Name: Minced Pork Recipe (Pork Picadillo)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; ½ cup onion, (chopped); ½ cup bell pepper, (chopped); 1 clove garlic, (minced); 1 pound ground pork; 1 teaspoon adobo; ½ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1 teaspoon paprika; 2 tablespoons homemade sofrito; ½ cup tomato sauce; 1 medium potato, (chopped); ¼ cup alcaparrado; ½ cup water; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

This minced pork recipe, or pork picadillo, is a savory Latin American dish that contains ground pork and a variety of spices. It’s ready in 30 minutes or less and is perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Minced Pork with serving spoon and lime wedges on the side

Picadillo is one of the easiest recipes you can make, and its versatility is unmatched. You can make picadillo as a main dish to eat with rice and beans, use it in tostones rellenos, kipes, empanadas, and even pastelón de papa.

Although beef picadillo is more popular, I find that pork picadillo is much more flavorful and let’s face it, more affordable.

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What is minced pork or pork picadillo?

Pork picadillo is a popular stir-fry dish in Cuba and the Caribbean. This dish is made with ground pork, potatoes, and vegetables in a flavorful sauce. The word “picadillo” originates from the Spanish word “picar,” which refers to the ground meat in the dish.

Minced pork or any minced meat is a type of ground meat that is finely chopped with a meat grinder or chopping knife. It’s usually used when making bolognese, meatballs, or burgers.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Pork picadillo is a flavorful and savory dish with so much texture from the vegetables, potatoes, and meat. It’s a great meal to have after a workout alongside a salad since it’s loaded with protein, vitamins, and minerals or for when you’re looking to have something new for dinner or lunch. This minced pork recipe is also incredibly versatile, so you can choose to enjoy it on its own or with a side, like rice or pasta.

Ingredients

Ground pork – I buy ground pork at my local grocery store.
Vegetable oil – Any vegetable oil should work. I like to use avocado oil, but olive oil, canola, or corn oil can work as well.
Onion – I use red onion in most of my cooking, but yellow onion works fine as well.
Bell pepper – I mix a combination of red, green, and yellow bell peppers. It looks pretty and tastes great.
Garlic – Because we love garlic!
Adobo – You can use any adobo of your choice. I prefer this organic adobo to cook my meals.
Black pepper – Freshly cracked or ground is fine.
Oregano – Dominican oregano is always my preferred oregano.
Paprika – Add a delicious smokey taste to this dish.
Homemade sofrito – Here’s my homemade sofrito recipe!
Tomato sauce – You can also use tomato paste if that is what you have on hand.
Potato – Adds a bit of heartiness to the dish.
Alcaparrado – If you can’t find Alcaparrado, you can use green pitted olives.
Fresh lemon juice – A little citrus is always good to balance the flavors.

I chose not to use salt for the recipe since there’s already salt added to the adobo. But you can feel free to taste it while cooking and add a bit of salt if it needs more. How much salt you will need, depends on the type of adobo you use.

Step-by-Steps Instructions

Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent.

Stir in the pork. Add the adobo, black pepper, oregano, and paprika to taste. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the meat is brown. Stir in the sofrito, tomato sauce, potatoes, and alcaparrado. Let it cook for about 2 minutes.

Pour in the water and stir. Continue to cook for about 15 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated and the potatoes are cooked through.

Serving Suggestions

This minced pork recipe is delicious with a side of white rice, noodles, or another type of pasta. I like to eat this recipe over white rice with black beans and maduros. You can also try it with my stuffed sweet potato recipe.

Recipe Variations

Try adding raisins to your recipe for a bit of sweetness.
You can also add other vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, corn, mushrooms, or even green beans for a more robust meal.

Storage Tips

Any leftover cooked pork is good refrigerated for up to 3 to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Pork picadillo in a skillet ready to serve

Frequently Asked Questions

Is minced pork the same as ground pork?

While both terms are used interchangeably, they are not the same. Ground pork is meat and fat that gets broken down, while minced pork is skeletal-muscle meat that is chopped finely. Ground meat is creamy and consistent, whereas minced meat is choppy and bulky.

Where to buy minced pork?

You can buy minced pork at your local supermarket or butcher.

Ideas for cooking ground pork?

When thinking of ground pork, think of all the recipes and foods you eat that are made out of ground pork. Sausage, pork dumplings, and pork bowls are all made with this super versatile ingredient. Try making some of your favorite foods with that ground pork that’s been sitting in your refrigerator. And while you’re at it, try making my slow cooker chili recipe.

How to know when pork goes bad?

Using your nose is the best way to tell if your pork has gone bad. Watch out for any sour or ammonia smells. Any signs of this mean your pork is spoiled and should be thrown out. Puffed-up packaging is another way to tell that your pork has gone spoiled. Your pork should have a pinkish hue with white fat marbling.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Cut potatoes into small cubes to ensure they cook through quickly.
Ground pork should be cooked to an internal minimal temperature of 160 degrees before consuming.

Minced Pork Recipe (Pork Picadillo)