Puerto Rican Pastelón with Ground Beef and Plantains

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-29 · Updated 2026-04-29

Layered baked casserole featuring sweet plantains, savory spiced ground beef, and melted cheese for a comforting meal. This latin american-inspired beef ready in about 75 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
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, finely chopped onion
• 1 small, finely chopped green bell pepper
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp, divided salt
• 1/2 tsp, divided black pepper
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2, beaten eggs

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 finely chopped onion, 1 finely chopped green bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 6-7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes until sauce thickens.
4. Step 4: While beef simmers, fry 4 large peeled and sliced ripe plantains in batches in 1/2 inch of vegetable oil over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side until golden. Drain on paper towels.
5. Step 5: In a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, layer half of the fried plantain slices to cover the bottom. Spread all the beef mixture evenly over the plantains. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the beef, then layer remaining plantain slices on top.
6. Step 6: Pour 2 beaten eggs evenly over the top layer of plantains to help bind the casserole.
7. Step 7: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted and golden brown.
8. Step 8: Let pastelón rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving for a hearty Puerto Rican dish.