Description
Mexican Picadillo is a classic Latin comfort dish made with seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, and peas simmered in a rich tomato sauce. It’s perfect for serving over rice, stuffing into tacos, or enjoying straight from the skillet. Easy to prepare and full of warm spices, this one-pan recipe is both family-friendly and freezer-friendly.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound ground beef
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 bay leaf
2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 cup green peas (frozen or fresh)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
2. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Use a wooden spoon to break it apart and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes.
3. Season the beef with cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
4. Add the diced roma tomatoes, tomato sauce, and bay leaf. Let everything simmer together for 5 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to break down.
5. Stir in the diced potatoes, cover the skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
6. Add the green peas and cook uncovered for another 5 minutes until peas are warmed through. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot.
Notes
If using fresh peas, add them in with the potatoes to soften properly.
For a saucier version, increase the tomato sauce to 3/4 cup and add a splash of broth.
This dish tastes even better the next day—perfect for meal prep or leftovers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (approx. 1/4 of total)
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Mexican Picadillo, Ground Beef Dinner, Easy Mexican Skillet