Name: Mexican Picadillo
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef (80/20); 2 medium potatoes, diced (½ inch cubes); 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 1 bell pepper (green or red), diced; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 2 medium tomatoes, diced (or 1 cup canned diced tomatoes); 3 tbsp tomato sauce or paste; 1 tsp ground cumin; ¼ tsp ground cinnamon; 1 bay leaf (optional); ¼ cup green olives, sliced (optional); ¼ cup raisins (optional); 2 tbsp oil (vegetable or canola); Salt and pepper to taste; ½ cup water or beef broth

Description

This Mexican picadillo is a flavorful and comforting ground beef dish simmered with potatoes, tomatoes, warm spices, and just the right balance of salty and sweet from olives and raisins. Perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep, this recipe comes together quickly and fills your kitchen with irresistible aromas. Serve it with tortillas, rice, or beans to create a meal that’s simple, satisfying, and sure to become a family favorite.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb ground beef (80/20)
2 medium potatoes, diced (½ inch cubes)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 bell pepper (green or red), diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium tomatoes, diced (or 1 cup canned diced tomatoes)
3 tbsp tomato sauce or paste
1 tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
1 bay leaf (optional)
¼ cup green olives, sliced (optional)
¼ cup raisins (optional)
2 tbsp oil (vegetable or canola)
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup water or beef broth

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Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the ground beef, breaking it apart, until mostly cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed.
Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté until vegetables soften and are fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Stir in diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Let simmer until tomatoes begin to break down.
Add cumin, cinnamon, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
Fold in diced potatoes and pour in water or broth. Cover and simmer on low for 15–20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
Stir in olives and raisins during the last 5 minutes if using. Remove bay leaf before serving.
Let rest for 5 minutes off the heat before serving.

Notes

For a spicier version, add diced jalapeños when sautéing the onions.
If you want a thicker sauce, increase tomato paste or reduce the simmering liquid slightly.
Leftovers taste fantastic the next day as flavors develop even more.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stove-top sauté and simmer
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4
Calories: 350
Sugar: 7g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 25g
Cholesterol: 75mg