One-Pan Beef Picadillo: Your New Go-To for Flavor-Packed Weeknights

Are you stuck in a weeknight dinner rut?  Tired of the same old rotation of chicken and pasta?  Let me introduce you to your new secret weapon: Beef Picadillo.

If you’ve never had picadillo, you’re in for a treat.  This humble dish is a staple in many Latin American homes for a reason.  Think of it as the world’s most flavorful ground beef hash. It’s savory, a little tangy, warmly spiced, and comfortingly satisfying.  The best part? It all comes together in a single pan in about 30 minutes.

This recipe is my version, hitting all the right notes with a rich tomato base, aromatic spices, and a secret briny punch from green olives that will make you wonder where this dish has been all your life.  It’s the kind of meal that tastes like it simmered for hours, but is perfectly achievable on a busy Tuesday.

The Magic Behind This Picadillo

What makes this recipe so special? It’s all about the layers of flavor:

• The Sofrito Base: We start with the classic trio of onion, garlic, and red bell pepper.  Sautéed until soft and fragrant, this is the flavor foundation of the entire dish.
• The Warm Spices: Cumin and coriander provide an earthy, aromatic warmth, while a pinch of cayenne gives it a gentle, lingering heat.  It’s not spicy-hot, it’s just flavorful-hot.
• The Tangy Twist: Chopped green olives and a splash of their brine add a bright, briny, salty pop that cuts through the richness of the beef and tomatoes.  Trust me on this—it’s what transforms the dish from good to delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• ½ large yellow onion, diced
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium bell pepper, cut into small chunks
• 1 cup (237 ml) tomato sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 1 teaspoon gound cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• ¼ – ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (use more if you like heat!)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 large bay leaf
• ½ cup beef broth (or water)
• ½ cup green olives, sliced in half
• ⅓ cup brine (the liquid from the olive jar)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon.  Cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.  Drain off any excess fat.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the beef.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 4-5 minutes.  Stir in the minced garlic, chunks of bell pepper, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt, and black pepper.  Cook for another minute until the spices are fragrant.
3. Build the Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (with their juices), and the beef broth.  Drop in the bay leaf.  Stir everything together to combine, scraping up any flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan.
4. Simmer and Meld: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer gently for 15-20 minutes.  This is where the magic happens!  The flavors will meld together beautifully.
5. Finish with Olives: Remove the lid, stir in the sliced green olives and the olive brine.  Let it cook uncovered for another 2-3 minutes to heat the olives through.  Remove the bay leaf and give it one last stir.
6. Taste and Serve: Taste the picadillo and adjust the salt or pepper if needed.  It’s now ready to be served!

Let’s Eat! Serving Suggestions

Picadillo is incredibly versatile. Here are the classic ways to enjoy it:

• The Classic Bowl: Spoon a generous amount of picadillo over a bed of fluffy white or brown rice. The rice is the perfect canvas to soak up all that delicious sauce.
• Taco Night Upgraded: Ditch the seasoning packet and use this picadillo as the filling for your tacos. Warm up some corn tortillas and add your favorite toppings.
• The Perfect Toppings: No matter how you serve it, don’t skip the toppings! A sprinkle of fresh cilantro, a few slices of creamy avocado, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice over the top brighten everything up and add a final layer of freshness.

So there you have it.  A simple, one-pan meal that delivers a massive punch of flavor. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, a fantastic meal-prep option (it tastes even better the next day!), and your ticket out of the dinner rut.

Give it a try this week, and let me know what you think in the comments below.