Pastelón de Arroz Recipe: Layered Beef and Cheese Bake 2026

Pastelón de arroz is one of those dishes that smells like home. It is a layered bake of seasoned rice, a savory beef sofrito, and melted mozzarella cheese, and it is as easy to make as it is satisfying. This recipe walks you through preparing it at home in just a few simple steps.

For this recipe we used very common vegetables that almost everyone enjoys: carrot, red bell pepper, and onion. You could also use zucchini, leek, or eggplant, or even add tomato sauce or cream to make the filling juicier, though it really does not need it because it turns out delicious just as it is.

Once the sofrito is ready and the rice is cooked, assembling the dish is very simple: a layer of cooked rice, a layer of cheese, the ground beef filling, and another layer of rice and cheese. A few minutes in the oven and you have a delicious savory rice cake. It is a complete dish that could easily be served as a main course, though paired with a green salad or dressed tomatoes it becomes a delicious and very complete lunch.

Ingredients for Pastelón de Arroz

This recipe yields 6 servings.

• 1 carrot
• Half a red bell pepper
• 1 onion
• 1 garlic clove
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Half a teaspoon of dried oregano
• 400 g ground beef (beef or mixed)
• 300 g short-grain rice
• 600 ml chicken, meat, or vegetable broth
• 2 medium eggs
• 200 g shredded mozzarella cheese

How to Make Pastelón de Arroz Step by Step

1. Sauté the Vegetables

Heat a skillet over medium heat and sauté 1 chopped carrot with half a chopped red bell pepper, 1 chopped onion, and 1 chopped garlic clove in 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add half a teaspoon of oregano. Cook the vegetables for a few minutes until they are lightly golden and tender.

2. Brown the Ground Beef

Add 400 grams of ground beef and sauté until it begins to brown. Set aside.

3. Toast the Rice

Heat a saucepan or skillet over medium heat and add extra virgin olive oil. Toast 300 grams of short-grain rice for a couple of minutes until it begins to turn pearly.

4. Cook the Rice in Broth

Add 600 ml of chicken, meat, or vegetable broth and cook the rice over medium heat for 10 minutes. The grains will remain whole but will finish cooking later in the oven.

5. Mix the Rice with Eggs

Transfer the rice to a bowl and mix it very well with 2 medium eggs. Set aside.

6. Build the First Rice Layer

Preheat the oven to 180 °C with top and bottom heat and begin assembling the pastelón de arroz. Place half of the rice in an oven-safe dish and spread it evenly.

7. Add a Cheese Layer

Spread about half of the 200 grams of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the rice.

8. Add the Beef Filling

Add the ground beef sofrito and spread it well over the entire surface.

9. Top and Bake

Cover the beef with the rest of the rice and smooth it out. Spread the remaining shredded cheese over the rice. Bake the pastelón de arroz for about 15-20 minutes, until the cheese layer is fully melted and golden to your liking.

10. Rest Before Serving

Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before serving so the rice cake sets and does not fall apart when sliced.

Tips for the Best Pastelón de Arroz

1. Customize the Vegetables

Carrot, red bell pepper, and onion are crowd-pleasers, but you can swap in zucchini, leek, or eggplant. You could also add tomato sauce or cream to make the filling juicier, though it is already delicious as is.

2. Serve It as a Complete Meal

This is a very complete dish that works perfectly as a main course. Paired with a green salad or dressed tomatoes, it becomes a delicious and satisfying lunch menu.

3. Let It Rest

After baking, let the pastelón rest for 10-15 minutes before serving so it sets and slices cleanly without crumbling.

30 Home-Cooked Recipes I Keep Coming Back To

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything — cozy comfort plates, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luxurious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only something fruity and soothing will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

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Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and flavor that really pops.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over — whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for the people I love.

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When something light and unfussy sounds right, I tend to go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine — among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, golden Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

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And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and completely gratifying without any gluten.

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