Easy and Flavorful Mexican Picadillo Recipe: A Comfort Food Classic

Mexican Picadillo is a dish that immediately brings feelings of home and comfort. This ground beef and potato stew, simmered in a rich tomato sauce, is a staple in Mexican cuisine, known for its ease of preparation and customizable nature. Ready in just 30 minutes with minimal ingredients, this recipe is perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner. Serve it with fluffy rice and warm flour tortillas for a complete and heartwarming meal that the whole family will love.

Plate of Mexican Picadillo with rice and a flour tortilla.

What is Mexican Picadillo? Exploring this Beloved Dish

Mexican Picadillo is more than just a recipe; it’s a taste of tradition. At its heart, picadillo is a comforting and versatile dish featuring ground beef and potatoes as the main ingredients. Simmered in a flavorful tomato-based sauce seasoned with aromatic spices, it’s a dish that evokes nostalgia and warmth for many. One of the beauties of picadillo lies in its adaptability. Every family has their own cherished version, passed down through generations, with slight variations that make it uniquely theirs. This recipe offers a foundational, classic approach, providing you with the perfect starting point to create your own family favorite. Feel free to personalize it with your preferred vegetables and spices to tailor it perfectly to your taste.

Mexican Picadillo Ingredients and Simple Substitutions

This Mexican Picadillo recipe uses simple, readily available ingredients, and offers easy substitutions to suit your pantry and preferences:

Ground Beef: The star of the dish, ground beef provides a hearty and savory base. For a leaner option, you can use ground turkey or chicken.
Tomato Sauce: Canned tomato sauce creates the rich and flavorful base of the sauce. For a fresher taste, you can substitute with about 4 ripe Roma tomatoes, blended or finely diced. If using fresh tomatoes, you may need to simmer the sauce a little longer to reduce excess liquid and intensify the flavor.
Beef Broth: Beef broth adds depth of flavor and moisture to the picadillo. Opt for a low-sodium or no-sodium version to control the saltiness. Bone broth can also be used for added nutrients. In a pinch, you can use beef bouillon cubes or granules dissolved in water.
Potatoes: Diced potatoes provide a comforting and substantial element. Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes work well. For a sweeter variation, consider using sweet potatoes, as inspired by our Sweet Potato Picadillo recipe.
Onion and Green Bell Pepper: These vegetables add aromatic flavor and a touch of sweetness to the dish. Yellow or white onions can be used interchangeably. For a different pepper flavor, try using red or orange bell peppers.
Garlic: Fresh garlic is essential for adding a pungent and savory note.
Spices: Cumin and coriander provide warm, earthy, and traditional Mexican flavors. Salt, pepper, and a bay leaf enhance the overall taste and complexity of the dish.
Optional Heat: For those who like a little spice, you can substitute the green bell pepper with a jalapeño or other chili pepper of your choice. Remember to adjust the amount of chili pepper to your preferred spice level.
Extra Vegetables: Feel free to customize your picadillo by adding other vegetables. Peas and carrots are classic additions, bringing sweetness and color. You could also add diced zucchini, corn, or green beans.

See the detailed recipe card below for exact measurements and complete instructions.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Mexican Picadillo

Making Mexican Picadillo is a straightforward process, perfect for busy weeknights:

Sauté the Beef and Vegetables: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until mostly browned. It doesn’t need to be fully cooked at this stage. Drain off any excess grease. Return the skillet to the heat. Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and potatoes to the skillet with the beef. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion and peppers have softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Ground beef, potatoes, onion, and bell pepper cooking in a skillet.

Simmer in Tomato Sauce and Broth: Pour in the tomato sauce and beef broth. Add the seasonings: salt, pepper, cumin, and coriander. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Add the bay leaf.
Cook Until Potatoes are Tender: Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it cook for 10 minutes. Remove the lid, stir the picadillo, and continue cooking uncovered for another 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and most of the liquid has reduced to create a flavorful sauce. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Serve and Enjoy: Once the picadillo is ready, remove the bay leaf. It’s now ready to be served!

Serving Suggestions for Mexican Picadillo

Mexican Picadillo is incredibly versatile and can be served in many delicious ways:

Tortillas: Warm tortillas are the classic accompaniment to picadillo. Load it into soft fresh flour tortillas for a comforting taco-style meal. It’s also delicious in crispy fried corn tortillas.
Rice: Serve Mexican Picadillo over a bed of fluffy rice. Cilantro lime rice is a fantastic pairing that complements the flavors of the dish beautifully.
As a Filling: Picadillo makes a wonderful filling for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or even empanadas.
Toppings: Enhance your picadillo with your favorite toppings! Consider adding a dollop of sour cream or Mexican crema, shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, diced onions, or a squeeze of lime juice.

Skillet of flavorful Mexican Picadillo ready to serve.

Storing Leftover Mexican Picadillo

Leftover Mexican Picadillo is perfect for enjoying the next day. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze picadillo for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.

Explore More Mexican Ground Beef Recipes

Looking for more delicious recipes featuring ground beef? Try these other popular dishes:

Cuban Picadillo: A flavorful variation with olives and raisins.
Best Ground Beef Taco Recipe: Perfect for taco night!
Sheet Pan Nachos: A crowd-pleasing appetizer or fun dinner.
One Pot Taco Pasta: A quick and easy weeknight meal.

Watch How To Make Mexican Picadillo

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Mexican Picadillo Recipe

⭐️ 4.86 from 76 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Serene

This quick and easy Mexican Picadillo dinner recipe is ready in just 30 minutes with minimal ingredients. Ground beef and potatoes simmered in a seasoned tomato sauce create a comforting and flavorful meal. Serve with rice and flour tortillas for a complete dinner.

Mexican Picadillo recipe card image.

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
½ cup diced onion
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 cups peeled and diced potato
4 cloves minced garlic
8 ounces tomato sauce*
1 ½ cups beef broth
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 bay leaf

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add ground beef. Cook, breaking up the meat, until mostly browned. Drain grease and return to heat.
Add diced onion, green bell pepper, and potatoes. Cook until onion and peppers soften. Add garlic, cook 30 seconds more.
Pour in tomato sauce and beef broth. Add salt, pepper, cumin, and coriander. Stir to combine. Add bay leaf.
Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook 10 minutes.
Remove lid, stir, and cook uncovered 10 minutes more, or until potatoes are tender and most liquid is gone.
Serve warm with flour tortillas and rice.

Video

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Equipment

Large Skillet
Measuring cups and spoons
Cutting board and knife

Recipe Notes

Additional Vegetables: For extra veggies (peas, carrots, etc.), add them with the tomato sauce and beef broth. Simmer until tender.
Tomatoes: Fresh Roma tomatoes can replace tomato sauce. Finely dice and sauté with potatoes, onion, and pepper, or blend and add with beef broth.
Potatoes: Russet or gold potatoes are suitable.

Nutrition

Nutritional information is an approximation.

Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Recipe originally published April 10, 2020. Updated April 4, 2024.

Photography by @KJandCompany.co