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picadillo

American  
[pik-uh-dil-oh, pee-kah-dee-yaw, ‑-dee-lyaw] / ˌpɪk əˈdɪl oʊ, ˌpi kɑˈdi yɔ, ‑ˈdi lyɔ /

noun

plural

picadillos
  1. a traditional Latin American and Spanish dish of ground meat, onions, tomatoes, raisins, olives, and spices.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The sweet-and-savory notes of the ground beef, raisins and olives in the picadillo mingle with the fries, making each bite a little adventure.

From Salon • Sep. 16, 2025

Cubarrubia and Morales’ celebration featured a wide array of dishes, such as Filipino sour and savory soup of sinigang as well as Cuban picadillo and ham croquettes.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2023

But with chiles en nogada, the sauce sits on top without permeating the picadillo the way the soup otherwise would, making for a drier bite.

From Washington Post • Sep. 7, 2022

Pouches of meatless picadillo made with potatoes and peas; cauliflower tinga in a robust sauce; mushrooms in chipotle sauce; and beans and rice can take to the stove top or microwave.

From New York Times • Mar. 28, 2022

“Okay, mi amor. Your mom said there’s some picadillo in the kitchen. Tus padres won’t be back until later tonight. Eat, okay? Estás muy flaquito.”

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya

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