Puerto Rican-Style Pastelón with Ground Beef and Plantains

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-10 · Updated 2026-07-10

A layered casserole featuring sweet fried plantains and seasoned ground beef, baked with cheese for a comforting Puerto Rican favorite. This puerto rican-inspired beef ready in about 80 minutes pairs for frying vegetable oil, ground beef, medium, diced 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

• 3 large, peeled and sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch slices ripe plantains
• 1 1/2 cups for frying vegetable oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium, diced onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 medium, diced green bell pepper
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup olives, sliced
• 2 tbsp capers
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 large, beaten eggs

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat to 350°F. Fry 3 peeled and sliced ripe plantains in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and soft. Drain on paper towels.
2. Step 2: In another large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add 1 diced onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 diced green bell pepper, sautéing for 4-5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Add 1 pound ground beef, cooking and breaking apart with a spoon until browned, about 6-7 minutes. Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup sliced olives, 2 tablespoons capers, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes until sauce thickens.
4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, layer half the fried plantains to cover the bottom. Spread the beef mixture evenly over the plantains, then top with half of the 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.
5. Step 5: Add the remaining plantain slices in a second layer, then pour 2 beaten eggs evenly over the top to help bind the layers.
6. Step 6: Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the top is set and golden. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.