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Enjoy a delicious and satisfying but incredibly simple meal with this Turkey Picadillo recipe! Made in less than an hour and filled with nutrient-dense and flavorful ingredients.
The perfect at home ground turkey picadillo recipe
There’s nothing better than a homecooked meal that comes together in less than an hour and is all made in one pot right on the stove. That being said, this turkey picadillo is great for weeknights! It’s ready in just about an hour and can be served a number of ways depending on your family’s preferences.
And if you want to make things even easier, throw this in your slow cooker! Just brown the turkey, and then add everything into your crockpot and enjoy at dinner time. It doesn’t get easier than that.
Ingredients in this homemade turkey picadillo
This recipe is made with everything flavorful and delicious like onion, garlic, and green olive!
- Olive oil: This recipe begins with 2 tbsp of olive oil, which is used to cook the veggies.
- Onion: Next up is 1/2 of large yellow onion. It needs to be diced.
- Pepper: Follow the onion with 1 diced red bell pepper.
- Garlic: Add flavor with 4 cloves of minced garlic.
- Ground turkey: For the meat, you will need 2 lbs of ground turkey. I use the 93/7 lean type.
- Spices: For spices, use 2 tsp of smoked paprika, 2 tsp of chili powder, 1 tsp of cumin, 1 tsp of salt, and 1 tsp of pepper.
- Green olives: Next, dice up 1 cup of green olives.
- Raisins: 1/2 cup of raisins add a unique but delicious flavor component to the dish.
- Diced tomatoes: Add tomato flavor with 1 can of diced tomatoes.
- Tomato sauce: Then, follow the diced tomatoes with 7oz of tomato sauce. Tomato sauce comes in 15oz cans, so you’ll need about 1/2 of one can.
- Chicken stock: Last but not least, you will need 1 cup of chicken stock.
Tools needed to make this picadillo
To prepare this recipe, you will need a cutting board, chopping knife, a dutch oven or pot, and a stirring utensil. Then, to measure the ingredients, grab 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup sized cups.
How to make ground turkey picadillo
Turkey picadillo is made similarly to how you’d make taco filling or other dishes with ground meat. It’s all made right on the stove!
To begin, heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven or pot. Once hot, add the onions and peppers and cook for 4-5 minutes.
Next, add the minced garlic and ground turkey and cook until the turkey is no longer pink.
Add the spices, olives, raisins, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken stock. Stir until everything is well combined. Let simmer over medium heat for 50 minutes, stirring occasionally throughout.
Serve over rice.
Additional ingredients and substitution options
Want to add to your turkey picadillo? Feel free to add red onion, avocado, jalapeรฑos, cilantro, or even black beans to contribute to the flavor!
When it comes to substitutions, you have a lot of options with this recipe.
Yellow onion
Yellow onion can be substituted with red or white onion if preferred. Red will give a stronger onion flavor.
Red bell pepper
Though red bell pepper is preferred here, you can also use green, yellow, or orange.
Ground turkey
Feel free to use any ground meat in this recipe, whether it’s turkey, chicken, or beef.
Green olives & raisins
Feel free to omit the olives and/or raisins if you’re not a fan. These omissions won’t mess up your recipe!
Chicken stock
Last but not least, feel free to use vegetable stock if preferred over chicken stock.
How to serve this turkey picadillo recipe
You can enjoy this dish a number of ways.
- As is: This meal can be eaten right from a bowl like chili!
- With tortillas: Enjoy it taco or burrito style inside corn or flour tortillas.
- With chips: It’s perfect for dipping!
- Over rice: You can enjoy picadillo over any type of rice.
Storing leftovers
Great news: turkey picadillo is great for freezing! This makes it a wonderful option for making ahead and saving for later. To do so, simply prepare as directed, and then allow to cool before adding to a freezer bag or container. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw and then reheat on the stove.
To store leftovers, place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
There are more healthy turkey meals where this one came from! Here are some great options to try.
- Oven Baked Turkey Tacos
- Easy Twice-Based Potatoes with BBQ Turkey
- Sheet Pan Turkey Meatloaf Dinner
- Healthy Turkey Enchiladas
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Turkey Picadillo
Enjoy a delicious and satisfying but incredibly simple meal with this Turkey Picadillo recipe! Made in less than an hour and filled with nutrient-dense and flavorful ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 lbs ground turkey (I use 93/7)
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 cup diced green olives
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 15oz can tomato sauce (7oz)
- 1 cup chicken stock
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven or pot, heat olive oil. Once hot, add onions and peppers and cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add in minced garlic and ground turkey and cook until no longer pink.
- Add in all spices, olives, raisins, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken stock. Stir until well combined. Let simmer over medium heat for 50 minutes, stirring occasionally throughout.
- Serve over rice.
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Natalie says
SO GOOD!!! Ok, I have kept this recipe in the back of my mind since you first came out with it. I didnโt believe this combination could be good โฆ but I had to try it. And boy am I glad I did!!! This was exceptional!!! The saltiness from the olives and the sweetness from the raisins with the meatiness of the Turkey was to๐๐ผdie๐๐ผ for!!๐๐ผ My whole family loved it and I will make this again asap!! Thank you so much Erin!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Natalie, so happy you and your family loved it so much! ๐
Kara says
Delicious and easy weeknight meal. Served over brown rice and a side of roasted broccoli. Highly recommend a sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kara, so happy you loved it!!
Catherine S. says
So yummy and easy!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Catherine, so happy you loved it!! ๐
Jenny says
This turned out great!! Iโm half Cuban and grew up with Picadillo. I donโt eat beef anymore and I wanted a healthier option. This was fantastic. Thank you! I canโt wait to try your other recipes!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jenny, so glad you loved it!
Sam says
I will say I was a little skeptical about the mix of flavors in this but I absolutely loved it! The raisins really make the dish. Will definitely be making again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sam, so glad you loved it! ๐
Ellie says
My husband, 3 year old, and I all devoured this. The warm spices are so unique and comforting and I loved that it was relatively easy and quick to put together even on a weeknight. Our favorite of your dinner recipes to date… We’ll definitely keep this in our regular meal rotation. Thanks!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ellie, so glad you all loved it so much! ๐
Mirray says
Delish and so easy! Enjoyed it three ways – over rice, over greens and with chips.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Mirray, so glad you loved it!
Jill says
INCREDIBLE!!!! 4/4 kids liked it. It was soooo easy and absolutely delicious. This will go on regular rotation!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jill, so happy you loved it!! ๐
Kelly White says
This recipe is delicious and yields enough for leftovers which is always great!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kelly, so happy you loved it and yes leftovers are the best!
Madison says
I saw this recipe and was so intrigued, I love olives but was unsure about mixing them with onions and turkey, but let me tell you this is amazing. I just made it for the second time and loved it, thanks for a great dinner Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Madison, so happy you loved it!
Shelley says
When you say a can of diced tomatoes which size do you mean? 28 ounce can? 16 oz can?
Erin says
Hi Shelley, a 15oz can is perfect! Let me know how it comes out for you!!
Becca says
Shockingly delicious and super easy! This will definitely be on repeat around here, especially during the colder months!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Becca, so happy you love it so much!!
Krystle says
This was amazing! I meal prepped it for the week and it was just as delicious the last day as the first!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Krystle, so glad you enjoyed it!! ๐
Beckie M says
So so good. Raisins and olives give the dish added flavor. Super tasty and really does come together quickly!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Beckie, so glad you liked it!! ๐
Tamar says
Made this with 95/5 ground beef instead of turkey and left out the olives. Served over cauliflower rice and it was delicious!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Tamar, so happy you liked it and made it your own!!
Diana says
Truly missing out if you donโt make this. Quick and easy. Perfect for weeknight dinner!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Diana, so happy you loved it!!
Casey Colodny says
Loved this warm and cozy dish!! The green olives added a really pretty splash of color and flavor!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Casey, so glad you loved it!!