Picadillo Cubano is a simple, but satisfying popular Cuban dish. I like it because it's easy to prepare and tastes brilliant.
What is Picadillo Cubano?
It's one of the most popular Cuban dishes. There are different variations and recipes, but it's basically a dish made with ground beef, vegetables and spices. Some cooks add stuffed olives, capers, potatoes and raisins to their picadillo. I learned to make this dish from my uncle's wife in Miami. She's from Cuba and this is the way her family make it.
What do I Serve with This?
The flavors of this dish are incredibly intense and rich. You'll just have to go and make it yourself to see what I mean. You'll love every bite of this dish, I promise.
I like to serve my picadillo with white rice to soak the delicious sauce, plantains and avocado.
What you Need to Make Picadillo Cubano
You'll find the printable recipe card with exact amounts and directions below.
Oil: I like to use olive oil.
Ground Beef: You can use any ground meat with the fat percentage that you prefer.
Spices: ground cumin, ground oregano, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
Vegetables: onion, green bell pepper and garlic.
Tomato Sauce and Tomato Paste: add sweetness and body to the dish.
White wine: Use your favorite or replace it with beef broth if you don't want to use wine.
Stuffed Spanish Olives: they add amazing flavor to this recipe.
Raisins: If you don't like them just omit it.
How to Make this Dish
In a large sauce pan on medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
Add the beef and brown, stirring occasionally, then add the cumin, oregano, bay leaf, onion, bell pepper, garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes more.
Add the tomato sauce, white wine, olives and raisins. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring often.
Remove the bay leaf and serve over plain white rice.
More Beef Dishes to Try
Carne Desmechada (Shredded Beef)
Sudado de Carne de Res (Beef Stew)
Bistec a la Criolla (Creole Steak)
Bistec Encebollado (Steak with Onion Sauce)
Picadillo Cubano Recipe (Cuban Ground Beef Dish)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon of ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon of ground oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper finely chopped
- 5 garlic cloves crushed
- Salt and pepper to your taste
- 1 cup of tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1 cup of white wine
- ½ cup of stuffed Spanish olives cut in half
- ⅓ cup of raisins
Instructions
- Place a large sauce pan on medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
- Add the beef and brown, stirring occasionally, then add the cumin, oregano, bay leaf, onion, bell pepper, garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes more.
- Add the tomato sauce, white wine, olives and raisins. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove the bay leaf and serve over plain white rice.
Rose
I didn't have raisins or olives but made the recipe with the remaining ingredients. My husband loved it! He had a second helping and then packed the leftovers for lunch the next day. Thank you for sharing!
Anonymous
where is the tomato paste in the recipe?
Susan
Ang
Add it with the tomato sauce and wine
Veronica
I made it the other day and it was supper good!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Anne
I learned how to make picadillo from my Cuban college roommate back in the 60s. I'd forgotten how good it is and made it for dinner tonight. Big hit and great recipe.
Salazar
Hola Erica - Lo prepare anoche, quedo delicioso. Muchas gracias por estas recetas.
Norma-Platanos, Mangoes and Me!
I also use it for empanadas....love your version...
Jen
Made this yesterday. It is TO DIE FOR!!!
Diane
love this recipe! especially with yellow rice and black beans!
Joanne, thanks for the lentil version
Heydel
Diane, I see people say things like that all the time but, in Cuba we never mix yellow rice with beans. We found that kind of weird. just FYI. thnx
Joanne
I've made a vegetarian version of picadillo before with lentils instead of beef! Love the flavor profile.
Ang
You can also use soyrizo and vegan ground beef
Juliana
Wow Erica, such a tasty dish...
Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Brandy
Do you think I could throw all of this in a crockpot for a couple hours & really let the flavors meld? Sounds yummy!
Erica
Great idea!
Ricardo
I think letting the flavors (and textures) meld would detract from all the variety of tart and sweet and spicy and acidic and starchy. Yum!
Belinda @zomppa
Brilliant is a great description.
Ana
This is exactly like my mother's recipe.
Miriam
All of the flavors in this make it magical 🙂
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Amber @ The Cook's Sister
What an interesting combination of flavours! I would not have thought to combine olives and raisins in the same dish. Looks fantastic!
Jenn and Seth (@HomeSkilletCook)
i have some leftover ground beef from our 4th of july party - and now i know what to do with it 🙂 sounds so tasty!
Chris
This may be simple but it sounds so delicious! Great post Erica.
Lori
Not all Cubans put raisins in their Picadillo. It depended on what area of Cuba one was from. Some others would cut up potatoes like french fries & then dice them and fries them.and too the Picadillo & Rice with the Little Fries!
Brian
When is the tomato paste added?
Anonymous
Item 3 10 minutes after item 2