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April 30, 2020 By Nicky Leave a Comment

Easy Cuban Beef Picadillo Recipe

Little Family Adventure sometimes receives compensation and/or hosted travel and sample products related to blog posts. This story may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe
Ground Beef Picadillo Recipe is classic comfort food! Make in an Instant Pot for a quick weeknight dinner idea or on the stove top for an authentic slow cooked meal. Served with rice for a complete meal. #picadillo #cubanfood #cubanstylepicadillo #recipeswithgroundbeef " data-pin-url="https://littlefamilyadventure.com/easy-cuban-beef-picadillo-recipe/?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-pug" alt="cuban style picadillo with rice" class="dpsp-post-pinterest-image-hidden-inner">
picadillo with lime and rice
picadillo and rice
Ground Beef Picadillo Recipe is classic comfort food! Make in an Instant Pot for a quick weeknight dinner idea or on the stove top for an authentic slow cooked meal. Served with rice for a complete meal. #picadillo #cubanfood #cubanstylepicadillo #recipeswithgroundbeef " data-pin-url="https://littlefamilyadventure.com/easy-cuban-beef-picadillo-recipe/?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-pug" alt="picadillo and rice" class="dpsp-post-pinterest-image-hidden-inner">

You could be enjoying this easy beef picadillo recipe in less than 30 minutes of cook time! This is a fast way to make classic Cuban comfort food at  home. Try it for yourself. You’ll love this …….!

picadillo cubano con rice

Cuban Beef Picadillo Recipe

I’m excited to share my delicious recipe for picadillo with ground beef. This simple recipe with ground beef and rice combines classic Latin American ingredients of tomato, garlic, cumin, cilantro, onions, and bell peppers for an easy weeknight dinner. The traditional way this recipe is made is with slow cooking. But with the help of a pressure cooker or Instant Pot, cook time is slashed and you spend less time in the kitchen.

Ground Beef Picadillo made in pressure cooker

Great Batch Cooking Recipe

This ground beef picadillo is a great batch cooking recipe because it’s easy to double and triple the servings. Plus it’s better the second day. The recipe below makes enough for 6 servings. So I plan this for dinner one night and then enjoy it for lunch the second day or serve it again later in the week. If you like, you can swap out the ground beef for ground turkey

lime squeezed over picadillo and rice

This recipe is also really  good in burritos, served over skillet potatoes, or as part of a rice bowl with sautéed vegetables, beans, and fresh avocado.

Ground Beef Picadillo with rice
What’s the Difference Between Cubano and Mexican Picadillo?

Every country has their version of a popular meat and rice dish. In Latin American and the Philippines, Picadillo is a popular choice and the two most popular versions are Cuban Picadillo and Mexican Picadillo. Both versions have ground beef, onions, peppers, garlic, and tomatoes. The Cuban version like the one I have for you here also includes olives. Other recipes may also include raisins or capers. The Mexican version varies by region but will almost always include potatoes and is more like a hash. 

steps to make picadillo

How to Make Picadillo

The printable recipe below outlines the instructions to cook this in an pressure cooker. Here I wanted to lay out different options if you’d rather cook this picadillo; Instant pot, slow cooker, or Dutch oven on the stove top. 

  1. To start, melt the butter in an Instant Pot on Saute or in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. 
  2. Add onion and bell peppers and cook until they are slightly softened, about 4 minutes.
  3. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Crumble the beef as it cooks. 
  4. Next add your cilantro, tomatoes, green olives, cumin, and garlic. Stir to combine. 
  5. Cook as follows:
    1. Pressure Cooker – 15 minutes at pressure and allow a natural release for at least 10 minutes
    2. Dutch Oven – Cover and reduce heat to low medium to allow a simmer for at least 20 minutes. Note: The longer you cook, the better the flavor. 
    3. Slow Cooker – Transfer everything to a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. 

Season with salt and pepper to taste after cooking. Serve with cooked rice and a lime wedge.

beef picadillo

What to serve with Cuban Style Picadillo

The traditional way to serve this is with black beans and long-grain white rice. We also like to use brown rice which has a nuttier flavor. Both types of rice soak up all the flavors and the cooking liquid. If you want fewer carbs, try serving this with cauliflower rice or even mashed cauliflower. Another way to enjoy this is to think of the beef mixture as taco meat and serve in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, empanadas, or even enchiladas. 

I have been using Platejoy meal planning service/website. There they had a slow cooker version of this recipe. They paired this popular Cuban dish with a simple side green salad and a vinaigrette with olive oil, a little lime juice, and a few dashes of ground.   

Related: You can read more on PlateJoy and how it’s making it easier for us to meal plan at home.

Continue to Content
Yield: 6 servings

Easy Cuban Beef Picadillo

Cuban Beef Picadillo

An easy classic Cuban comfort food recipe that is perfect for weeknight dinners.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 bell peppers, diced
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 56oz crushed tomatoes (2 large cans)
  • 1 cup or small jar with liquid drained green olives
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 6 cups cooked long-grain rice
  • 1 lime
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

    1. Set Instant Pot to sauté and add butter.
    2. Once butter is melted, add onion and bell peppers. Cook for 4 minutes or until slightly softened.
    3. Add ground beef and Cook until no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Crumble meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
    4. Add cilantro, tomatoes, green olives, cumin, and garlic to Instant Pot. Stir to combine.
    5. Add lid and set machine to manual setting. Set time for 15 minutes at pressure. Cook and then allow a natural release for at least 10 minutes.
    6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    7. Serve with cooked rice and a lime wedge.

Notes

This recipe is easily modified for a slow cooker (cooked low for 6 hours) or a Dutch oven (cooked on the stove top at a simmer for at least 20 minutes).

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 7 1/4 Qt Dutch Oven
    Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 7 1/4 Qt Dutch Oven
  • Crock-Pot Cook N Carry 6-Quart Oval Slow Cooker
    Crock-Pot Cook N Carry 6-Quart Oval Slow Cooker
  • Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
    Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 515Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 638mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 7gSugar: 14gProtein: 31g
© Little Family Adventure
Cuisine: Cuban

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Did you try this recipe? Share your photos!

  • Share a photo on my Facebook Page –> HERE
  • or Tag Me on Instagram with the Hashtag #lilfamadventure 

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: main entrees

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About Nicky

Nicky Omohundro is a travel and active family lifestyle blogger and social media influencer based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She shares stories, destinations, and ideas on food, family, health, and outdoor recreation to help families find their own adventures. Her spirit animal is a caffeinated squirrel fueled by coffee, real food, and the desire to seek new adventures.

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