Classic Cuban Picadillo Recipe
Classic Cuban Picadillo is a traditional ground beef recipe made with tomato sauce, olives, raisins, and warm spices. Ready in about 30 minutes, it's perfect served over rice for an easy family dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion chopped
- ½ green bell pepper chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef halal
- 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
- 6 large pitted green olives quartered
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 tablespoon capers optional
- 2 packets sazon seasoning halal-certified
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for 5–7 minutes until softened.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small crumbles as it cooks.
- Drain any excess grease if needed.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, olives, raisins, capers, cumin, sazon seasoning, sugar, and salt.
- Mix well until everything is evenly combined.
- Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer the Classic Cuban Picadillo Recipe for 5–10 minutes so the flavors blend together.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
- Serve hot with white rice, fried plantains, mashed potatoes, or warm crusty bread.
Notes
- Serve over steamed white rice for a traditional Cuban meal.
- It also pairs well with cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.
- Leftovers make excellent taco, empanada, or stuffed pepper fillings.
- Ensure your sazon seasoning is halal-certified.