Spiced Dominican Beef Picadillo with Sofrito and Olives

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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A vibrant Dominican-style ground beef picadillo cooked with sofrito, green olives, and warm spices, perfect for rice or toasty bread. This Latin American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs ground beef, sofrito, green olives with pimentos for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 Latin American cuisine 380 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 small diced white onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 3 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 pound ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until browned and cooked through.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 1/3 cup sofrito, 3/4 cup diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes to blend flavors.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 1/2 cup water and add 1/3 cup sliced green olives with pimentos. Stir well, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until sauce thickens and meat is tender.
  5. Step 5: Remove bay leaf and stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot over white rice or in warm bread rolls for a satisfying meal.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Spiced Dominican Beef Picadillo with Sofrito and Olives take to make?

Total time is about 40 minutes (10 min prep + 30 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Spiced Dominican Beef Picadillo with Sofrito and Olives?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ground beef from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Spiced Dominican Beef Picadillo with Sofrito and Olives?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Spiced Dominican Beef Picadillo with Sofrito and Olives for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Spiced Dominican Beef Picadillo with Sofrito and Olives?

Latin American beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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