Traeger Carne Picada
Traeger Carne Picada is made with diced beef simmered with poblanos, jalapeno, and fire-roasted tomatoes, then finished uncovered on the pellet grill until it's tender and saucy. It's a simple way to turn carne picada into a filling for tacos, burritos, or rice bowls you can enjoy all week.
Easy Carne Picada Recipe
Carne picada is small, diced pieces of beef, usually from chuck or sirloin, and many grocery stores, including Aldi, sell it already cut. Brown the beef on the stove first, then let the Traeger handle the slow cooking and add a bit of smoky flavor.
Carne Picada vs. Carne Asada vs. Steak
Carne asada is thinly sliced steak, usually grilled whole and then chopped or sliced. Carne picada comes already diced, so it cooks in a pot or skillet instead of on the grill. If you're curious about thin-cut beef, check out my post on thinly sliced steak.
Is carne picada the same as steak? Not quite. It's made from steak cuts but prepared differently. If you see carne molida at the store, that's ground beef, which is a completely different product.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Smoky Flavor - Finishing the pot on the Traeger gives the beef a gentle smoky taste you won't get from a stovetop.
- Tender Beef - Simmering in the sauce and an hour on the grill makes the small pieces of chuck turn fork-tender.
- Mostly Hands-Off - Once the pot is on the grill, you're free to prep the taco fixings.
- Great For Meal Prep - It reheats well and works in tacos, burritos, and bowls throughout the week.
- Easy To Find Ingredients - You can get everything you need, including the beef, at a regular grocery store.
Recipe Shopping List
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
For the beef
- Carne picada - 3 pounds. Sometimes it's labeled carne de res picada, which means diced beef in Spanish. If you can't find it, ask the butcher to dice chuck or sirloin for you, or cut it yourself into small, even pieces.
- Avocado oil - 2 tablespoons, for browning. You can use another high-heat oil if you prefer.
- OWYD SPG rub - 1 tablespoon. Use my OWYD SPG or just mix salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Chili pepper - 1 teaspoon.
- Cumin - ½ teaspoon.
For the cooking sauce
- Beef broth - 2 cups.
- Fire-roasted diced tomatoes - 1 can.
- Jalapeño - 1, sliced, seeds removed.
- Yellow onion - 1 medium, diced.
- Garlic - 4 cloves, minced.
- Poblano peppers - 2, diced, seeds removed.
- Chili pepper - 1 tablespoon.
- Cumin - 1 teaspoon.
- Onion powder - ½ teaspoon.
- Cayenne pepper - ½ teaspoon, optional if you want more heat.
You'll also need a Dutch oven that's safe for the grill, such as cast iron or enameled cast iron.
Where To Buy Carne Picada
Locally in the PNW, Walmart carries pre-packaged carne picada, and many other local grocery stores carry it in the meat section, also. Some stores sell an "extra thin" cut, which works fine here. The pieces tenderize a bit faster, so check them a few minutes early.
How To Make This Recipe
This is just the overview so you can see what you're actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you'll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Preheat The Traeger - Set your Traeger to 325°F and let it come fully to temperature with the lid closed.
- Heat the Oil - Add the avocado oil to a Dutch oven and set it over medium-high heat on the stove.
- Season the Beef - Toss the carne picada with the SPG, 1 teaspoon chili pepper, and ½ teaspoon cumin.
- Brown in Batches - Add the beef in a single layer and cook until it develops some color, then remove it to a plate. Repeat with the rest. This is the step that builds flavor, so don't rush it.
- Build the Sauce - Add the broth, tomatoes, jalapeno, onion, garlic, poblanos, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, onion powder, and cayenne if you want more heat. Lower the heat to medium and let it come to a simmer.
- Add The Beef Back - Return the browned beef to the pot and stir to coat.
- Cook On The Traeger - Place the pot on the grill, uncovered, and cook for about 1 hour, or until the meat is tender.
- Serve - Pull the pot off the grill and serve with your favorite tortillas and taco fixings.
Tips For The Best Carne Picada
- Don't Crowd The Pan - If you add too much meat at once, it will steam instead of brown. Work in batches, even if it takes a little longer.
- Pat the Beef Dry - Dry meat sears better than wet, so pat it dry with paper towels before seasoning.
- Let It Sear First - Let the beef sit for a minute before stirring so it gets a nice color.
- Cut Evenly - If you're dicing your own steak, try to keep the pieces about the same size so they cook evenly.
Swaps And Variations
- Slow cooker: brown the beef, add everything to the crock pot, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
- Instant Pot: use the sauté setting to brown, add the sauce, pressure cook for about 15 minutes, then quick release.
- Stovetop: After browning the beef, add all of the cooking liquid ingredients to the Dutch oven. Bring to a simmer and return the beef to the pan. Cover and simmer for about an hour, or until the beef is tender.
- Oven: After browning the beef, add all of the cooking liquid ingredients to the pan and bring to a simmer. Add the beef back to the pan, cover, and place into a preheated 325°F oven. Cook for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until tender.
More Mexican Recipes
All of my Mexican-inspired recipes, in one easy-to-scroll collection! Get them all here!
Ways To Use Carne Picada
- Tacos - Spoon it into warm tortillas and top with cilantro, onion, and a scoop of homemade salsa.
- Burritos - Wrap it up with beans, rice, and shredded cheese.
- Rice Bowls - Serve it over Easy Mexican Rice with your favorite toppings.
- Quesadillas - Fold it into a tortilla with melted cheese and griddle until crisp.
- Nachos - Pile it over chips with cheese and bake until bubbly.
- Philly Cheesesteak-Style Sandwiches - Add melted cheese and serve on a hoagie roll.
Recipe FAQ
It's usually chuck, sirloin, or flank trim, diced small. Chuck is a good choice for this recipe because it tenderizes in the sauce.
It means the beef was cut into thinner pieces before dicing. It works fine in this recipe and cooks a little faster.
Yes. Brown the beef first, then cook everything on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.
Yes. Brown the beef on the sauté setting, add the sauce, pressure cook for about 15 minutes, then use quick release.
No. Carne picada is diced beef, and carne molida is ground beef. They cook and eat very differently.
It's the Spanish name for diced beef, and some packages are labeled that way. It's the same thing as carne picada.
Tacos, burritos, rice bowls, quesadillas, and nachos are all easy options. It also works in sandwiches with melted cheese.
Yes. Pile the cooked beef on a hoagie roll, top with cheese, and melt it under the broiler or in the oven.
Yes. Cooked carne picada freezes for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge, then reheat in a skillet.
Up to 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
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Traeger Carne Picada
Diced beef simmered with poblanos, jalapeño, and fire-roasted tomatoes, then finished on the Traeger until tender.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds carne picada meat
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon OWYD SPG rub (or salt, pepper, and garlic powder)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
Cooking Sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 jalapeño, sliced and seeds removed
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 poblano peppers, diced with seeds removed
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for more heat)
Instructions
- Preheat your Traeger to 325°F.
- In a Dutch oven, add the oil and heat over medium-high heat.
- Season the picada meat with the SPG, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and ½ teaspoon cumin.
- Brown the picada meat in batches, removing it once it has browned.
- Add the cooking sauce ingredients to the Dutch oven. Reduce the heat to medium and bring to a simmer.
- Add the meat back into the pot and stir to distribute.
- Place the pot, uncovered, on the preheated Traeger.
- Cook for approximately 1 hour, or until the meat is tender.
- Remove from the grill and serve with your favorite kind of tortillas and taco fixings.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 432Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 8gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 154mgSodium: 409mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 23gSugar: 2gProtein: 49g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate. If you are tracking these things for medical purposes please consult an outside, trusted source. Thanks!
