Main Course · Dinner · Caribbean ·

Spicy Puerto Rican Pastelón with Ripe Plantains

Name: Spicy Puerto Rican Pastelón with Ripe Plantains
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 4 ripe plantains, peeled and sliced lengthwise; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground beef; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; ½ cup green olives, sliced; Salt and pepper, to taste; 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded; 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded; 3 eggs, beaten; ¼ cup milk

Experience the rich, spicy flavors of Puerto Rico with this comforting savory-sweet pastelón made with layers of seasoned beef, ripe plantains, and melted cheese.

4.4(409 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·July 31, 2025

Spicy Puerto Rican Pastelón with Ripe Plantains — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Plantains

For the Meat Filling

For the Cheese Layer

For the Assembly

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 622 kcal
Protein: 32.8 g
Carbs: 44.8 g
Fat: 36.7 g
Fiber: 3.8 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3734 kcal
Protein: 196.9 g
Carbs: 269 g
Fat: 220 g
Fiber: 22.6 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
4 ripe plantains peeled and sliced lengthwise	890	4	230	3	14
1 tablespoon olive oil	120	0	0	14	0
1 pound ground beef	1150	90	0	90	0
1 small onion finely chopped	40	1	9	0	1.5
2 cloves garlic minced	10	0.5	2	0	0.1
1 green bell pepper diced	20	1	5	0	2
1 teaspoon cumin	8	0.4	1	0.5	0.5
1 teaspoon smoked paprika	6	0.3	1	0.3	0.8
1 teaspoon oregano	5	0.2	1	0.2	0.7
1 tablespoon tomato paste	15	0.5	4	0	1
½ cup green olives sliced	75	0.5	4	7	2
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded	700	50	6	54	0
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded	450	28	2	37	0
3 eggs beaten	210	18	1	14	0
¼ cup milk	30	2	3	1	0

These nutrition estimates are approximate and not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Plantains

1
Heat oil
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
2
Fry plantains
Fry plantain slices until golden brown on both sides.
Tip: Avoid overbrowning the plantains to keep them tender. For a sweeter taste, drizzle a little honey over the plantains before frying.
3
Drain
Remove and drain on paper towels.

Preparing the Meat Filling

1
Sauté aromatics
In the same pan, cook onions, garlic, and bell pepper until softened.
2
Brown beef
Add ground beef and cook until browned; drain excess fat.
3
Season
Stir in cumin, paprika, oregano, tomato paste, and olives. Season with salt and pepper.

How to Make Spicy Puerto Rican Pastelón with Ripe Plantains

Total time: 2 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Layering
Arrange a layer of plantains on a greased baking dish, followed by a layer of meat filling and a layer of cheese. Repeat the layers, finishing with plantains on top.
2
Egg Mixture
Pour a beaten egg and milk mixture over the layers evenly.
3
Baking
Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes until set and bubbly.