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    Home » Most Recent

    Chipotle Cinnamon Picadillo

    September 29, 2017 By Patrick 4 Comments

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    Lots of Picadillo eatin' over here.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you can easily add this Chipotle-Cinnamon version to your kitchen repertoire.  It uses the same process, but it adds a fiery dose of Chipotle-Cinnamon flavor to create a savory, unique batch of Picadillo that just might become your new favorite.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Chipotle Cinnamon Picadillo Recipe

    And yes, you might have spotted something else in that picture that we didn't use in our Mexican Picadillo.  I'm on the fence when it comes to raisins in Picadillo, but I wanted to try a version with some of these currants:

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Sometimes you'll see these referred to as Zante currants.  They're a bit smaller than raisins and have a less sweet, more tart flavor, which seems ideal for those of us who don't have much of a sweet tooth.  (More info on currants).

    I have to admit that they worked pretty well in this dish, but you can consider them optional.  You're going to end up with a huge batch of Picadillo if you follow this recipe, so I think it's probably best to give peeps the option of adding them in as a final garnish as opposed to including them in the simmer.

    But let's not get ahead of ourselves.  It's not the final garnish that makes this dish work, it's the savory Chipotle Cinnamon combo that will make it a repeat.

    We're using a similar technique here as we did in the Mexican Picadillo.  But instead of building the Picadillo using the Tomato Jalapeno Salsa, we're building it with the Tomato Chipotle Salsa.  This is an easy way to incorporate the tomatoes and heat into the dish.

    Start by roasting 6 Roma tomatoes in the oven at 400F.

    This easy to make Mexican Picadillo is a classic meat and potatoes dish bursting with flavor and spice. It can be eaten straight out of the pan but it also works good in tacos, burritos, and empanadas. So good! mexicanplease.com

    You could also pan-roast them but I usually use the oven for convenience; this will give you plenty of time to gather all the other ingredients.  The tomatoes will be roasted enough in 20-25 minutes, after which you can add them to a blender along with 3/4 onion, 2 garlic cloves, a pinch of salt, 5 chipotles, and 1 tablespoon adobo sauce. (More info on working with chipotles here.)

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Yes, you read that right.  We are using 5 chipotles to create some fire in the picadillo, but of course if you want a milder version you can dial it back to 3-4 chipotles.  Keep in mind though that we are using 1 lb. of ground beef and an additional cup of liquid for the simmer, so the heat does get diluted down before it's done cooking.

    Combine these ingredients well in a food processor or blender.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    You'll end with a super fiery salsa that is almost too hot to eat.  Perfect!

    And note that you essentially just made Tomato Chipotle Salsa.  If you're new to this salsa please keep it in mind for your other dishes.  It's one of my go-to recipes and easily one of the most versatile salsas to have in your kitchen.

    You're also going to need a finely chopped carrot and potato for your Picadillo.

    This easy to make Mexican Picadillo is a classic meat and potatoes dish bursting with flavor and spice. It can be eaten straight out of the pan but it also works good in tacos, burritos, and empanadas. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Okay, start by cooking 1/4 onion in some oil for a few minutes.  Add 2 cloves of minced garlic, saute briefly, and then add 1 lb. ground beef and 1 teaspoon of salt.  You’ll need a wide, deep skillet to hold all the picadillo.

    This easy to make Mexican Picadillo is a classic meat and potatoes dish bursting with flavor and spice. It can be eaten straight out of the pan but it also works good in tacos, burritos, and empanadas. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Don't worry about cooking the meat all the way through as there is an extended simmer coming up.

    Once you lose most of the pink color then add the potatoes and carrots.  You can also drain off some fat at this point if you want to.

    This easy to make Mexican Picadillo is a classic meat and potatoes dish bursting with flavor and spice. It can be eaten straight out of the pan but it also works good in tacos, burritos, and empanadas. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Saute briefly and then add the Tomato-Chipotle mixture along with some freshly cracked pepper and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Cinnamon might not be at the top of your list to season this dish, but trust me it is a natural fit with the chipotle flavor.   Some versions of Tomato Chipotle Salsa use a pinch of cinnamon as well.

    You can also add 1 cup of stock (or water) to the beef mixture.  This ensures that there is enough liquid to keep the potatoes submerged for the simmer.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Let this simmer on medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through. I don't have a good lid for this skillet so I just partially cover it with some foil.

    And now the most important part:  the final taste before serving.  I guess it's always the most important part isn't it?

    I added another 1/2 teaspoon of salt to this batch and another heaping 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.  Sometimes the cinnamon will lose some zing during the simmer so don't hesitate to add a bit more back in.

    If all went according to plan then you've fiery batch of Chipotle Cinnamon Picadillo on your hands.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    The chipotles and cinnamon create such a unique, savory flavor.  Yowsa!

    As with our previous version, this Picadillo will work great in tacos and empanadas, but I keep coming back to a humble plate of freshly made Picadillo over rice.

    With the option of adding some raisins or currants for a complementary burst of sweetness.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    One other thing to keep in mind...

    For this version we dropped the cumin and chili powder.  We tried a chipotle-cinnamon version that included cumin and a hint of chili powder, but the flavor got kinda muddy and the cinnamon got lost behind the cumin.   So in order to keep the chipotle-cinnamon flavor at the forefront we dropped the cumin and chili powder altogether.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    And don't forget that the best part of this recipe is opening the fridge the next day and remembering that you've got leftover Picadillo on standby.

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, where they will wait patiently for when you crawl home from work and want some home cooking without any of the cooking.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Buen Provecho.

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Chipotle Cinnamon Picadillo

    If you're familiar with our Mexican Picadillo from a couple weeks ago then you're going to love this version! It adds a fiery dose of chipotle cinnamon flavor to create a unique, savory batch of home-cooked Picadillo. So good! 
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 189kcal
    Author: Mexican Please

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb. ground beef
    • 1 potato
    • 1 carrot
    • 1/4 onion
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
    • 1.5 teaspoons salt
    • freshly cracked black pepper
    • 1 cup stock (or water)
    • 1/3 cup currants, or raisins (optional)

    For the Tomato-Chipotle blender mixture:

    • 6 Roma tomatoes
    • 3/4 onion
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • 5 chipotles in adobo
    • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
    • pinch of salt

    Instructions

    • After rinsing the tomatoes and cutting out the stems, roast them in a 400F oven for 20-25 minutes or until you need them.
    • Saute 1/4 onion in oil over medium heat for a few minutes. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and saute briefly. Add 1 lb. ground beef and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat until the ground beef is lightly browned.
    • Chop the potato and carrot into smallish pieces (larger pieces will require more simmering time). Once the beef is lightly browned, add the potato and carrot. Saute briefly as you gather the additional ingredients.
    • For the Tomato-Chipotle mixture, add the roasted tomatoes to a blender or food processor along with 3/4 onion, 2 garlic cloves, 5 chipotles, 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, and a pinch of salt. Combine well. (Here's more info on working with chipotles in adobo.)
    • Add the Tomato-Chipotle mixture to the beef, along with 1 teaspoon cinnamon, some freshly cracked black pepper, and 1 cup of stock (or water). 
    • Combine well and simmer over medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked all the way through. 
    • Take a final taste for seasoning. I added another 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a heaping 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to this batch.  Serve immediately.
    • If you want to serve your Picadillo with raisins or currants you can add them to the beef mixture for the last few minutes of the simmer or you can simply add them as a final garnish.
    • If you'd like to serve your picadillo over Cilantro Lime Rice, please see this recipe.
    • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. 

    Notes

    I like having the flexibility of tweaking the flavor of this dish just before serving.  So while you will probably need close to 1.5 teaspoons of salt to season the dish properly, I only added 1 teaspoon of salt before the simmer, adding the additional 1/2 teaspoon after giving it a taste post-simmer.  Ditto on the cinnamon.  I added 1 teaspoon of cinnamon before the simmer, and then added a heaping 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon post-simmer. 
     
    Using 5 chipotles gives this dish some real heat!  If you want a milder version you can use 3-4 chipotles. 
     
    Keep an eye out for some currants.  They seem to be less sweet and more tart compared to raisins and they are a great option for a dish like this. 
    Like this recipe?Click the stars above to rate it or leave a comment down below! @mexplease

    We recently used our Picadillo to make a delicious skillet pot pie.

    Here's a great way to serve up a batch of Mexican Picadillo. The flaky pastry is a perfect match for the hearty beef and potatoes. So good! mexicanplease.com

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kathy a

      April 01, 2025 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      Really enjoyed the smokey flavor of the chipotles in the picadillo. I plumped the currants in the beef broth and liked the texture better, and the smaller size, than raisins. I am gonna check out the shepherd pie and the ?fermented cabbage relish?, Curdido! I think it would compliment the dish also! Thanks for posting such wonderful recipes!

      Reply
      • Patrick

        April 08, 2025 at 12:03 pm

        Ahh good news! And yes that would be a great combo 🙂 Cheers.

        Reply
    2. Sam

      November 14, 2017 at 3:01 pm

      I am Pakistani/Indian and love Mexican food. This dish sound really good and I will be making it very very soon. I am a Chef Rick Bayless fan and let's see if I become your fan too!
      Cheers.

      Reply
      • Patrick

        November 15, 2017 at 1:51 pm

        Thanks Sam! I'm a huge fan of that chipotle cinnamon flavor so I hope it works out for you too.

        Reply

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    Hey, I'm Patrick! I spent 2 years living in Cozumel and got obsessed with Mexican food. I built this site to share all the recipes and techniques I've learned along the way. Read More…

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