Name: Mexican Picadillo
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 Servings
Cuisine: Mexican

OnlineCook Verified

April 29, 2025

20 Ingredients

EASY

This Mexican picadillo recipe is very forgiving, so go ahead and make tweaks to make it your own. Season as you go for more flavor and to customize the dish to your tastes. Like things a little spicier? Chorizo makes a great substitute for the ground beef. For a "cook once, eat twice" meal, save half of the picadillo for our Roasted Picadillo Stuffed Bell Peppers. Your future self will thank you. The recipe is a Yummly original created by Marwin Brown.

From the Cook

1/2

Mexican Picadillo

OnlineCook Verified

Ingredients

Servings

WarningSulphites allergen identified

Instructions

Prepare sofrito: Place roasted tomatoes, Poblano pepper, the first portion of the garlic cloves, cilantro, and first onion in blender/food processor and pulse to a salsa-like consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside. (If using fresh tomatoes, rinse the tomatoes and cut out the stems, then roast them in a 400 degree F oven for 20 minutes.)

SautÃ© diced onion in oil over medium heat for a few minutes. Add diced garlic and sautÃ© 30 seconds.

Add tomato paste, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Tomato paste should be a nice dark color.

Add wine and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes.

Add ground beef and season with chili powder, salt, pepper, and additional cumin to taste. Cook over medium heat until the ground beef begins to lose its pinkness.

Add the potatoes and carrots and sautÃ© briefly.

Add the sofrito mix, combine well, and simmer, covered, over medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked all the way through.

Taste for seasoning and adjust as you wish, adding more chili powder, cumin, and salt as necessary.

Garnish with fresh cilantro and grated cheese, if you wish. Serve half the mixture immediately, and refrigerate the other half to make Stuffed Bell Peppers for tomorrow's dinner.

Smart Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Roasting Magic 🔥
Fire-roast your poblano peppers beforehand to unlock a deeper, smokier flavor profile that elevates the entire picadillo.
Layered Seasoning Technique 🌶️
Add spices in stages - toast whole spices first, then ground spices, to develop a more complex and rich flavor foundation.
Moisture Management 💧
Drain excess fat from the ground beef after browning to prevent a greasy texture and ensure clean, concentrated flavors.
Wine Deglaze Pro 🍷
When adding white wine, scrape the bottom of the pan to release all the flavorful browned bits (fond) for maximum depth.
Potato Precision 🥔
Cut Yukon gold potatoes into uniform 1/2-inch cubes to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.