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    Home » Recipes » Puerto Rican Inspirations

    Puerto Rican Picadillo

    Published: Apr 7, 2021 · Modified: Jul 2, 2023 by Zoe Morman

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.”

    Enjoy the delightful and flavorful Puerto Rican Picadillo, a versatile base for many beloved Puerto Rican dishes. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for regular weekday meals, whether as a filling or a main course. Experience this fuss-free favorite's deliciousness that will satisfy your taste buds.

    A meaty spoonful of picadillo loaded with olives, onions, cand capers. this Recipe!

    If there is one meat recipe to have in your recipe box, picadillo is the one. I use this recipe in Puerto Rican Empanadas, Pastelon, and Pastelon de Berenjena, an eggplant meat pie. Works well as taco meat but is delicious over a bowl of white rice.

    Jump To
    • Why this recipe works
    • What culture is Picadillo from?
    • What ingredients go in Puerto Rican Picadillo?
    • Variations and Substitutions
    • How to make Puerto Rican Picadillo
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Puerto Rican Inspiration Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Comments

    Why this recipe works

    Versatility, delicious flavors, and quick preparation make Picadillo an excellent recipe in your culinary repertoire.

    • Versatility: Picadillo is a base for many Puerto Rican dishes. You can also enjoy it as a standalone main course paired with rice, plantains, or tortillas. The flexibility of Picadillo allows you to get creative in the kitchen and cater to various culinary preferences and cuisines.
    • Flavorful and Delicious: Picadillo is known for its irresistible flavors. Combining ground beef, aromatic spices, and vibrant vegetables creates a harmonious blend that tantalizes the taste buds.
    • Quick and Easy: Picadillo is a standout and popular recipe because of its simplicity and ease of preparation. It is a fast and straightforward dish that can be whipped up quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights or when you're short on time. You can enjoy a flavorful and fulfilling meal without spending hours in the kitchen with just a few ingredients and minimal cooking steps.

    What culture is Picadillo from?

    Many Latin American countries have their version of Picadillo. Some use shredded beef, whereas some use ground beef. Some add chilis and spices, and maybe corn and beans, while others add raisins and potatoes. I have tasted many different versions of picadillo in Puerto Rico alone, and not one is the same, from no veggies added to the meat to some with potatoes and raisins. The term picadillo is a Latin American/Spanish term meaning chopped or chopped into tiny pieces. However, ground beef is universal, with many countries having multiple applications for this particular cut of meat.

    What ingredients go in Puerto Rican Picadillo?

    Ingredients for Picadillo: seasonings, ground beef, onions, sofrito, garlic, tomato paste, beef broth, green olives, and capers.

    These are the ingredients I use to make my Puerto Rican picadillo.

    • Ground beef: The traditional meat when making this recipe. I use 80/20 ground beef, meaning 80% lean meat to 20% fat. This combination seems to work well, and it is pretty accessible. I have used a 90/10, but add some olive oil while browning the meat to keep it from drying, but it also depends on the application. If you want a dryer product because it will be stuffed in an empanada, then 90/10 will work great.
    • Sofrito: Sofrito is what makes our cooking so flavorful. Whether you buy yours or make your own, sofrito is the equivalent of a thumbprint or a signature. It is unique to each who makes it and iconically unique to Puerto Rico.
    • Olives: not just any olive, we are talking the little green gems filled with pimento peppers which are also iconic to Spanish cooking and the cultures Spain brought forth.

    See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

    Variations and Substitutions

    Notice that this recipe does not have peppers in the recipe card. That is because my family does not like the taste of peppers. What I am trying to get at is a recipe is as authentic as the one cooking it.

    • Ground meats: Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Lamb, or a combination of a few will make an excellent substitution for beef when making picadillo.
    • Cuban-style: There is not much difference between Puerto Rican and Cuban picadillo. We both add raisins and potatoes. I was working on my empanada recipe the day I made this picadillo, so I omitted the potatoes.
    • Mexican-style: Remove the green olives, add reconstituted chipotle peppers and black beans, and your picadillo is ready to travel south of the border.
    • Italian inspiration: Turn it into a bolognese by adding diced canned tomatoes, basil, and a splash of wine.

    How to make Puerto Rican Picadillo

    Here are the step-by-step instructions to make Picadillo.

    Collage, from top left clockwise: raw ground beef on hot skillet; Breaking ground beef into smaller clumps; Ground beef almost all brown; Ground beef completely browned.
    • Step 1: Heat cast iron or skillet to medium heat but not smoke. Do not add oil.
    • Step 2: Place meat on the skillet. Let sit for a minute before breaking the meat into small clumps.
    • Step 3: Continue mincing with a spatula or meat chopper. Allow about one or two minutes between chopping to allow the meat to brown.
    Collage from left to right: Browned beef with onions, garlic, tomato paste and sofrito added. Right: onions are soft and pastes are fully incorporated into meat.
    • Step 4: Add onions and let sweat for a minute. Follow with garlic paste or adobo, sofrito, and tomato paste. Cook for about 5-7 minutes. Until onions are translucent and sofrito, garlic, and tomato paste are well distributed.
    Collage from right to left; seasoning beef with adobo, paprika, and olives. Broth was added to create a sauce.
    • Step 5: Add adobo powder or seasonings: paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Also, add olives and capers and cook for 3-5 minutes.
    • Step 6: Add Beef Broth to create a sauce. About one ounce at a time until you have desired thickness. You may add more tomato paste for a saucier picadillo.
    A meaty spoonful of picadillo loaded with olives, onions, cand capers.

    Expert Tips

    • When browning the ground beef, you are looking for a few things:
      • Every cook meat
      • Make sure to break big clumps into smaller clumps. This helps with even cooking the meat.
      • We want to remove the pink from the meat before seasoning it to ensure it is partly cooked. This way, you know there are no raw particles left behind.
    • If using potatoes and raisins.
      • Add the potatoes raw with the onions or,
      • Fry them and set them aside. If fried potatoes are used, add them along with the olives.
      • Add the raisins with the garlic to allow them to plump while cooking.
    • One pound of picadillo will fill about 20 small empanadas.
    • When using picadillo as a filling for empanadas, allow the mixture to cool before filling the empanadas.
    • I use tomato paste instead of tomato sauce because it renders excellent flavor, and I can control the amount of liquid throughout the process.

    Recipe FAQs

    What does Puerto Rican Picadillo taste like?

    For me, picadillo tastes like home. Smoky paprika, flowery cumin, bold garlic, briny olives, and capers make this recipe full of flavor and zest.

    What to make with picadillo?

    Serve picadillo over rice, plantains and beans or with pasta. Picadillo can be the base for a spicy chili served with cornbread or serve it as the main entree for tacos.

    What is the definition of picadillo?

    Picadillo means finely chopped or shredded. Ground beef is just that, finely chopped meat. When cooking ground beef, break the large clumps so the meat is loose once cooked.

    A bowl of picadillo with pieces of green olives, onions, capers, and pimentos mixed throughout.

    More Puerto Rican Inspiration Recipes

    • an image of a glass of coquito
      Favorite Coquito Recipe
    • A plate of pumpkin fritters or barriguitas de vieja
      Pumpkin Fritters, Barriguitas de Vieja (Old Lady Bellies)
    • pinchos served with potato salad and collard greens
      Puerto Rican Pork Kabobs, Pinchos
    • A heaping full fork of cauliflower yellow rice.
      Puerto Rican Inspired Keto Cauliflower Yellow Rice

    I want to know what you think! Did you make this recipe? Please, leave a review and a rating below. You can also find me on Instagram! Please sign up for my email list to receive my newest and latest recipe.

    📖 Recipe

    A bowl of picadillo with pieces of green olives, onions, capers, and pimentos mixed throughout.

    Puerto Rican Picadillo

    Zoe Morman
    Enjoy the delightful and flavorful Puerto Rican Picadillo, a versatile base for many beloved dishes. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for regular weekday meals, whether as a filling or a main course.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Meats
    Cuisine Puerto Rican
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 158 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 1 tablespoon garlic Ground or paste
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon coriander
    • 1 tablespoon Sofrito
    • 12 green olives roughly chopped

    Instructions
     

    • Heat cast iron or skillet to medium heat but not smoke. Do not add oil.
    • Place meat on the skillet. Let sit for a minute before breaking the meat into small clumps.
    • Continue mincing with a spatula or meat chopper. Allow about one or two minutes between chopping to allow the meat to brown.
    • Add onions and let sweat for a minute. Follow with garlic paste or adobo, sofrito, and tomato paste. Cook for about 5-7 minutes.
    • Add adobo powder or seasonings: paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Also, add olives and capers and cook for 3-5 minutes.
    • Add Beef Broth to create a sauce. About one ounce at a time until you have desired thickness. You may add more tomato paste for a saucier picadillo.

    Notes

    • When browning the ground beef, you are looking for a few things:
      • Every cook meat.
      • Make sure to break big clumps into smaller clumps. This helps with even cooking the meat.
      • We want to remove the pink from the meat before seasoning it to ensure it is partly cooked. This way, you know there are no raw particles left behind.
    • If using potatoes and raisins.
      • Add the potatoes raw with the onions or,
      • Fry them and set them aside. If fried potatoes are used, add them along with the olives.
      • Add the raisins with the garlic to allow them to plump while cooking.
    • One pound of picadillo will fill about 20 small empanadas.
    • When using picadillo as a filling for empanadas, allow the mixture to cool before filling the empanadas.
    • I use tomato paste instead of tomato sauce because it renders excellent flavor, and I can control the amount of liquid throughout the process.
    •  

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3ozCalories: 158kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 10gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 162mgPotassium: 178mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 171IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Hola! I'm Zoe. I love all things food and enjoy cooking. I created this site to reconnect with my Puerto Rican heritage while living in the United States. This is a great place to reconnect if you are floating in the diaspora. I would love to hear from you!

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    I want to know what you think! Did you make this recipe? Please, leave a review and a rating below. You can also find me on Instagram! Please sign up for my email list to receive my newest and latest recipe.

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