Popular Pastelón with Sweet Potato and Cheese

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A layered Puerto Rican casserole featuring sweet potato, tomato sauce, and melted cheese—baked to golden perfection for a hearty vegetarian meal. This puerto rican-inspired vegetarian (vegetarian) ready in about 88 minutes pairs olive oil, small, diced onion, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 295 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.

★ 3.9 (12 ratings) Prep: 28 min Cook: 60 min Serves 6 Puerto Rican cuisine 295 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 tbsp olive oil.
  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions for 3 minutes until translucent, then add garlic and bell peppers. Cook for 5 minutes until peppers soften and edges caramelize.
  3. Step 3: Stir in tomato sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until thickened and fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Arrange sweet potato slices in the bottom of the baking dish. Spread half the tomato sauce over potatoes, then top with 1/4 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Repeat layers with remaining potatoes, sauce, and cheese.
  5. Step 5: Drizzle with vegetable broth and remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 more minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Popular Pastelón with Sweet Potato and Cheese take to make?

Total time is about 88 minutes (28 min prep + 60 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Popular Pastelón with Sweet Potato and Cheese?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep olive oil from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Popular Pastelón with Sweet Potato and Cheese?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Popular Pastelón with Sweet Potato and Cheese for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

Is Popular Pastelón with Sweet Potato and Cheese vegetarian?

Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.

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