Baked Beef and Plantain Pastelón

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-13 · Updated 2026-04-13

A comforting Puerto Rican casserole with layers of tender plantain, seasoned ground beef, and savory tomato sauce, baked until golden. This Puerto Rican-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, pairs ground beef, ripe plantains, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 3 medium ripe plantains
• 1 medium, diced onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing until soft, about 3 minutes. Add ground beef, breaking it into small pieces, and cook until browned, about 8 minutes.
2. Step 2: Stir in 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Simmer for 5 minutes to blend flavors, then set aside.
3. Step 3: Peel plantains and slice into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Spread a layer of plantain slices in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with half the beef mixture, then another layer of plantains, the remaining beef, and a final layer of plantains. Pour any excess sauce over the top.
4. Step 4: Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.