. Either way, from start to finish it takes only a bit over 30 minutes to make!

Ingredients You Need

Oil – your preferred high-heat oil for cooking, like olive oil, avocado oil or canola oil Onion – peeled and chopped Garlic – minced Serrano peppers – seeded and chopped Cilantro – chopped, for cooking and garnishing Ground beef – I use ground chuck Seasonings – ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground cinnamon, salt Tomato sauce – canned or jarred Vinegar – your choice of apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar Pimento stuffed green olives – either whole and sliced, or save time by purchasing pre-sliced olives Raisins – traditionally red raisins, but you can use golden raisins if you like

How to Make Picadillo Cuban with Beef

Remove from the heat and serve warm. Garnish with a bit of chopped cilantro, if you like. Get the Complete (Printable!) Cuban Beef Picadillo Recipe Below. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

Protein – For a leaner dish, swap the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken. You can also use ground pork instead of beef, making the picadillo a pinch sweeter. Spiciness – Make the picadillo even spicier by adding an extra serrano pepper. For a less spicy dish, only use one serrano pepper. Or you can omit the heat entirely by leaving out the peppers. Olives – Yes, you can skip adding olives. The dish will still be quite tasty, but it will not technically be a Cuban beef picadillo recipe. Veggies – Some other versions of this dish include diced bell peppers, chopped potatoes, carrots, peas, squash, or other hearty vegetables.

Serving Suggestions

Typically, picadillo Cubano is served warm with fluffy white rice and black beans. We also highly recommend enjoying with a side of baked sweet plantains or crispy fried tostones. It’s also delicious to enjoy as a flavorful taco filling! Layer into flour or corn tortillas, and garnish with chopped cilantro, cotija cheese, and your favorite hot sauce. This is a fabulous dish for meal prepping for weekly lunches. All of the flavors become more intense as they mingle!

Looking for More Delicious Meaty Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

Keto Taco Stuffed Peppers Perfect Tamale Pie Recipe Homemade Hamburger Helper (Cheeseburger Macaroni!) One-Pot Sloppy Joe Noodle Skillet Mexican Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe New Orlean Muffaletta Sandwich

And Check Out These Other Fantastic Cuban Recipes:

Cuban Ropa Vieja Cuban Arroz con Pollo

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