Picadillo (Mexican Beef & Potato Stew)

Name: Picadillo (Mexican Beef & Potato Stew)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 4 large potatoes, quartered and sliced about 1/2-inch thick; 2 tsp garlic, minced; 1/2 onion, diced; 3-4 tsps cumin, to taste; Two 8-oz cans tomato sauce*; 3 cups water or vegetable broth, approximately; Salt, to taste; Pepper, to taste

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An authentic, frugal, hearty, ground beef staple that uses a few ingredients and costs pennies per serving. Picadillo is also gluten-free, dairy-free and Whole30 approved!

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I used to think that making international food was unrealistic on my tight budget. We were struggling to simply put enough food on the table that tasted halfway decent – forget about exotic spices or specialty ingredients.

I forgot that Beans & Rice – the classic budget meal – is a multi-national dish. Nearly every culture that can grow those crops has some version of that inexpensive meal.

The same is true for staples like beef and potato stew. The version I’m sharing today is Mexican Picadillo. This whole dish takes less than an hour to put together, and it only uses a few ingredients that you can find at any grocery store.

Mexican Picadillo

There are all kinds of versions of Picadillo. It’s a staple across multiple countries and cultures. However, this version is from a dear friend whose family is from Mexico. It’s one of her favorites, and it’s amazing.

You can add all kinds of ingredients to picadillo. Try carrots and peas, or serving it over rice. Olives and raisins are traditional as well.

For this recipe, I kept it extremely simple so you can do it on a budget, eat real food, and enjoy a hearty, delicious meal with a rich heritage.

Allergy-Free Picadillo

As an added bonus, Picadillo is one of those rare comfort foods that is naturally allergy-friendly!

Picadillo (Mexican Beef & potato stew) is:

Gluten-free

Dairy-free

Egg-free

Paleo

Whole30

Nearly every culture has a collection of frugal dishes. If you’re living on a tight budget but love trying food from across the world, don’t wait for better days. There are simple, inexpensive, healthy recipes everywhere. And thanks to the internet, it’s never been easier to find them.

Budget-Friendly Beef & Potato Stew

If I use cheap ground beef from the grocery store, picadillo costs around $.50/serving. If I use that grass-fed beef, it costs around $1/serving. So it’s a very budget-friendly dinner either way.

You can even try stretching the meat by using a mixture of cooked brown lentils and ground beef.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo #cheapskatecook and @cheapskatecook on Instagram.