Healthy Picadillo (Cuban Style)

A healthy picadillo with the vibrant flavors of Cuba – garlic, onion, bell pepper, oregano, cumin, and bay – in a healthy, well-balanced dish… Healthy Picadillo (Cuban Style) can be on your dinner table in 30 minutes!

Te voy a hacer picadillo!

(I am going to turn you into mincemeat!)

~~ Spanish saying

👩🏻‍🍳 What is Picadillo?

Picadillo refers to a hash of (typically) minced (ground) meat and vegetables. I consider it to be a “comfort food” type of dish. It is not particularly fancy or difficult to make, but is flavorful, filling, and inexpensive. 😋 

Garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay find their way into most Cuban dishes. A sofrito is a frequent addition to many Cuban dishes; it most likely consists of  bell pepper, onion, garlic, oregano, and black pepper sautéed in oil until the onion and garlic are soft and translucent.

I have made a variation of this dish for at least 15 years. I learned in my twenties the value of “colorful cooking” as part of a healthy diet. Check out the colors on this plate! I’d say it’s pretty healthy.  😉

What is a “Healthy” Picadillo?

I came across the Cooking Light recipe for Healthy Picadillo back in the day when I still subscribed to print magazines, and the recipe became a family favorite. I have made it with lean ground beef, ground turkey, ground pork, and most recently, with ground chicken thighs. 

I spotted in-house ground chicken thighs at my local natural foods market recently, and had to try it. While I enjoy chicken breast when properly cooked, I always prefer the flavor and moistness of the thigh meat. I was really pleased with the flavor and texture in my Healthy Picadillo.

I stay fairly true to the original recipe, but usually substitute currants for the golden raisins, and vary the ground meat. I love to add 3 to 4 jalapeño chiles, but they’re optional and not at all authentic!

Matchstick carrots are a great time saver, and I have gotten to where I keep a bag of them in my refrigerator. The leftovers make a great lunch the next day, or freeze beautifully for another meal at a later date.

❤️ Why We Love This Recipe

• It’s healthy! With only 280 calories per serving and 26 grams of protein, it’s a winner.
• Picadillo is quick and easy to make! All you need is 30 minutes. If you’re focused you can get a pot of rice to serve alongside done in the same time frame.
• Leftovers are great! We love this picadillo for meal prep or another meal in the freezer.
• It requires only a couple of fresh ingredients: Bell peppers, carrots, onion, and ground meat. You’re likely to have the rest in your well-stocked pantry!

📋 Ingredients Notes

Here is a quick look at the ingredients in the recipe – it’s handy to use at the grocery store or as a summary of what you need. Skip to the recipe for quantities.

Here is a quick look at the ingredients in the recipe – it’s handy to use at the grocery store or as a summary of what you need. Skip to the recipe for quantities.

• olive oil
• ground turkey – In the interest of keeping fats and calories down, I specify ground turkey. You can substitute beef, bison, pork, chicken, even elk.
• onion
• garlic
• ground cumin
• bell peppers
• carrots – I love “matchstick” carrots. If using whole carrots, do a small dice to reduce cooking time.
• dry white wine – I often use dry sherry instead. Reduce the amount by half.
• Spanish olives stuffed with pimento
• currants – Raisins or golden raisins are great as well. I have occasionally used dried cranberries as well.
• bay leaves – I love fresh bay, but dried are fine.
• balsamic vinegar
• canned diced tomatoes – You’ll want both the diced tomatoes and their juice.
• tomato sauce

🔪 Instructions

💭 Tips

A potato masher makes quick work of breaking up ground meat.

Matchstick carrots (in the produce section) are a great time saver. I also hate discovering my carrots are under-cooked, and these are always tender!

❓ FAQ

With a pot of rice, this makes a very well-balanced one-dish meal. If you’re on a restricted diet, Healthy Picadillo is gluten free, low fat, quick, and delicious! Keep in mind leftovers are fabulous, and keep well in the freezer.

We love Healthy Picadillo with a dry, crisp rosé (Spanish is perfect). Liven up your weeknight menu with this delicious, quick, and easy Cuban-inspired picadillo… You’ll be glad you did!

🥘 More Healthy Weeknight Mains

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