Shredded Beef Pabellón Criollo with Sweet Plantains

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

A classic Venezuelan dish featuring tender shredded beef stewed in tomatoes and spices, served alongside fried sweet plantains and white rice. This latin american-inspired beef ready in about 140 minutes pairs beef chuck roast, beef broth, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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

• 2 lbs beef chuck roast
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 large, diced onion
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 1 cup canned diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 medium ripe plantains
• 4 cups cooked white rice

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut 2 lbs beef chuck roast into large chunks. In a large pot, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil over medium-high heat, then brown the beef pieces on all sides, about 6-8 minutes.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large diced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pot, sautéing for 4 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp paprika, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Pour in 2 cups beef broth, bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low heat for 2 hours until beef is tender enough to shred.
4. Step 4: While the beef cooks, peel 2 medium ripe plantains and slice diagonally into 1/2-inch thick pieces. Heat remaining 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat and fry the plantain slices for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and caramelized.
5. Step 5: Once beef is tender, shred it finely with two forks and mix it back into the sauce. Serve shredded beef alongside 4 cups cooked white rice and fried sweet plantains.