Mexican Ground Beef Recipe (Picadillo) | Tex-Mex at Home

✨ A Comfort Dish That Feels Like Home

There’s something about the smell of onions, garlic, and tomatoes sizzling in a pan that takes me straight back to my childhood. It’s the base for so many of our traditional family recipes.

Picadillo — or Carne Molida con Papas — was one of those dishes my family made all the time. And for good reason: it’s simple, affordable, and always hits the spot.

Now, I make it for my own family, and it’s become a favorite in our home. It’s one of those comforting, no-fuss meals that fills the kitchen with familiar smells — and fills everyone up without any complaints.

Whether you grew up eating it or are just discovering it, picadillo is a simple Mexican ground beef recipe made with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

🍅 What Is Mexican Ground Beef (Picadillo)?

Picadillo is a classic Mexican dish made with ground beef, diced potatoes, and tomatoes. Some versions include carrots or peas — but today, I’m keeping it simple, just the way I grew up eating it.

It’s one of those easy one-pan dinners you can throw together on a busy weeknight and still feel like you made something special. You just keep adding ingredients to the pan — no complicated steps, no fancy tools.

It’s full of flavor without being spicy (unless you want it to be — I’ll show you how!). Traditionally, we serve picadillo with rice and/or corn tortillas.

No tortillas? A slice of bread to soak up the sauce works just as well! And if you’re ready to take it up a notch, I highly recommend pairing it with our Tex-Mex at Home Rice Seasoning. It brings the flavor of home to your plate.

🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe makes 4 to 5 servings:

• 1.5 pounds of ground beef

• ½ white onion, finely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 3 ripe Roma or plum tomatoes, diced

• 2 small potatoes, cubed (about ½-inch pieces)

• 1 tablespoon of oil

• 1 jalapeño (whole for flavor, or diced with seeds for heat)

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper

• 1½ cups of beef broth

👩🏽‍🍳 Cooking Instructions

1. Start with the aromatics.

Heat the oil in a large pot or pan, setting the heat to medium. Once the oil is hot, add your chopped onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until soft and translucent. Then add the garlic and stir for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.

2. Add the tomatoes.

Toss in the diced tomatoes and let them simmer for 3–4 minutes until they break down into a simple, delicious sauce.

3. Cook the ground beef.

Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula. Cook until it’s browned and no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper as it cooks.

4. Add the potatoes and broth.

Add the cubed potatoes and the jalapeño. If you want just the flavor, leave the jalapeño whole. For heat, dice it — seeds and veins included.

Pour in the beef broth and stir everything to coat the potatoes in all that saucy goodness.

5. Simmer until tender.

Lower the heat, cover the pan, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir once or twice while cooking. When the potatoes are fork-tender, you’re ready to serve.

🍽️ How to Serve Picadillo

Serve picadillo with:- Traditional Mexican rice or Tex-Mex at Home Simply Rice blend- Warm corn tortillas- A side of beans (black, pinto, or refried)- Avocado, queso fresco, or lime- Or enjoy it on its own

It also makes an amazing taco or empanada filling if you happen to have leftovers. (Good luck with that!)

🛍️ Want to Make It Even Easier?

I created Tex-Mex at Home to share the recipes I grew up with — but also to make everyday cooking easier for you.

If you want to take the guesswork out of dinner, check out my seasoning blends! They’re bold, authentic, and made with clean, vegan-friendly ingredients — so you can feel good about what you’re serving without spending hours in the kitchen.

👉 Visit the shop here

❤️ Let’s Keep Cooking Together

If you made this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out — leave a comment below and let me know how you served it!

For more easy, family-friendly Tex-Mex recipes, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow @TexMexAtHome on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.

¡Hasta luego, amigos! 🌮🔥