Pastel de Choclo

This Pastel de Choclo is made with all of the fantastic flavors of this traditional casserole dish from Chile! Creamy corn pudding sandwiches layers of seasoned ground beef, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and raisins and is then baked to caramelized corn perfection! It's sure to become a family-favorite recipe in your house!

Chilean Ground Beef & Corn Casserole Recipe

This hearty comfort food dish is a classic South American dish from Chile. The meaty mince filling is baked between layers of a creamed sweet corn pudding that bakes up so that the bottom layer of corn is a wonderful, crispy consistency to contrast with the creamy fillings!

I have to advocate the use of raisins in your pastel de choclo. If you have never tried a Latin dish with raisins included, you're missing out!

My whole family was wondering whether or not the inclusion of hard-boiled eggs and raisins was a good idea, but I assured them that this traditional combination would be fantastic! The slight sweetness of the corn topping and little bits of raisins in the filling make this a family-approved recipe!!

🤔 What Is Pastel de Choclo

While pastel de choclo translates to 'corn cake' or 'corn pie' in English but it is best described as a relative to our American cottage pie, hamburger pie, or more closely to the tamale pie. This South American ground beef and corn pudding casserole is such an iconic dish from Chile that it could literally be called the 'Chilean national dish' along with the Chilean empanada.

Pastel de choclo is usually eaten in the summertime. In the countryside, it is frequently still assembled in a shallow clay bowl and then baked in a wood-fired oven.

🥘 Pastel de Choclo Ingredients

Each section of this flavorful meal only uses a handful of ingredients! You can easily grab everything you need in a quick run to the grocery store!

Minced Meat Filling

• Olive Oil - 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.
• Onion - 1 large yellow or white onion.
• Garlic - 1 tablespoon (or 3 cloves) of minced garlic.
• Ground Beef - 1½ pounds of ground beef, 80% or leaner.
• Paprika - 2 teaspoons of paprika (or use a paprika substitute).
• Cumin - 2 teaspoons of cumin.
• Salt & Pepper - 1 teaspoon of both salt and pepper.

Sweet Corn Crust Layers

• Sweet Corn - 45 ounces of canned sweet corn, drained (or use frozen).
• Heavy Cream - 1 cup of heavy cream or half & half (or try a heavy cream substitute).
• Cornmeal - ½ cup of cornmeal.
• Butter - 2 tablespoons of butter that has been softened at room temperature.
• Basil - ½ tablespoon of fresh, chopped basil.
• Salt - 1 teaspoon of salt.

Pastel de Choclo Layers

• Chicken Breast - 6 ounces of chicken breast. I really prefer pulled rotisserie chicken meat for this, but a pan-seared or boiled chicken breast works just as easily. Dice the cooked chicken meat up for layering.
• Eggs - 4 large hard-boiled eggs are also added into the layers. They can be cut into halves, wedges, or chopped up.
• Raisins - ½ cup of raisins. My favorite raisins in this beefy casserole are golden raisins or 'sultanas,' but your normal variety of raisins will do. Be sure to soak the raisins in warm water while preparing your casserole components.
• Olives - 8 ounces of olives. I used black olives in what you see here, although kalamata olives are my favorite!

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Pastel de Choclo

You're going to make each of the layers separately and then assemble the casserole before baking it in the oven. All you need is a 2.5-quart casserole dish, a large skillet, a knife, a cutting board, and your food processor.

This casserole is ideal for about 8 servings, so it is perfect for feeding the whole family!

1. Preheat. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly coat your baking dish with oil or non-stick cooking spray. I am using a 2.5-quart casserole dish, but a 9x13 baking pan works too.
2. Soak the raisins. Place ½ cup of raisins into a small bowl and cover with warm water. Allow the raisins to soak while you prepare the meat filling and sweet corn layers.

Cook the Mince Filling

1. Saute. In a large skillet or non-stick frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil to medium-high heat. Add 1 diced onion and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and saute for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. *You can cook until the onion reaches your desired level of tenderness as well.
2. Add the meat. Add 1½ pounds of ground beef to the sauteed onions and garlic. Move the onion and garlic to the sides and add the ground beef. Brown the ground beef for 5 minutes without breaking it apart, then break up the meat and continue to cook until browned. Drain off the grease.
3. Season. Add the seasoning (2 teaspoons of both paprika and cumin and 1 teaspoon of both salt and pepper). Stir to combine and set aside.

Make the Corn Pudding

1. Mix. Combine 45 ounces of drained or thawed corn, 1 cup of heavy cream, ½ cup of cornmeal, and 2 tablespoons of butter in a food processor or blender. *The butter can also be melted in a frying pan before adding the corn mixture to cook.
2. Blend. Pulse until the corn mixture gets a rough consistency, but not so much that the corn is fully puréed. ½ tablespoon of fresh, chopped basil can be added to the mixture, or later after assembling the casserole.
3. Simmer. Transfer the pureed corn mixture to a large skillet or non-stick frying pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.

Assemble the Pastel de Choclo Chileno

1. Begin layering. Place the first ⅓ portion of your corn mixture into the bottom of your greased baking dish
2. Continue. Layer the seasoned ground beef mixture over the first layer of corn and top it with 4 chopped hard-boiled eggs.
3. Add. Add 6 ounces of cooked chicken breast meat, 8 ounces of olives, and the drained raisins over the beef layer.
4. Top. Top off the casserole with the rest of the corn mixture, add the chopped fresh basil if you didn't add it to the corn pudding earlier, and sprinkle some sugar over the top of your dish.
5. Bake. Bake at 350ºF (175ºC) for 30 - 35 minutes or until golden on top and bubbling around the edges. Switch your oven to broil and brown the top corn layer for 3 - 4 minutes once heated.
6. Serve. Remove your casserole from the oven and allow to cool for 5 - 10 minutes before serving.

Serve your casserole with salsa verde, ensilada chilena (tomato and onion salad), pico de gallo, pebre sauce, or humitas (corn tamale). Of course, you can eat it by itself, too! Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

• For a truly authentic flavor, you can buy merkén (also found as merquén or Mapuche-style seasoning). Merkén is a smoked chili pepper seasoning available as a ground spice. This is a traditional spice that is used in Chile's Mapuche cuisine that can be combined with your minced beef filling, the sweet corn pudding, or both!
• The Andean choclo used in Chile is a large form of corn, similar to hominy, that is not quite as sweet as our sweet corn here in the States. The choclo has a great starchy texture that caramelizes into an amazing top and bottom crust! If you want to use authentic choclo in the recipe, look for it in a Latin market.
• Your pastel de choclo can be baked in a casserole dish, a 9x13 baking pan, or individual ramekins. The ramekins are a super way to serve this beefy dish, as everyone can get an equal portion of the crisped sweet corn pudding!

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Keep any leftovers covered or placed into a sealed container and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Reheating Pastel de Choclo

Reheat small portions in the microwave or larger portions covered with foil in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through.

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🥩 More Hearty Recipes Using Ground Beef

• Hamburger Pie - A hearty casserole that combines green beans, ground beef, and mashed potatoes.
• Doritos Casserole - Crunchy Doritos chips are the star of kid-friendly casserole.
• Taco Dorados - Crispy tacos filled with ground beef and then pan-fried.
• Sloppy Joes - Classic sloppy Joes are a super easy and quick family dinner that everyone will enjoy.
• Picadillo Mexicano - A meat and potato recipe that is perfect for tacos, empanadas, burritos, and more.
• Ground Beef Mexican Casserole - Tortilla chips, ground beef, cheese, beans, and corn make up this easy and delicious meal.

📖 Recipe Card