Classic Cuban-Style Picadillo
+3 photos

Classic Cuban-Style Picadillo

4 servings
This classic Cuban picadillo dish with ground beef is quick and easy, and is great over rice. It can also be used as a filling for tacos or empanadas.

Ingredients

  • olive oil
    1 tbsp
  • onion

    chopped

    1 small
  • green bell pepper

    chopped

    ½
  • garlic
    1 clove
  • lean ground beef
    1 lb
  • can tomato sauce
    1
  • pitted green olives

    quartered

    6 large
  • raisins
    ½ c
  • capers
    1 tbsp
  • packages sazon seasoning

    such as goya®

    2
  • ground cumin
    1 tbsp
  • white sugar
    1 tsp
  • salt to taste

Directions

  1. 1

    Gather all ingredients.

    Step 1
  2. 2

    Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion, bell pepper, and garlic, onion in the hot oil until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.

    Step 2
  3. 3

    Add ground beef into the skillet; cook and stir until crumbly and completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes.

    Step 3
  4. 4

    Stir tomato sauce, olives, raisins, capers, cumin, sazon seasoning, sugar, and salt into the ground beef mixture. Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and cook until the mixture is heated through, 5 to 10 minutes.

    Step 4
Classic Cuban-Style Picadillo
+3

Classic Cuban-Style Picadillo

30 min4 servings350 cal

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About this Recipe

Craving a taste of Cuba with a dish that's both quick and packed with flavor? This Classic Cuban-Style Picadillo delivers a satisfying meal in just 30 minutes, perfect for weeknight dinners and guaranteed to become a family favorite.

What makes this picadillo truly shine is the thoughtful combination of sweet and savory elements—juicy raisins and a touch of white sugar perfectly balance the briny green olives and capers. All of these vibrant flavors are brought together by aromatic sazon seasoning and ground cumin, creating a symphony of tastes that comes together with incredible ease.

You can expect a wonderfully aromatic and flavorful ground beef dish, rich in Cuban tradition. The lean ground beef forms a hearty base, complemented by the tender textures of chopped onion and green bell pepper. Each spoonful delivers a burst of complex flavors: the subtle sweetness from the raisins and white sugar beautifully mellows the briny punch of quartered green olives and capers. Earthy ground cumin and the unique blend of sazon seasoning tie everything together, creating a well-balanced and deeply satisfying experience. This recipe is designed to be straightforward, delivering authentic taste without requiring advanced culinary skills.

This Classic Cuban-Style Picadillo is incredibly adaptable. If you love a bolder garlic flavor, feel free to add a little more than the suggested clove. For those who prefer more sweetness or brininess, you can easily adjust the quantity of raisins or pitted green olives and capers to suit your personal preference. A taste for more ground cumin can also be satisfied by adding a touch more.

Serve this versatile picadillo generously over a bed of fluffy white rice for a classic meal, or get creative by using it as a flavorful filling for homemade tacos or empanadas. It’s an ideal choice for a satisfying dinner that offers incredible versatility.

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