Puerto Rican Pastelón Layered Plantain Casserole
A savory casserole layering sweet plantains with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese, baked to golden perfection. This caribbean-inspired pork ready in about 70 minutes pairs for frying vegetable oil, ground beef, small, diced yellow onion 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 medium, peeled and sliced lengthwise ripe plantains
- 2 cups for frying vegetable oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small, diced yellow onion
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup sliced olives
- 2 tbsp raisins
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 large, beaten eggs
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium heat until 350°F. Fry 4 medium peeled and lengthwise sliced ripe plantains in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and soft. Drain on paper towels.
- Step 2: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook 1 lb ground beef with 1 diced small yellow onion, 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves for 6-8 minutes until browned and fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup sliced olives, 2 tbsp raisins, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Step 4: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, layer half the fried plantain slices evenly.
- Step 5: Spread all the seasoned beef mixture over the plantains, then sprinkle 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Step 6: Add the remaining plantain slices over the cheese layer, pour 2 beaten large eggs evenly over the top, and sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Step 7: Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the cheese melts and the casserole is set and golden on top. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Puerto Rican Pastelón Layered Plantain Casserole take to make?
Total time is about 70 minutes (25 min prep + 45 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 Puerto Rican Pastelón Layered Plantain Casserole?
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 for frying vegetable oil from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Puerto Rican Pastelón Layered Plantain Casserole?
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 Puerto Rican Pastelón Layered Plantain Casserole 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.
What goes well with Puerto Rican Pastelón Layered Plantain Casserole?
Caribbean pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
