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    Home » Dinner Recipes

    Chicken Picadillo Recipe

    Published: Nov 10, 2020 · by Anne · This post may contain affiliate links 2 Comments

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    Chicken Picadillo is a quick and healthy dish that is full of flavor
    Jump to Recipe
    chicken picadillo in a cast iron pan
    chicken picadillo in a bowl

    Chicken Picadillo is a twist on the Latin American classic dish that typically contains ground beef. Instead, this picadillo recipe is made with ground chicken. It's sweet, salty, and savory all in one bite and the perfect recipe for a busy night.

    chicken picadillo on a platter

    This picadillo recipe is simple enough to make and will become a new favorite in your dinner rotation. It's made with mild-tasting ground chicken which absorbs all of the flavors that it cooks with.

    Because of its mild flavor, ground chicken is so versatile. We also like this spicy ground chicken and black bean casserole for an easy dinner.

    Why you will 🤍 this recipe

    • It's versatile! There are so many uses for picadillo (see below for ideas).
    • Flavor! It's packed with so much flavor.
    • Chicken picadillo is easy to make ahead of time, and it's a healthy recipe.
    an overhead view of the ingredients: clockwise: bell peppers, ground chicken, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, tomatoes, cilantro, raisins, onions, garlic adobo sauce, cumin, corriander olives

    Here is What You Will Need

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    This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe, scroll down to see ingredient notes and substitutions as well as a printable recipe card with exact measurements and complete cooking instructions.

    🛒Ingredients

    • olive oil
    • ground chicken breast
    • green bell pepper
    • garlic
    • onion
    • adobo sauce
    • raisins
    • green olives
    • ground cumin
    • coriander
    • oregano
    • fresh cilantro
    • diced tomatoes

    🥄Equipment

    • Large skillet

    How To Make Chicken Picadillo

    Prepare the ingredients: chop the bell pepper, garlic, onions, olives, cilantro, and tomatoes (if you are using fresh tomatoes); set them all aside.

    bell peppers, onions and garlic cooking in a skillet

    Step 1. Cook the vegetables

    Heat oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the bell peppers, garlic and onions, and cook for a few minutes.

    chicken cooking in a skillet with peppers and onions

    Step 2. Cook the chicken

    Reduce the heat to medium heat and add the ground chicken breast and brown chicken with the onions until the chicken is cooked through.

    ground chicken cooking in a skillet with adobo sauce and spices

    Step 3. Add the flavors

    Add the adobo sauce, vinegar, and spices to the cooked ground chicken mixture.

    chicken cooking in a pan with tomatoes being added

    Step 4. The tomatoes

    Stir in the tomatoes with a wooden spoon.

    overhead view of picadillo cooking wit the addition of olives and raisins

    Step 5. Olives and Raisins

    Stir in the remaining ingredients (olives and raisins), reduce the heat to low heat and simmer.

    picadillo finished in a skillet

    Step 6. Simmer and Serve

    Sprinkle the picadillo with fresh chopped cilantro and serve.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    The complete list of ingredients to make this tasty dish is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients, along with ideas for substitutes.

    Ground chicken is mild tasting and absorbs all of the flavors from this recipe. Both ground chicken breast or ground chicken which is a mix of white and dark meat will work.

    Substitute ground chicken with any ground meat such as turkey, beef, or pork.

    Tomatoes - I like to use fresh chopped tomatoes or low-sodium diced canned tomatoes.

    Tomato sauce can be used as a one-for-one substitute if you don't have canned tomatoes.

    Bell peppers. Any color of bell peppers will work in this recipe. Green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, red pepper, or a mix of colors will all work.

    If you prefer a little extra spice, you can substitute bell peppers with a poblano chile pepper.

    Adobo sauce is a spicy, tangy Mexican flavor that you can find in most supermarkets, and is important to the flavor profile in this recipe.

    Substitute adobo sauce with an equal amount of the sauce from chipotle pepper in adobo sauce if you can't find plain adobo sauce.

    Olives add a salty briny flavor to this dish. If you don't like olives, swap them out with ¼ cup capers.

    Substitute fresh garlic with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder for each clove of garlic.

    Substitute fresh oregano with 2 teaspoons of dried oregano.

    chicken picadillo in a bowl with lettuce and cheese

    Check out ButcherBox for humanely raised high-quality meat!

    Storing and Using Leftovers

    This is one of those recipes that taste even better the next day and you can freeze it, so be sure to make extra.

    Store leftover chicken picadillo in the refrigerator in an airtight container for three to four days.

    Freeze chicken picadillo for up to six months in a freezer-safe container and defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.

    Reheat it on top of the stove in a skillet or saucepan.

    Variations

    There are many ways to make picadillo here are a few suggestions to help you make your own delicious variation of this traditional recipe.

    Super spicy chicken picadillo - add a quarter pound of Mexican chorizo mixed with the ground chicken while browning it or add one diced jalapeno pepper or serrano chile pepper.

    Cuban picadillo with potatoes - Add one cup of diced cooked potatoes at the end of the meat browning.

    Mexican picadillo with corn - Add ½ cup frozen corn and a dash of chili powder to the picadillo after adding the tomatoes.

    Serving Ideas

    There are so many ways to serve picadillo! You can easily add picadillo to your meal plan rotation.

    We enjoy it over brown or white rice, cauliflower rice with steamed vegetables, or a salad and a glass of wine.

    Chicken picadillo tastes great stuffed into a quesadilla, taco, empanada, egg roll skin, or wrapped in pizza dough for a picadillo calzone.

    Top salad greens with picadillo, and add ripe avocado chunks and cheese for a filling chicken picadillo salad.

    Instead of fried shrimp in this recipe, try serving chicken picadillo on top of tostones (fried plantains).

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    💡Tips

    • Add a little umami flavor with a drop of soy sauce or tamari sauce just before serving.
    • If you aren't a fan of raisins, don't leave them out, but cut back on the amount used.
    • If the ground chicken stick to the skillet, add a little bit of water to the pan.
    What is picadillo?

    Picadillo is a traditional dish in many Latin American countries and the Philippines. It's warm and comforting, very similar to chili with a sweeter flavor.

    Can I make chicken picadillo in a slow cooker?

    Yes! You can make this picadillo recipe in a slow cooker. Brown the meat and veggies in a skillet and add them to a slow cooker with the spices, olives, raisins, and tomatoes. Set the slow cooker to low and cook for at least 1 ½ hours.

    You might also like these easy recipes

    • Bison Chili
    • Turkey Chili Soup
    • Chipotle Chicken Stew
    • Pork and Tomatillo Chili
    • Salsa Chicken

    Do you like this recipe?
    Please comment and give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!

    chicken picadillo in a cast iron pan

    Chicken Picadillo

    Chicken Picadillo is a quick and healthy dish that is full of flavor
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes

    Click on serving size to scale this recipe

    Course: Dinner Recipes
    Cuisine: Latin American
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 262kcal
    Author: Anne
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    Scale this Recipe 4

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon[ olive oil]
    • 1 pound ground chicken breast
    • 1 bell pepper diced
    • 2 cloves garlic chopped
    • 1 tablespoon [adobo sauce]
    • 1 small onion diced
    • 2 tablespoons [apple cider vinegar]
    • ¼ cup [raisins]
    • ¼ cup sliced green olives
    • ¼ teaspoon coriander
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
    • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried
    • 1 ½ cups low sodium or fresh [diced tomatoes]
    • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

    Instructions

    • Prepare the ingredients: chop the peppers, onions, garlic, and tomatoes if you are using fresh and set them aside.
    • Add the olive oil to the skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onions, garlic, and peppers and cook them until they begin to turn soft. 
    • Add the chicken and cook it until it is almost cooked through - you may need to add a little bit of oil if the chicken is sticking to the pan.
    • Stir in 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, ¼ teaspoon coriander, ¼ teaspoon cumin, and 2 teaspoons oregano.
    • Next add 1 ½ cups diced tomatoes, raisins, and olives - mix everything together.
    • Reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 15 minutes.
    • Sprinkle the picadillo with the chopped cilantro, simmer for 5 to 10 minutes longer and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Recipe Variations 
    Replace the ground chicken with ground beef, pork or turkey.
    Add a quarter pound of Mexican chorizo to the ground chicken while browning it for extra flavor.
    Add one cup of diced potatoes at the end of the meat browning for a Cuban-style picadillo.
    For a spicy version, add one diced jalapeno pepper.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1person | Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 988mg | Potassium: 1019mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1266IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 4mg

    Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

    1. Debbie D says

      July 14, 2021 at 10:14 pm

      This looks so good but my husband won’t eat raisins. Is there anything I could substitute for them?

      Reply
      • Anne says

        July 14, 2021 at 10:20 pm

        Hi Debbie, Thanks for your comment. You can use craisins, currants, dried cherries, or dried apricots cut up into small pieces. If he doesn't like dried fruit at all, then you can just leave it out, but you will not have the touch of sweetness that the fruit offers.

        Reply

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