Puerto Rican Pastelón de Plátano Maduro

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-02 · Updated 2026-05-02

A layered casserole featuring sweet ripe plantains, seasoned ground beef, and melted cheese baked to golden perfection. This Latin American-inspired comfort-food recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, pairs ripe plantains, ground beef, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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 lengthwise into 1/4-inch strips ripe plantains
• 1 lb ground beef
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 packet (about 1 tbsp) sazon seasoning
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 large, beaten eggs

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium chopped onion, 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef, 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 packet sazon seasoning, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking up meat, until browned and sauce thickens.
3. Step 3: In another skillet, heat remaining 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Fry 4 large peeled and sliced ripe plantains for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and soft. Drain on paper towels.
4. Step 4: In a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, layer half of the fried plantains to cover the bottom. Spread the entire cooked beef mixture evenly over the plantains. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the beef. Layer remaining plantains on top.
5. Step 5: Pour 2 beaten eggs evenly over the top layer to bind the casserole. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top.
6. Step 6: Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted and golden. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving.