A simple but versatile recipe for Picadillo composed of ground beef and ground pork, almonds, tomatoes, raisins and other seasonings. Makes a great dip, salad topping, or entree over rice.
If you’re Cuban, Phillipino, or from another Latin American country, you probably recognize Picadillo (pee-kah-DEE-yoh) as a traditional dish. I suspect it may be like chili in America. Because it is so popular, everybody makes it, and everybody has their own version according to their country of origin and the way their mama did it.
From what I hear, Picadillo often contains green olives, but mine does not. On the other hand, my version includes raisins and almonds which are optional. Spices seem to vary widely from recipe to recipe, as you can imagine.
I like to make a big batch of picadillo and freeze it in smaller portions to use in burritos or to pour over my salad-in-a-jar instead of salad dressing. Or, try making the baked shells seen above with instructions here, filling them with lettuce and then a few spoonfuls of picadillo, topped with tomatoes and avocados, if desired. Lately, I’ve taken to pouring picadillo over Recipe Girl’s coconut rice, or my own Cilantro and Hominy Rice.
I’ve been a tiny bit distracted here lately by the little punkin pictured below. As a result, my stock of frozen Picadillo has gotten low. Perhaps you can understand.

Piper Elyse is my first granddaughter and a perfect blessing from God. Parents are Brett and Amanda Rhodes. Born 9/7/2012

Picadillo
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Prep Time: 15 min
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Cook Time: 30 min
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Total Time: 45 minutes
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Yield: 8
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Category: Supper
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Method: stove top
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Cuisine: Cuban
Description
Divide this into smaller portions and freeze. Fabulous for burritos, salads and served over rice.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 cup chopped onions (I always used frozen onions)
- 1 cup chopped red bell peppers (can sub pimientos)
- 1-14 ounce can whole tomatoes
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1/2 cup jarred, pickled, jalapenos, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup slivered almonds (I like them toasted)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce (optional, but good if you walk on the spicy side)
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 to 1 cup water
Instructions
- Brown ground meat. Drain off fat.
- Add onions and red bell peppers. Continue to saute for a couple minutes.
- Pour tomatoes over meat mixture. Break up tomatoes with wooden spoon. (It’s not a sin to use diced tomatoes if you prefer.)
- Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 20-30 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 408 kcal
- Sugar: 16.6 g
- Fat: 24.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 25.9 g
- Fiber: 4.3 g
- Protein: 23.9 g
Keywords: Easy supper recipes, taco filling, lunch
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Jill
Congrats, Paula, on the new addition to the family, she is a little angel!
The picadillo looks yummy!
alefia
hi do u have a recipe for burritos and also for frozen ice cream thanks
congratulations and ur baby granddaughter
Paula
Sorry Alefia, I the closest thing I have to burritos is a wonderful recipe for refried beans that goes into burritos very nicely.
Jane
Thanks for your response. I did find the biscuit recipe and am anxious to try it… We have a carry-in at school for a baby shower. Just finished my fourth batch of Greek yogurt, so I have more whey to use. Today, I added it to my white chicken chili. What a nice way to add in protein!!!!
Connie
Congratulations on your family’s new addition! She is precious.
Suzanne
The recipe sounds great but I’m distracted too by the cuteness of that sweet baby. Congratulations to you and your family that’s so wonderful, girls are so much fun to dress up cute.
★★★★★
The Café Sucré Farine
Oh Paula, she is precious. I thought your recipe looked amazing till I saw her, then I lost all my concentration for food! She is beautiful, you are going to love being a grandmom!
Nicole- The Galley Gourmet
I have had my head tilted sideways for about five minutes looking at your precious grandbaby. Peaches and cream! (The picadillo looks good too:)
Erika
What a cute baby! That’s a great photo.
I’d be curious to try a vegetarian version of this–all of the serving suggestions you listed sound fantastic!
Connie
Congratulations. What a beautiful bundle from heaven. She is precious. Thanks for sharing.
Paula
Your little Piper is beautiful! Congratulations Gramma!!! So excited for you and for your daughter and her blessed little family.
Your picadillo looks wonderful and I love your serving options shown.
Kay
Your new grandbaby looks just scrumptious! I know she will be such a blessing to your family. Congratulations and enjoy!
Lori Sheranian
Hi, Beautiful granddaughter!! I have 3 grandsons, and 6 granddaughters, and a new one on the way. I just wanted to thank you again for getting me started using a bread machine. It has changed my baking life. I have made a loaf everyday, plus many other wonderful things, for a year now. I have never bought one loaf of bread in the whole year. I have perfected a wheat bread, mixed in the machine now. It has made many people so very happy. Thank you again. I love your blog.
Paula
Hi Lori,
You sure know how to make a blogger’s day. So glad you use your bread machine and all the better that your bread is making other people happy. Congratulations in advance on the new grandchild on the way. Have a feeling your grandkids love to walk in your house and smell that bread.
Jenn
The recipe sounds great – and I went over to your Texas Fiesta Bowl post to pick up that recipe.
And, what a precious little girl and beautiful name. Congratulations to you all! Perfectly pink!
Kay @ Cooking with K
She is adorable…you are a blessed Grandmother!! The picadillo looks really yummy. Enjoy her…grandchildren are so much fun…blessings, K
Vicki V
What a precious little granddaughter! Beautiful name, too.
I love picadillo. Never thought to put it on a salad!
Lorraine
The very sweetest distraction ever! Piper Elyse is beautiful! So happy for you all 🙂
The picadillo sounds delicious especially over rice or a salad!
Gary
Congrats on your granddaugther!
Natasha
Congratulations, what a little treasure! She’s absolutely beautiful.
(Don’t you think picadillo is great cute nickname for a small child?)
Paula
Yes, that would be a great nickname. Who knows? You may have started something.
Piper
So beautiful! Congratulations on your wonderful addition, how blessed you are. I love the precious cap. Of course, I wholeheartedly approve of the name.
Betty
The picadillo sounds delicious, but that precious little bundle steals the show! She’s absolutely beautiful, and a welcome distraction I’m sure. 🙂
Paula
Hi Betty,
Been missing your posts. Guess school is back in for you?
Katrina
Aw, what a sweet looking baby! Congrats!