Description
This Ground Beef with Potatoes Picadillo is the ultimate comfort food—rich, flavorful, and made with pantry staples you likely already have on hand. Tender potatoes soak up the savory juices from perfectly seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, and warm spices. It’s a one-pan dish that’s perfect for an easy dinner idea or quick weeknight meal. Whether served over rice, with warm tortillas, or topped with a fried egg, it’s versatile and incredibly satisfying. Ideal for anyone looking for easy recipes, quick dinners, or healthy comfort food ideas, this Latin-inspired dish is also naturally gluten-free and meal-prep friendly.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small bell pepper, chopped (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika or chili powder
1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (or 1 cup tomato sauce)
2 medium potatoes, diced evenly
¾ cup water or broth
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until soft.
2. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Add the ground beef to the pan. Break it apart and cook until browned, about 6–8 minutes.
4. Season the beef with cumin, paprika or chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
5. Add the chopped tomatoes or tomato sauce. Let simmer for 3–4 minutes until it starts to form a sauce.
6. Mix in the diced potatoes. Pour in enough water or broth to just cover them.
7. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on medium-low heat for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender.
8. Uncover and simmer for an additional 5–10 minutes to let the sauce thicken.
9. Adjust seasoning to taste. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley before serving.
Notes
If using salsa instead of tomatoes, adjust the salt to avoid overseasoning.
For freezer storage, undercook the potatoes slightly so they retain their texture when reheated.
Don’t skip the final simmer uncovered—it deepens flavor and thickens the sauce beautifully.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: easy dinner, ground beef recipe, quick meal, picadillo, comfort food