Picadillo (Minced Beef Stew)

Across Latin American home cooking, picadillo generally refers to a savoury minced beef mixture simmered until tender, thick and easy to spoon over a simple base. In this version, browned beef is cooked with softened onion, red pepper, garlic, tomatoes, cumin and oregano, giving the stew a rounded, aromatic flavour without making it heavy. The texture should be loose enough to serve over rice but reduced enough to hold its shape in wraps. It is the kind of practical dinner that works well for batch cooking, reheats reliably and can be adjusted at the table with extra seasoning or fresh accompaniments.
Cuisine style Latin American home cooking
Spice level Mild
Cooking style One-pot cooking • Meal prep friendly • Freezer-friendly
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Savoury depth: Browning the beef before adding the tomatoes creates caramelised flavour that gives the stew a richer base.
  • Simple one-pot method: The vegetables, beef, spices and tomatoes all cook in the same pot, building flavour while keeping cleanup minimal.
  • Easy to serve: The thick, spoonable texture works equally well over rice or folded into wraps.

Get the most out of this recipe

Texture tips

  • For a thicker finish: Simmer uncovered until the tomatoes reduce and the mixture holds together on a spoon.
  • If it reduces too far: Stir in a small splash of water and let it simmer briefly to bring the sauce back together.

Make-ahead tips

  • Good for meal prep: Picadillo keeps well in the fridge and reheats cleanly, making it useful for rice bowls, wraps or quick dinners later in the week.
  • Freezes well: Cool completely before freezing in a sealed container, then thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating until piping hot.

Ingredient swaps

  • Change the pepper: Green pepper can replace red pepper for a more savoury, slightly bitter edge.
  • Adjust the oregano: Fresh oregano gives a brighter herbal note, while dried oregano keeps the flavour deeper and more concentrated.
  • Use cumin seeds: Lightly crushed cumin seeds can replace ground cumin for a toastier, more textured spice profile.

Common mistakes

  • Rushing the browning: Keep the heat high enough to brown the beef rather than letting it simply steam; this step adds much of the savoury flavour.
  • Stopping too soon: The stew should be thick and spoonable, not watery. Let the tomatoes reduce before serving.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Finely chop the onion and red pepper, then add them to the pot with a pinch of the salt and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until softened. Crush the garlic and stir it in for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Add the minced beef and cook over medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned with no pink remaining. Stir in the ground cumin and dried oregano and cook for 1 minute to toast the spices. Grind the black peppercorns and add them in.
  3. Tip in the canned chopped tomatoes and stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and spoonable. Taste and adjust with the remaining salt if needed.
  4. Rest the picadillo off the heat for 2 minutes so it settles and thickens slightly. Serve hot, spooned over rice or tucked into wraps.

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Recipe notes

Serving suggestions

This recipe pairs well with:

Rice Wraps

Tips

  • For a richer, more savoury base, let the beef brown properly before stirring in the tomatoes; a little caramelisation makes a big difference.
  • If the sauce thickens too quickly, stir in a splash of water and keep simmering until the beef is tender and the mixture is spoonable.
  • If serving to vulnerable groups, make sure the beef is cooked through and piping hot all the way through before serving.

Substitutions

  • Replace the red pepper with green pepper for a slightly more bitter, savoury flavour.
  • Replace dried oregano with fresh oregano for a brighter herbal note.
  • Replace ground cumin with cumin seeds, lightly crushed, for a toastier spice profile.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Cool completely, then refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a saucepan over low heat with a small splash of water, stirring until piping hot; it can also be frozen for up to 3 months and thawed overnight in the fridge before reheating.

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Picadillo (Minced Beef Stew)
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 45min (20min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Latin American
Beginner friendly With serving suggestions One pot Freezer friendly Kid friendly

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