Skillet American Picadillo – The Stay At Home Chef

We’ve added gooey, melted cheddar cheese and more to give this Latin-American comfort food our own American twist. This is one of those hearty, meat-and-potatoes kind of dinners, but it is anything but bland. Salsa and spices bring the flavor and give it a little kick!

For more cheesy goodness, try our Hobo Casserole or our Ham and Potato Casserole.

Why Our Recipe

• A one-skillet meal that’s ready in about 35 minutes.
• Super flavorful ground beef and potatoes with gooey cheese for the ultimate comfort food.
• An inexpensive meal that can also easily be doubled to feed a crowd.

What’s great about this recipe is that it’s a simple meat and potatoes dish, but it’s still super flavorful. We boil the potatoes in beef broth, rather than water, which infuses the potatoes with that delicious, beefy flavor. The ground beef is seasoned with a blend of chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin, then add salsa! You get amazing Tex-Mex flavor without a ton of heat. Top it all off with a layer of gooey, melted cheddar cheese. So good!

Ingredient Notes

• Yukon Gold Potatoes: Baby red potatoes can be used instead, as they have a similar texture.
• Ground Beef: Choose lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10) to avoid excessive grease. Ground turkey or chicken can also be used.
• Onion: You can use a yellow or white onion.
• Olive Oil: Any neutral oil will work like canola, vegetable, avocado, or olive oil.
• Beef Broth: Canned beef broth, bouillon, or beef stock all work in this recipe.
• Salsa: We use a jarred mild salsa. Medium or hot salsa also works, depending on your preference.
• Cheddar Cheese: Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded, which contains anti-caking agents. Feel free to experiment with Monterey Jack or a Mexican blend.

Ground Beef Options

We recommend using 85/15 ground beef for this recipe. The extra fat enhances the flavor of this dish without creating too much excess grease.

If you prefer a leaner option, such as 90/10, that works too. You could even try ground turkey or chicken for a lighter twist, but keep in mind the flavor will be a bit different.

Keep in mind that using ground beef with a higher fat content will produce more grease, which you may want to spoon out to keep your dish from becoming too greasy.

Adjust the Heat

If you’re looking for more heat, grab a medium or hot salsa, bump up the chili powder, or even add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Diced jalapeños are also a great option. You can easily add them in with the ground beef and onion. Not a fan of spicy? Stick with mild salsa and skip the chili powder.

Sneak in a Veggie

Looking to sneak in some veggies? Bell peppers go really well with the flavors of this dish. Just throw it in with the onion and potatoes. If you’re worried about kids noticing the veggies, just chop them up and mix them in with the ground beef, and they’ll blend right in!