Layered Plantain and Ground Beef Casserole with Tomato Sauce

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-12 · Updated 2026-04-12

A hearty casserole with crispy fried plantains layered with seasoned ground beef and rich tomato sauce, baked until golden and bubbling. This puerto rican-inspired one pot ready in about 70 minutes blends tablespoons olive oil, pound ground beef, medium, finely chopped onion into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 6, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. 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

• 2 medium, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds plantains
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium, finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 can (14 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add plantain slices and cook for 5 minutes per side until golden brown. Set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat for 6 minutes until beef is browned. Stir in minced garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper, then cook for 1 minute.
3. Step 3: Stir in tomato sauce and water, simmer for 5 minutes. Spread half the tomato sauce mixture in a baking dish, layer with half the plantain slices, then the remaining tomato sauce and plantain slices. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden.