Puerto Rican Picadillo, a classic Latin ground meat dish is a fantastic option for a weeknight meal. It features ground beef simmered with veggies and spices and made in just 30 minutes.
Jump to:
What is Picadillo?
Picadillo, derived from the Spanish word "picar," meaning to chop or to mince, is a classic dish in homes across Latin American countries featuring ground meat simmered with a medley of vegetables, olives, raisins, herbs, and spices.
There are different variations of Picadillo in Latin American Cuisine, from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic, to even Filipino Picadillo, but there is one commonality, a lot of flavors from simple ingredients cooked into one delicious meal.
This easy Puerto Rican Picadillo is an iconic recipe in Puerto Rican food that transcends deliciousness. And the best part? Easy enough for a weeknight meal that whips up in a single pan under 30 minutes, delivering a delicious dish that'll have you said, "Buen Provecho!" in no time.
Speaking of Puerto Rico, if you love tropical flavors, try this Puerto Rican Style Orange Flan Recipe. Delish!
What to Serve with Picadillo
For a typical Latin American experience, the best way to eat Picadillo is served with RICE (No Picadillo is complete without it!). Other side dishes that complement are black beans, sweet plantains, and tostones.
Beyond the plate: Other uses for Picadillo
Use any leftover Picadillo as a filling for other Latin recipes like tacos, a filling for empanada dough for quick Puerto Rican Empanadas, a filling for Papa Rellena (Stuffed Potato Balls), or as the main ingredient in Puerto Rican Lasagna.
Other Puerto Rican recipes you may like are Pavochon, Arroz con Gandules, Tostones, and the base of many Puerto Rican recipes, Puerto Rican Sofrito.
Equipment
- One large skillet or cooking pan
- Wooden spatula
Picadillo Ingredients and Substitutions
Simple ingredients cooked to perfection into a Delicious Puerto Rican Picadillo
See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
- Lean Ground Beef
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Onion finely diced – I used yellow onion but white or red onion work too.
- Green Bell Pepper finely diced (yellow, green, or red bell pepper are suitable substitutes)
- Fresh Garlic - fresh is best, but use Garlic Powder in a pinch
- Sweet Peppers finely diced
- Cilantro leaves finely chopped - Cilantro is the preferred herb for this dish, but Culantro is a great substitute if available.
- Fresh crushed tomatoes - For best flavor and freshest texture, use freshly crushed tomatoes. If fresh aren't available, Canned Tomato Sauce is a convenient substitute. Another suitable substitute is diluting 2 tablespoons of Tomato Paste in 3/4 cup hot water. However, it will add sweetness.
- Cumin - a fantastic spice used in Latin cooking and a must in this recipe
- Kosher Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper
- Spanish olives stuffed with red peppers, rinsed and sliced - this ingredient adds a fantastic and unique flavor. Do not skip!
- Raisins - a delicious sweet touch you will be glad you used.
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this recipe post to you, so you can come back to it later!
How to Make this Recipe
- CARAMELIZE THE ONIONS: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the finely diced onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until traslucent. This adds depth of flavor.
- BROWN THE BEEF: Add the ground meat and cook for about 7-10 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon until browned.
- VEGGIES: Add the diced bell peppers, sweet peppers, and crushed garlic, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- SPICES: Sprinkle in the cumin, salt, and black pepper, then pour the crushed tomatoes and mix well.
- SIMMER: Let the meat mixture simmer for 10 minutes at low heat, allowing the flavors to blend.
- FINISHING TOUCHES: Add the cilantro, sweet raisins, and sliced Spanish olives. Stir them in, and let it simmer for another 2 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
There you have it – one of my favorite Latin American classics!
With a little bit of zest and love, a feast of flavors in just 30 minutes! Serve your Picadillo over fluffy white rice, with black beans on the side, and soak in the compliments. This family recipe is the perfect way to bring some Puerto Rican light to your weeknight dinner.
Buen Provecho!
Recipe Variations
While I used the most traditional ingredients in this recipe, this Puerto Rican style picadillo is your chance to create your own version of this Latin American treasure.
- Try OTHER MEATS: While beef is most traditional in Picadillo, change things up by using ground pork, turkey or ground chicken in this recipe.
- Add DICED POTATOES: This enhances the flavor and texture. Diced Potatoes are very common in Picadillo recipes throughout Latin America.
- ADOBO seasoning and BAY leaves: Add a teaspoon of adobo seasoning and a couple of bay leaves for a deeper flavor.
- GREEN ONIONS: Add a handful of chopped green onions at the end for an extra fresh bite.
- SPICY touch: If you like a little heat, Spice it up with a 1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper.
Storing leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. It's fantastic the next day, ready to add joy to your mealtime
Rate this Recipe!!
If you've tried this Puerto Rican Picadillo recipe, leave a star rating! Your feedback guides us and inspires others to embark on their Latin culinary journey. Happy cooking! And Buen Provecho!
Other Latin recipes you may like
- Creamy Chipotle Chicken Pasta Recipe (Under 1 hour!)
- 25+ Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes: Easy Recipes
- 30+ Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes (Dinner Ideas)
- Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn
- Mexican-Style Elote (Corn) Salad Recipe
- Cuban-Style Air Fryer Roasted Chicken (Cuban Pollo Asado) Under 1 hour!
- Spicy Shrimp Bowl Recipe with Rice and Peach Avocado Salad (Under 30 minutes!)
- Puerto Rican Rice with Pigeon Peas (Arroz con Gandules)
Pairing
Some of my favorite drinks:
📖 GET THE RECIPE! 🍽️
Easy Puerto Rican Picadillo (Spiced Ground Beef)
Equipment
- One large skillet or cooking panWooden spatula.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Medium onion about 1 cup – finely diced
- 1/2 Green Bell pepper yellow or red bell peppers are suitable substitutes, finely diced
- 3 Garlic Cloves crushed
- 1/2 cup Diced Sweet Peppers about three peppers
- 1/4 cup Cilantro Leaves Chopped
- 1 cup of Fresh Crushed Tomatoes see notes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Cumin
- 1.5 teaspoons Salt
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 10 Green Spanish Olives stuffed with red peppers rinsed and sliced (about 1/4 cup olives sliced)
- 1 tablespoon Raisins
- TIP: Homemade sofrito shortcut - If you have Sofrito saved up skip the chopping and add a cup of as a substitute for the onion, garlic, and peppers. Here is a recipe for homemade Puerto Rican Sofrito
Instructions
- Caramelize the onions: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and caramelized. This adds depth of flavor.
- Brown the beef: Add the ground meat and cook for about 7-10 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon until browned.
- Veggies: Add the diced bell peppers, sweet peppers, and crushed garlic, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Spices: Sprinkle in the cumin, salt, and pepper, then pour the crushed tomatoes and mix well.
- Simmer: Let the meat mixture simmer for 10 minutes at low heat, allowing the flavors to blend.
- Finishing touches: Add the cilantro, sweet raisins, and sliced olives. Stir them in, and let it simmer for another 2 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
- Serve your Picadillo over fluffy white rice, with black beans on the side, and soak in the compliments.
Buen Provecho!
Would you like to save this recipe?
We'll email this recipe post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Genevieve says
Oh, this picadillo recipe looks incredible! I can't wait to make this recipe for taco night!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Thanks, Genevieve! Get ready for a taco night-level up! ? This picadillo is delicious. Enjoy! ?
DK says
Obsessed with this Puerto Rican Picadillo! It was just so easy to make plus the spices adds a nice kick of flavor and soul to this meal! So perfect for hearty meal and with rice!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Thanks, DK! Picadillo is the ultimate Latin comfort food. So happy you loved it! ?
Alex says
Picadillo is my favorite food and I LOVED that your version is spicy! This recipe was soo easy to make.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That's awesome! Picadillo is a great dish. Thanks for making the recipe! 🙂
Oscar says
This Puerto Rican Picadillo is a standout dish for any weeknight meal. The rich, savory flavor of the ground beef, combined with perfectly simmered veggies and spices, creates a satisfying and flavorful dinner that will quickly become a household favorite.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Oscar,
Thanks for trying the recipe! I'm glad you enjoyed it. ?
Nicole Kendrick says
This is delicious! I used it to make Tex-Mex sloppy joes, and we all loved it so much.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That's a fantastic idea, Nicole! Picadillo is a great base for sloppy joes. Yum! You made me hungry. ? Glad you and your family enjoyed it. ❤️ ?
DK says
I made this Puerto Rican Picadillo for last night's family dinner! And it was the crowd's favorite. Always love a hearty meal that can be done in 30 minutes!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That's fantastic! Picadillo is a great dish for family dinners. I'm glad it was a hit. Thanks for making the recipe and leaving your review! ❤️ ?
Jacqueline Debono says
I love trying new Latin American recipes when I can get all the ingredients. I live in Italy, so some things I can't find. This Puerto Rican picadillo was so easy to make and so tasty! This is a dish I'm going to make often!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That's awesome, Jacqueline! This makes me happy to know that my recipe made it all the way to Italy. ❤️ ?
Picadillo is a great way to bring Latin America to a kitchen, even if you're in Italy. ? Glad you loved it!
Shelly says
Hey, I substituted beef with minced chicken and it turned out really good. 🙂
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That's awesome! Chicken picadillo is a great way to mix things up. ? Enjoy!
JC says
This picadillo was SO good. Excited to eat on it this week!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That's great to hear! Picadillo is great for meal planning too. Enjoy! 🙂
Elizabeth says
My family loved this dish - they even asked for seconds! We have added it to our weeknight dinner rotation!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That's fantastic, Elizabeth! Picadillo is a great dish for family dinners. I'm so glad it was a hit. Enjoy! ?
Amy Liu Dong says
This is such a great-looking dish. It looks incredibly delicious and very enticing! Plus I love Mexican dishes. An instant favorite for me. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
I'm glad you love the look of the picadillo! It's a delicious and satisfying dish. 🙂
Gloria says
Ground beef is so versatile. This is an easy meal for any weeknight. You can mix and match the veggies to make your family happy too.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
That's a great point! And I agree with you. 🙂
Ashley says
This was so delicious! I served it over white rice with black beans like you suggested and it was the easiest dinner ever. I'll be making this recipe again for sure!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Awesome! 30 minutes and a flavorfull dinner is done. What's not to love, right!? Happy you liked it, Ashley! ❤️?
Loreto and Nicoletta says
We love dishes like this. Lots of soul, and super flavorful! ? I especially love the addition of the Spanish olives. They add a nice umami to the meat. Perfect pair with rice! ? ? Great share, this is one I definately want to try! ❤️ ?
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Sounds like you and your family love dishes with soul! Spanish olives add that perfect umami touch, don't they? Thanks for making my recipe!
Katie Crenshaw says
There is so much flavor in this dish. It was very simple to make. I served it over rice and it came out fantastic.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Katie,
that's the beauty of Picadillo! So happy it came out fantastic over rice. Thanks for making it!
DEbbie Wright says
This Easy Puerto Rican Picadillo was exactly what I was looking for . This was so flavorful and my whole family loved it . Thanks for a great recipe , it is going into my regular rotation .
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Debbie,
So glad this Picadillo hit the spot! It's a Puerto Rican staple for a reason - flavorful, easy, and perfect for sharing. Thanks for making it!
Carrie Robinson says
Oooooo... I am loving the flavors happening in this dish! 🙂 I am definitely going to add this one to my weekly dinner plan soon.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Carrie!
Sounds like this Picadillo is hitting all the right notes! Perfect addition to your weekly plan - this quick and easy recipe is a weeknight lifesaver!
Julie says
I love how simple yet tasty this picadillo came out! I'll be using this recipe again in many ways to mix up our family dinners. SO tasty!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Julie,
Glad it's bringing some variety to your family meals. Thanks for making it!
Mikayla says
Delicious meal with some jasmine rice. We really enjoyed all the flavors from the vegetables and spices. I think we may use it next time in tacos or burritos.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Mikayla!
So glad you loved it with jasmine rice! The flavors shine through, and I love the idea for tacos or burritos next time. Picadillo is super versatile!
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
Oh this picadillo is just bursting with flavor! It's so easy to make and such a versatile recipe! Definitely a keeper!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Lori,
it's awesome that it's become a keeper for you. So happy you love the recipe - thanks for making it!
DK says
Wow - this picadillo is so flavorful! The addition of the Spanish olives also add a really great flavor to the meat!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Dk,
Yes, the Spanish olives are a great touch, they add that salty, briny goodness. Thanks for making my recipe!
Lauren says
Loved this picadillo recipe. I hadn't had it with the olives in it before and really loved that addition. I'd make this again.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Lauren,
I agree. Olives add such a nice flavor to picadillo. So glad you loved the recipe!
Shelley says
Such an interesting, delicious combination of flavors, with sweet raisins, savory beef and those wonderful, briny olives! And you're so right about NOT skipping the olives - I think they're my very favorite part of picadillo!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Yes! Must have the olives. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed the recipe - definitely a keeper for easy weeknight meals. Thanks for the review, Shelley!
Elizabeth says
Picadillo is a staple in our household. This recipe is delicious and added to our weeknight dinner rotation!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
I am thrilled that you loved this Picadillo Recipe. Thanks for the review, Elizabeth, and for including it in your recipe carousel! 🙂
Leslie says
This is an amazing dish! Came together so well and so quick! Definitely a keeper!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Thanks, Leslie! I am glad you liked it. You can also use this Picadillo as a filling for empanadas, arepas, and sandwiches like sloppy joes. 🙂
Nicole says
I love this recipe! The flavors and additions to ground beef are so good and unique! The fresh cilantro is my fave part!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Thanks, Nicole! This recipe is a staple at my house. So flavorful, great for meal planning, and used as an ingredient for other dishes like empanadas.
Gloria says
This sounds like a tasty dinner plan. I just got some ground beef at grocery shopping as was wondering what I was going to make. The addition of veggies, spices and olives takes boring to delicious.
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Thanks, Gloria! Let me know how it turned out for you. 🙂
Liz says
My family LOVED this picadillo! Packed full of flavor and absolutely delicious!!
Juyali (ju-ja-lee) says
Hi Liz!
I am so glad to hear. Thanks!