slow cooker picadillo
Crock Pot Picadillo is a flavorful Cuban dish made with ground beef and a sauce made from simmering tomatoes, green olives, bell peppers, cumin, and spices.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs 93% lean ground beef
- 1 cup minced onion
- 1 cup diced red bell peppers
- 3 cloves garlic
- 0.25 cup minced cilantro
- 1 small tomato, diced
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 0.25 cup alcaparrado (manzanilla olives, pimientos, capers or green olives) add some brine for flavor
- 1.5 tsp ground cumin
- 0.25 tsp garlic powder
- 2 leaves bay leaves
- kosher salt to taste
- fresh pepper to taste
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Brown meat in a large deep skillet on medium-high heat; season generously with salt and a little pepper. Use a wooden spoon to break the meat up into small pieces.
- When meat is no longer pink, drain all the liquid from pan. Add the onions, garlic and bell peppers to the meat and cook an addition 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer the meat to the slow cooker, then add tomato, cilantro, tomato sauce, 1.25 cups water, alcaparrado (or olives) with some brine for added flavor, then add the spices.
- Set slow cooker to HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW for 6 to 8.
- After it's ready, taste for salt and add more as needed. Add a little more cumin and garlic powder at the end as well since the crock pot tends to mute the flavors of herbs and spices.
- Discard the bay leaves and serve over brown rice.
Notes
For a twist, try adding a diced potato or a handful of raisins with a pinch of cinnamon. Great for meal prep and freeze well!