Spicy Turkey Picadillo

5 from 2 votes
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This spicy turkey picadillo is a blend of ground turkey, olives, raisins, and Calabrian chilies. A quick and easy Cuban meal that everyone will love!

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Spicy turkey picadillo in a skillet up close.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’s my Cuban grandmother’s recipe but with a twist!
  • Ground turkey is lower in saturated fat than ground beef.
  • Packed with lots of flavors and perfectly spiced.
  • You can enjoy this with white rice and fried plantains for a complete meal. You can also enjoy it with warm tortillas.

Ingredient Notes

Ground Turkey – You can use ground turkey, chicken, or beef for this recipe.

Raisins – Black or golden raisins are fine.

Olives – If you’re not a fan of olives omit them or use capers instead!

ingredients for turkey picadillo.

Top Tips For The Ultimate Turkey Picadillo

  • I like picadillo to be on the saucy side especially when using ground turkey. Therefore I add a good amount of tomato sauce and water. If you like it less saucy, add less water and tomato sauce.
  • The sazon contains a good amount of salt so be careful not to add too much salt.
  • I used 3 tsp of Calabrian chilies but start with 1 tsp and work your way up until it’s spicy enough for you.
  • If you can’t find Calabrian chilies, use spicy hot sazon, diced jalapenos, or cayenne pepper instead.
Turkey picadillo with white rice and fried plantains on a white plate.

How Long Do I Cook It For?

The ground turkey cooks super quickly, after browning it and adding the rest of the ingredients, I cover it and simmer it for 15 minutes.

Storage

Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

More Cuban Recipes You’ll Enjoy

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Spicy turkey picadillo in a skillet up close.
5 from 2 votes

Spicy Turkey Picadillo

This spicy turkey picadillo is a blend of ground turkey, olives, raisins, Calabrian chilies, spices, and tomato sauce. A quick and easy Cuban meal that everyone will love!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 tbsp sofrito
  • 1/2 green bell pepper , finely diced
  • 3 tsp Calabrian chilies
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp vino seco , dry white wine
  • 1 tsp sazon
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 cup olives
  • 3 tbsp raisins
  • 1 bay leaf
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • oil

Instructions 

  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and brown completely. Add the onions, peppers, and Calabrian chilies. Cook for 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the remaining ingredients, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!

Notes

  • I like picadillo to be on the saucy side especially when using ground turkey. Therefore I add a good amount of tomato sauce and water. If you like it less saucy, add less water and tomato sauce.
  • The sazon contains a good amount of salt so be careful not to add too much salt.
  • I used 3 tsp of Calabrian chilies but start with 1 tsp and work your way up until it’s spicy enough for you.
  • If you can’t find Calabrian chilies, use spicy hot sazon, diced jalapenos, or cayenne pepper instead.

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 690mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 370IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Cuban, Latin
Servings: 4
Calories: 202
Keyword: how. tomake turkey picadillo, Picadillo, Turkey Picadillo
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