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This easy picadillo recipe is a flavorful one-skillet meal that comes together quickly and is ready to eat in just 40 minutes. Comforting, savory, and sweet, it’s a delicious protein to serve with rice and roasted veggies.

Prep: 20 minsCook: 20 minsTotal: 40 mins
Servings: 6 1x

Ingredients

  • 2 lb. lean ground beef
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 medium red or green bell pepper, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 14-ounce can tomato sauce
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ cup green olives, pitted and drained + 2 tablespoons juice from jar
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained
  • ½ cup golden raisins
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • to ½ teaspoon fine salt (to taste)
  • Optional for serving: cooked rice or steamed cauliflower rice, chopped fresh cilantro, lime wedges, fried plantains or plantain chips, and roasted green beans

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add ground beef, bell pepper, and onions. (NOTE: I find that I don’t need to use any olive oil when I use a nonstick or enamel-coated cast iron skillet, but you may need to add 2-3 teaspoons of oil if using a skillet without a nonstick surface).  
  2. Saute the beef and veggies, breaking them up with a spatula, until the onions start to soften and beef is browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the minced cloves garlic and saute for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
  3. To the ground beef mixture, add in the tomato sauce, cumin, oregano, bay leaf, green olives, capers, golden raisins, and black pepper
  4. Bring to a low simmer, uncovered, until the sauce thickens, 10 to 12 minutes.
  5. Remove the bay leaf. Taste and season with the salt. (NOTE: You may not need to add any salt, depending on preference). 
  6. If desired, serve over cooked rice or steamed cauliflower rice with a lime wedge and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.
  7. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1/6th of the meat mixture
  • Calories: 265
  • Fat: 6 g
  • (Sat Fat: 3 g)
  • Sodium: 800 mg
  • Carbohydrate: 19 g
  • (Fiber: 3 g
  • Sugar: 14 g)
  • Protein: 35 g
  • Cholesterol: 91 mg

Dietary

© The Real Food Dietitians
Recipe By: Jessica Beacom