Prepared foods
Picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef)
Per 100 g (3.5 oz), picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef) provides 14.3 g of protein, 0.2 g of fiber, and 169 kcal, a moderate energy density.
Estimated satietyHow it is calculated
Estimated satiety: 4 out of 5
| Starting point | +1 |
|---|---|
| Moderate energy density: 169 kcal/100 g | 0 |
| Protein: 8.4 g/100 kcal | +2 |
| Fiber: 0.1 g/100 kcal | 0 |
| Solid food with 71.3 g of water | +1 |
Our own estimate from the values per 100 g: useful for comparing foods with each other, not a measurement in people. Holt index (1995): this food was not measured.
- Prepared by
- Alex Gonzalez
- Last updated
- Next review
- Sources
- 9 primary
- Data
- USDA FDC 2706393
No clinical review. No advertising from drug companies and no affiliate links.How we work
Nutrition facts
- Calories
- 203 kcal per serving
- 169 kcal per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Protein
- 17.1 g per serving
- 14.3 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Carbohydrates
- 1.5 g per serving
- 1.3 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- of which sugars
- 0.5 g per serving
- 0.4 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Fiber
- 0.2 g per serving
- 0.2 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Fat
- 13.7 g per serving
- 11.4 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- of which saturated
- 5.2 g per serving
- 4.3 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Water
- 85.6 g per serving
- 71.3 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Source: USDA FoodData Central (FNDDS 2021-2023): Stewed seasoned ground beef, Mexican style (FDC ID 2706393), accessed September 23, 2026.
A typical 120 g (4 oz) serving provides about 203 kcal, 17.1 g of protein, and 0.2 g of fiber.
What it is and how to eat it
The Dictionary of the Spanish Language calls picadillo any of the dishes made of several finely chopped ingredients, and the Dictionary of Americanisms records in Cuba the stew of ground beef with a sofrito of garlic, bell pepper, bay leaves, capers, onion, oregano, tomato sauce and oil, sometimes with raisins or potatoes added. This page uses USDA's stewed seasoned ground beef, Mexican style, which USDA also calls picadillo de carne de res: its recipe is 69% raw ground beef, 18% water and some tomato, onion, green bell pepper, garlic, cumin and flour, with 169 kcal, 14.27 g of protein and 11.38 g of fat per 100 g; with leaner meat or more vegetables the figures change.
A 120 g (4.2 oz) serving provides 203 kcal and 17.1 g of protein, so it can be the protein part of the meal, with tortilla, rice or vegetables on the side. The 2025 nutrition advisory on GLP-1 therapy suggests starting meals with protein but avoiding fatty foods in the first few days of treatment, and this recipe has 13.7 g of fat per serving, so in those days it usually sits better made with 95% lean ground beef, which according to USDA has 5 g of fat per 100 g raw, as in the lean picadillo with vegetables. If you eat little, half a serving with more vegetables in the stew adds volume without much extra fat.
What the evidence says
With USDA's reference recipe, protein supplies about a third of its energy, well above the 20% the EU requires for a "high protein" claim (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). It has 4.33 g of saturated fat per 100 g, about 5.2 g per serving, and that fat supplies about 23% of its calories, while the WHO recommends that saturated fat provide no more than 10% of total dietary energy. It has 464 mg of sodium per 100 g, about 557 mg per serving, more than a quarter of the 2,000 mg a day the WHO recommends not exceeding. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service advises cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 71 °C (160 °F), measured with a thermometer, and refrigerating leftovers within 2 hours.
Satiety
The 1 to 5 score is our own estimate: it starts at 1 point, adds points for low energy density, for protein and fiber per 100 kcal, and for the water in solid foods, and subtracts points for drinks with calories. It is useful for comparing foods with each other; it is not a measurement in people.
What to keep in mind on a GLP-1 medication
Frequently asked questions about picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef)
How much protein is in a 120 g (4 oz) serving of picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef)?
100 g (3.5 oz) of picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef) has 14.3 g of protein. A typical 120 g (4 oz) serving has about 17.1 g of protein. That is 8.4 g of protein per 100 kcal, which is why it carries our “High in protein” tag.
How many calories does a 120 g (4 oz) serving of picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef) have?
100 g (3.5 oz) of picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef) has 169 kcal. A typical 120 g (4 oz) serving has about 203 kcal. That is a moderate energy density.
Does picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef) have fiber?
100 g (3.5 oz) of picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef) has 0.2 g of fiber. A typical 120 g (4 oz) serving has about 0.2 g of fiber.
Is picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef) filling?
Yes, fairly filling for the calories it provides: our estimated satiety score is 4 out of 5. Calculation: 1 (base) + 0 (moderate energy density: 169 kcal/100 g) + 2 (protein: 8.4 g/100 kcal) + 0 (fiber: 0.1 g/100 kcal) + 1 (solid food with 71.3 g of water) = 4. It is an estimate based on its composition, not a measurement in people.
What should I know about picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef) on a GLP-1 medication?
Based on our tags, this is what matters about picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef) on a GLP-1 medication. “High in protein”: plenty of protein per calorie; protein helps preserve muscle mass when you eat less. These are general guidelines, not medical advice: everyone tolerates foods differently.
What counts as a normal serving of picadillo (Mexican-style seasoned ground beef)?
We use 120 g (4 oz) as a typical serving. That amount provides about 203 kcal, 17.1 g of protein, and 0.2 g of fiber. It is a reference for calculations, not a recommendation of how much to eat.
Similar foods
Sources
Sources for the data on this page, with the access date.
- Official databaseU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.USDA FoodData Central (FNDDS 2021-2023): Stewed seasoned ground beef, Mexican style (FDC ID 2706393).accessed .
- InstitutionRoyal Spanish Academy and Association of Academies of the Spanish Language (RAE-ASALE).Diccionario de la lengua española (Dictionary of the Spanish Language, 23rd ed., online version): "picadillo" (in Spanish).accessed .
- InstitutionAssociation of Academies of the Spanish Language (ASALE).Diccionario de americanismos (Dictionary of Americanisms): "picadillo" (in Spanish).accessed .
- Official databaseU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.USDA FoodData Central: Beef, ground, 95% lean meat / 5% fat, raw (FDC ID 171790).accessed .
- Clinical guidelineObesity (Wiley).Mozaffarian D, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: A joint Advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society. Obesity. 2025;33(8):1475-1503. doi:10.1002/oby.24336.accessed .
- RegulatorOfficial Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex).Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (Annex).accessed .
- InstitutionWorld Health Organization.Healthy diet (fact sheet, section on fats).accessed .
- InstitutionWorld Health Organization.Sodium reduction.accessed .
- RegulatorU.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS).Leftovers and Food Safety.accessed .