Picadillo con Papas (Easy Mexican Picadillo Recipe)

Picadillo con papas is a Mexican ground beef and potatoes recipe that’s simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce. It’s a simple, comforting, and inexpensive meal that’ll have your family asking for seconds! And the best part? It makes enough for leftovers the next day. Who doesn’t love that? If you’re into easy, budget-friendly meals like this one, you’ll definitely want to check out my guisado de res, pollo a la Mexicana, or papas a la Mexicana too! And if you’re a soup lover, don’t miss my delicious picadillo soup!

Picadillo con papas is a family favorite in my house.

My kids can be pretty picky sometimes but this recipe isn’t something they complain about.

It’s super easy therefore making it a perfect weeknight dinner option.

This is one of the ultimate comfort foods in my opinion. This and fideo loco, which is a similar dish.

What is picadillo sauce made of?

This picadillo sauce is made from canned tomato sauce, water and spices.

It is simmered with ground beef and vegetables resulting in a delicious and flavorful sauce.

Some recipes will call for fresh tomatoes instead of a canned sauce.

This picadillo con papas recipe is very adaptable, so work with what you have in your kitchen.

Ingredients

Ground beef

I like to use ground chuck 80% to 20% lean to fat ratio.

Ground beef is a very versatile ingredient. I use it in a variety of recipes including taquitos, chiles rellenos and Mexican meatball soup.

Vegetables

You’ll need potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic and jalapeno. You could omit the carrots if you wish but I like to add them when I have them.

Spices and seasonings

I use ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.

Tomato sauce

I like to use El Pato hot tomato sauce. If you can’t find it, then regular tomato sauce works fine.

Cilantro

This adds a fresh flavor to the picadillo. If you don’t like cilantro you can leave it out.

Is picadillo spicy?

Picadillo can be either spicy or mild.

It depends on how you make it.

To me, this recipe isn’t even that spicy.

However, if you are especially sensitive to spicy food then I recommend substituting green bell pepper for the jalapeno.

I would also suggest using regular tomato sauce instead of a hot tomato sauce.

How to make picadillo con papas

Make sure you have all the vegetables diced before you begin cooking.

It just makes things easier and faster.

Now brown the ground beef over medium high heat in a large pot.

Once browned transfer to a large paper towel lined bowl to absorb all the grease.

But make sure to leave about 2 tablespoons worth of grease in the pot.

Now add the onion, garlic and jalapeno to the pot.

Saute for a few minutes over medium heat.

Then add the potatoes, carrots and spices. Stir.

Next add the ground beef, tomato sauce and water. Stir well.

This is the tomato sauce that I use.

It is a hot tomato sauce.

But honestly the picadillo doesn’t taste very spicy.

My kids are still able to eat it.

But if you are especially sensitive to spicy foods you can always use a regular tomato sauce..

Bring picadillo to a boil over medium high heat then cover and reduce heat to medium low.

Simmer for about 40 minutes or until the vegetables are fork tender.

Garnish the cooked picadillo with chopped cilantro if desired.

What to Serve with Picadillo

This dish is versatile and goes great with just about anything! Here are some of my favorite pairings:

• Mexican rice: The classic Mexican side dish! However white rice works fine too!
• Frijoles: Another classic Mexican side dish!
• Homemade flour tortillas: Perfect for scooping up the picadillo.
• Sliced avocado: Adds a creamy, fresh touch.
• Agua de jamaica or agua de horchata: A refreshing drink to go with your meal.

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Picadillo con papas recipe

This picadillo con papas recipe is a simple and comforting meal that the whole family can enjoy.

The leftovers make for a great lunch the next day.

I really hope you enjoyed today’s delicious recipe.

Let me know what you think of it in the comments below.

And don’t forget to leave it a rating.

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If you liked my Mexican picadillo recipe then you should also give Puerto Rican picadillo a try!