This chile relleno recipe is the ultimate stuffed pepper, with roasted poblano peppers filled with melty cheese and then stuffed with Mexican picadillos. It doesn’t get better than this

Chiles Rellenos are a staple in Tex Mex restaurants. This classic Mexican dish is typically made from roasting poblano peppers and stuffing them with cheese, or a combination of cheese and ground beef or other meat and then coating the peppers in egg batter, fried until golden brown with melted cheese inside. Our version is a bit healthier so instead of frying the peppers we’re stuffing them with Mexican picadillo for a more wholesome meal

WHAT IS PICADILLOS?

Mexican picadillo (also called carne molida con papas) is a ground beef and potato hash that is basically the ultimate comfort food. It’s warm, satisfying and intensely flavorful. This dish truly takes the classic meat and potatoes combination to the next level with tons of flavor.

WHAT ARE CHILE RELLENOS?

Chile rellenos (or ‘stuffed peppers‘ in English) are a traditional Mexican dish made from roasted poblano peppers stuffed with cheese, then coated in a fluffy egg batter and fried until golden brown.

HOW TO MAKE CHILE RELLENO

First start by making the picadillo. Brown the ground beef then add the remaining ingredients and let simmer for 20 minutes to allow the potatoes to cook. While the meat is cooking, make the salsa roja. Simply add the ingredients to a food processor and then simmer over the stove. Next roast the poblanos until the skin is charred. We roasted the peppers on the BBQ, you can also roast these in the oven or over a flame. Peel the skin off the peppers and then add the cheese then stuff with picadillo and bake in the oven for about 5-8 minutes just enough to melt the cheese. 

We served ours with a super simple salsa roja made from tomatoes, onions, garlic, a jalapeno and cilantro. You could use any salsa you have on hand, salsa verde is another great option and even enchiladas sauce or just with a big dollop of sour cream or drizzle of Mexican crema. 

Enjoy everyone! 

@theCommunalfeast 

Print Recipe

CHILES RELLENOS STUFFED WITH PICADILLOS

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: Weeknight Dinners

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 4

Author: the communal feast

Ingredients

• 4 Poblano peppers
• 8 slices of Monterey Jack cheese or 1/2 cup shredded
• For the Picadillo
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons neutral oil like vegetable or grapeseed
• 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
• 1/2 large yellow onion chopped
• 4 medium garlic cloves diced
• 1 medium jalapeno stem, ribs, and seeds removed; diced
• 1 medium tomato chopped
• 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves chopped, plus more for serving
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped oregano
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt plus more to taste
• 2 teaspoons pepper
• 2 tablespoons worchestershire
• 1 medium russet potato peeled; diced into 1/4” cubes
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce 4 ounces
• 1/2 cup water 4 ounces
• 1 tablespoon of Better Than Bouillon Seasoned Beef Base swap this and the water for a certified gluten free beef broth if necessary
• For the salsa roja
• 1 can Whole tomatoes
• 1/2 small onion halved (yellow or white)
• 4 cloves garlic
• Juice from 1 lime
• 1/3 cup chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons fresh oregano
• 1 jalapeno stem and seeds removed (optional)
• 8 sprigs cilantro
• 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

• 1. Start by making the picadillo. Heat a large lidded pot or skillet over medium heat. When it’s hot, add the oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the beef and saute over medium heat until browned. About 5 - 7 minutes.
• 2. Add onion and saute for 2 minutes, or until just starting to turn translucent. Add garlic, jalapeno, tomato, and cilantro. Saute for one minute, or until garlic is aromatic.
  
• 3. Add cumin, oregano, salt, potato, tomato sauce, water, worchestershire and bouillon. Stir to combine. Press the mixture down so that the potatoes are as submerged in the liquid as possible. Cover and turn the temperature to medium-low. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the potato cubes are cooked through and the sauce is thickened.
• 4. To make the salsa roja: add the whole tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeños, chicken stock, oregano, salt and pepper, cilantro and lime juice to a food processor and pulse until fairly smooth.
• 5. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil into a pan, next transfer the salsa to the pan. Season with cumin and additional salt and pepper if needed. Simmer for 15 minutes
• 6. To make the Chiles Rellenos: heat the grill to medium high heat. Once hot at the poblanos to the grill and char on both sides. (5 minutes per side) remove from the grill and let the peppers cook down for about 5-10 minutes
• 7. Heat oven to 400 degrees
  
• 8. In a cast iron dish, add a layer of salsa roja.
  
• 9. Remove the skin from the peppers and place them in the cast iron pan. Cut a slit down the center, be careful not to cut all the way through. Next add the cheese then stuff with the picadillo mixture. Roast in the oven for about 5-8 minutes to melt the cheese.
  
• 10. Serve immediately. Optional to garnish with cilantro, sour cream and extra salsa