Pressure Cooker Picadillo Stuffed Delicata Squash is a Cuban one pot dish, made with ground beef or turkey, rice and/or quinoa and Winter Squash.

Pressure Cooker Picadillo Stuffed Delicata Squash

As a result of growing up in Miami, Florida, I tend to do a lot of Asian and Cuban cooking. This Pressure Cooker Picadillo Stuffed Squash recipe, is a take off on a standard Cuban Picadillo recipe, that my dad’s wife used to make on the stove. With the help of my Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker I have turned that Picadillo recipe into a Pressure Cooker Picadillo Stuffed Delicata Squash recipe.. The beauty is that everything cooks at the same time, in just one Pressure Cooker!

Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Picadillo Stuffed Delicata Squash

To make the already lean and healthy Picadillo healthier, I decided to use Quinoa in the recipe. I also decided to use a Delicata Squash to house the Picadillo and add even more health. Acorn Squash (another recipe), Pumpkin, Butternut, all are delicious and all will work well. Don’t let the health aspect deter you, this Pressure Cooker Picadillo Stuffed Delicata Squash is super delicious.

If you like Cuban food, try my Pressure Cooker Cuban Tortilla for breakfast.

Rough Chop the Onions and Peppers

When using a Pressure Cooker, some, well, actually, most vegetables will break down quickly. Therefore, if you want them to cook, yet stay in tact, rough chop them.

Cut the Spanish Onions in Half

The Spanish Olives are totally optional. Use them or don’t; it is your preference. If you do use them, leave them whole or cut them in half. Again, your preference.

Sauté the Vegetables

Before beginning to cook, make sure your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker is fully heated. Select Sauté, Browning, whatever Button on your Pressure Cooker will allow you to heat up your pot. Adding a fat after a Stainless Steel Pot is fully heated, will help make that Pot, non stick.

So, heat the pot and then add some oil. Add in the onions and Sauté for a couple of minutes. Add in the Bay Leaves, Green Peppers and your ground meat. I used turkey here. Ground Beef, Chicken, Bison, Turkey, Pork, all of it will work.

Brown the Meat

After the onions have begun to caramelize a bit, add in the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Use the wine to deglaze your pot. Make sure any bits that were stuck to the bottom of the cooking pot, are no longer stuck. Add in the seasonings and the diced tomatoes. If you want to use Cherry Tomatoes instead, cut them in half before adding.

Add in Rice and/or Quinoa

I wanted to make a super healthy meal, so I used half Rice and half Quinoa. I would have used all Quinoa, but my husband will not touch the stuff. Had I used all Quinoa, he would have noticed. Make sure to rinse the Rice and Quinoa really well. Quinoa has a bitter taste and much of it goes away, if you rinse it very well.

Add in Broth, Tomato Juice or Water

Here, feel free to use Homemade Bone Broth, Broth/Stock, Tomato Juice or Water. Whatever liquid you want to use is fine. The flavor will change depending on what you use, so mix it up each time you make this and you will have another flavor for your taste buds to enjoy.

Add a Trivet and Squash

I like to use Delicata Squash for this Pressure Cooker Picadillo Stuffed Delicata Squash recipe, as the flavor adds to the Picadillo very nicely. Some people like to cook their squash after it has been cleaned and sliced and others like to cook the squash whole. My preference is whole, as I like a firmer, less wet texture.

Place a Stainless Steel Trivet (long legged) into your Pressure Cooker cooking pot. Place the squash on top. In the above photos, you can see that I used one Delicata Squash, cleaned and one whole.

Pressure Cooker Picadillo Stuffed Squash

You cannot even see the Quinoa, unless you look closely. So, if you have someone in your household that refuses to eat Quinoa, well, I think you know the trick! 🙂 My problem went deeper however. My hubs won’t eat squash either! A super simple Squash recipe for you to try is my Pressure Cooker Simple Sweet Acorn Squash recipe.

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

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