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    Home » Recipes » Mexican

    Turkey Picadillo

    Published: Feb 1, 2023 · Updated: Feb 1, 2023 by Maggie Unzueta

    Turkey Picadillo is a delicious dinner recipe you don’t want to miss. It’s easy comfort food that your whole family will love!
    Jump to Recipe
    Turkey picadillo served on a white plate next to pinto beans.
    Turkey picadillo served on a white plate next to a bottle of Mazola Corn Oil.
    Turkey picadillo served next to pinto beans.

    This is a sponsored post in partnership with Mazola® Corn Oil.

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Did you know Mazola® Corn Oil is also officially Heart-Check certified by the American Heart Association (@american_heart)?! The Heart-Check is designed to help consumers make informed choices about the foods they purchase, and by having an all-purpose cholesterol free** cooking oil on hand like heart-healthy* @mazolabrand you’re always certain to prepare easy and delicious meals for you and the whole family!

    Turkey picadillo served next to pinto beans.

    Turkey Picadillo is the BEST comfort food. 

    It’s just as tasty as Beef Picadillo and perfect any day of the week. 

    The sauce is rich, thick, and full of delicious flavors. 

    Made with basic ingredients and completely effortless. Talk about a winning dish!

    Table of Contents

    • 1 Ingredients
    • 2 How to Make the Tomato Sauce:
    • 3 Pro Tip:
    • 4 How to Cook the Turkey:
    • 5 Storing Instructions:
    • 6 Freezer Instructions:
    • 7 Sides:
      • 7.1 Hungry for More
    • 8 Turkey Picadillo
      • 8.1 Ingredients
        • 8.1.1 To Make the Sauce:
        • 8.1.2 How to Cook the Turkey:
      • 8.2 Instructions
        • 8.2.1 To Make the Sauce:
        • 8.2.2 How to Cook the Turkey:
      • 8.3 Video
      • 8.4 Notes
      • 8.5 Nutrition
          • 8.5.0.1 Maggie Unzueta

    Ingredients

    The ingredients needed to make turkey picadillo labeled and sitting on a wooden surface.
    • Mazola® Corn Oil is used to cook the turkey and all the ingredients. 
    • Turkey – look for lean ground turkey. Yes, you can also make it with ground chicken or ground beef too.
    • Fresh Tomatoes are needed to make the sauce. 
    • Onion and garlic cloves – please see the recipe card for exact measurements. 
    • Salt and black pepper to season the turkey. 
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin and ground oregano add warmth and earthiness. 
    • Water is used to make the tomato sauce. 
    • Jalapeno – add more if you like it spicier. 
    • Potato – One large potato or use two small potatoes. 

    Great Option: 

    Add chili powder, green pepper, red bell peppers, or swap out for sweet potatoes.

    Using Olives:

    Many picadillo recipes use green olives and even include the olive juice. If including, use ½ cup of sliced olives and 1 tablespoon olive juice.

    How to Make the Tomato Sauce:

    Boiling the ingredients to make the tomato sauce then blending them in a blender.
    • Boil the tomatoes, onion and garlic in a large pot until soft. 
    • Place in a blender and blend until smooth. 

    Set the tomato sauce aside until ready to use. This step can be done ahead of time. 

    Swap out the water for chicken stock to add more flavor.

    Pro Tip:

    I like to make tomato sauce with overly ripe tomatoes that are about to go bad. The sauce goes into the freezer. Take out as needed.

    How to Cook the Turkey:

    • Heat Mazola® Corn Oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
    • Add the ground turkey. Season and cook until brown. 

    Mazola® Corn Oil is a heart-healthy* cooking oil that is perfect for this recipe, its neutral flavor allows for the dish’s flavors to shine.  

    Heart health doesn’t have to come at a high cost, did you know Mazola® Corn Oil can help protect your heart for less than half the price*** of extra virgin olive oil?

    Ground turkey cooking with potatoes and tomato sauce.
    • Add onion, garlic, jalapeno, and potatoes to the cooked turkey.
    • Then add the tomato sauce.
    • Stir with a wooden spoon to combine.

    It may look like a lot of liquid, but the sauce will thicken as it cooks. Or, add a tablespoon of tomato paste.

    Once the potatoes are fork tender, the picadillo is ready. 

    This is a traditional dish found in Latin American countries. It varies from country to country, even region to region. Adjust to your liking.

    To make it a complete meal, add veggies like green beans, squash, or broccoli.

    Turkey picadillo served on a white plate next to a bottle of Mazola Corn Oil.

    Storing Instructions:

    Place any leftover turkey picadillo in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. 

    Freezer Instructions:

    Potatoes do not freeze well. They will end up mushy and with no real texture. Remove the potatoes before adding to a sealable freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible and store for up to 3 months.

    Turkey picadillo served on a white plate next to pinto beans.

    Sides:

    • Mexican Rice
    • Frijoles de la Olla
    • Corn Tortillas
    • Ensalada de Nopales

    You’re going to love this Turkey Picadillo recipe. It tastes better the next day. Rich, hearty, and so comforting. Buen provecho!

    Hungry for More

    Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter for my latest recipes and videos.

    Turkey picadillo served next to pinto beans.

    Turkey Picadillo

    Turkey Picadillo is a delicious dinner recipe you don’t want to miss. It’s easy comfort food that your whole family will love!
    5 from 37 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 214kcal
    Author: Maggie Unzueta

    Ingredients

    To Make the Sauce:

    • 2 tomatoes
    • ½ onion
    • 1 garlic clove
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 4 cups water (to cook tomatoes)
    • 2 cups water (to blend the sauce)

    How to Cook the Turkey:

    • 2 tablespoon Mazola® Corn Oil
    • 1 lb ground turkey
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon ground oregano
    • ¼ onion diced
    • 1 garlic clove finely minced
    • 1 jalapeno finely minced
    • 1 large potatoes (or 2 small potatoes) peeled and diced

    Instructions

    To Make the Sauce:

    • Add tomatoes, ½ onion, and garlic in a stock pot.
    • Cover with 4 cups of water.
    • Cook for 7-8 minutes, or until tomatoes are soft.
    • Discard water.
    • Place tomatoes, onion, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender.
    • Add 2 cups of water.
    • Blend until smooth.
    • Set aside until ready to use.

    How to Cook the Turkey:

    • Heat Mazola® Corn Oil in a large skillet.
    • Add the ground turkey.
    • Season with salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano.
    • Break it up with your spatula.
    • Cook for 4-5 minutes.
    • Add the onion, garlic, jalapeno, and potato.
    • Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
    • Add the tomato sauce.
    • Stir to combine.
    • Reduce heat to medium-low.
    • Cover and cook until the potatoes are fork tender.
    • About 10 minutes.
    • Serve and enjoy.

    Video

    Notes

    Note: Add ½ cup water, if needed.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 1243mg | Potassium: 536mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 588IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @MamaMaggiesKitchen or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!

    *Corn oil is a cholesterol-free food that contains 14g of total fat per serving.

    **Very limited and preliminary scientific evidence suggests that eating about 1 tablespoon (16g) of corn oil daily may reduce the risk of heart disease.

    ***based on average price per volume.

    Maggie Unzueta
    Website | + posts

    Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Amy Liu Dong

      February 05, 2023 at 9:28 am

      5 stars
      Such a comforting and delicious food to make for tonight’s dinner.
      I am sure everyone will love this!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        March 28, 2023 at 12:52 pm

        I’m sure everyone will love this Turkey Picadillo, and I hope you all have a wonderful meal together. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Jamie

      February 04, 2023 at 5:48 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome! Such an amazing Picadillo dish that has some great twits! It looks absolutely delicious! Definitely, comfort food that everyone will love!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        February 14, 2023 at 8:32 am

        Turkey picadillo is definitely comfort food. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Ann

      February 03, 2023 at 9:51 am

      5 stars
      This dish sounds delicious! Seems pretty simple to make – great for a busy weekday night meal! Thanks for the recipe share!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        February 14, 2023 at 8:31 am

        That’s what I love about Turkey picadillo. It’s so easy!

        Reply

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    iBienvenidos! I'm Maggie. Welcome to my blog! My passion is authentic Mexican food and traveling throughout Mexico to bring you the very BEST in culture and cuisine.

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