Plantain and Cheese Pastelón Casserole

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-16 · Updated 2026-04-16

A layered Puerto Rican casserole featuring tender plantain slices, spiced ground beef, and melted cheese, baked to golden perfection for a satisfying comfort meal. This Puerto Rican-inspired quick recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs green plantains, olive oil, 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

• 4 large, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds green plantains
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1, diced onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup, shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup, grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened.
2. Step 2: Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add the 1 lb ground beef and cook until browned, breaking into small pieces with a spoon, then drain excess fat.
4. Step 4: Stir in the 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
5. Step 5: In a separate pot, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add the 1/4-inch plantain rounds and cook for 5 minutes until tender. Drain and set aside.
6. Step 6: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a baking dish. Top with a layer of plantain slices, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Repeat layers once.
7. Step 7: Top with the remaining meat sauce and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
8. Step 8: Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Step 9: Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.