Description
A quick, comforting, and spicy ground beef dish made with roasted green chiles, cumin, and raisins. This meal comes together in under 30 minutes and is perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles OR 2 cups fresh roasted green chiles
- 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp mild chili powder
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep the aromatics: Dice the onion and mince the garlic. If using fresh chiles, roast under the broiler until blistered, peel, remove seeds, and dice. Drain canned chiles.
- Sauté the base: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt; cook until translucent (3-4 minutes). Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook the beef: Add ground beef to the pan. Break it up and cook until no longer pink, allowing some browning for flavor. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Toast the spices: Sprinkle cumin and chili powder over the meat. Stir and toast in the fat for about 60 seconds to release essential oils.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour in chicken broth and add green chiles and raisins. Stir to scrape up browned bits. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until sauce thickens. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Finish and serve: Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve hot over rice, with tortillas, or in tacos.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, swap beef for lentils or plant-based meat and use vegetable broth. For a leaner option, use ground turkey or 90/10 beef. The dish freezes well for up to 3 months. If the sauce is too thin, simmer longer; if too thick, add more broth. Toasting spices in fat enhances flavor significantly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: picadillo, green chile, ground beef, mexican food, quick dinner, weeknight meals, spicy, comfort food, gluten-free