February 7, 2019 By Sara 24 Comments

Chile Relleno Casserole

Name: Chile Relleno Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 3 7 ounce cans whole green chiles (drained); 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese (cut into 3-4 inch sticks); 8 eggs; 2/3 cup milk; 1 cup all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro; assorted toppings such as pico de gallo, sour cream and avocado (optional); cooking spray

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This chile relleno casserole is whole green chiles stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese, then baked in an egg batter and covered in more cheese and fresh cilantro. An easy vegetarian meal that tastes like your favorite Mexican restaurant but without the frying!

I love ordering chile rellenos at my local Mexican restaurant – these battered and fried stuffed peppers are just SO delicious. This chile relleno casserole has all of the same flavors but with way less work.

Every time I go out for Mexican food, I order a combo plate with a chile relleno on it. Those battered stuffed peppers are one of my favorite foods of all time! This chile relleno casserole has many of the same flavors, but in a convenient baked form that’s fit to feed a crowd.

How do you make chile relleno casserole?

This casserole is made with green chiles which are stuffed with cheese, covered with an egg batter, then baked to perfection. The first step is to stuff each one of your chiles with a stick of cheese. I use Monterey Jack because it’s a mild flavored cheese that melts well.

What kind of pepper is used in chile relleno?

The most commonly used peppers for chile relleno are anaheim peppers and poblano peppers. Anaheim peppers are what is pictured here, and they come conveniently roasted and peeled inside cans in the Mexican section of the grocery store. You can definitely roast your own peppers, but using the canned variety is a lot less work and tastes just as good in my opinion.

After your peppers are stuffed, they get covered in an easy egg batter that’s made in minutes with the help of a blender. The final step is a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese before the whole casserole goes into the oven.

Are chile rellenos spicy?

This chile relleno casserole is not spicy. If you’re looking for a spicier version, you could use a spicy cheese in the filling such as habanero or pepper jack, or add some hot sauce to the egg batter.

After your chile relleno casserole comes out of the oven, it will be very puffy and browned. As the casserole cools, it will deflate a bit which is totally normal. Add a sprinkling of cilantro and serve as-is, or with some toppings.

I love to pile up my piece of chile relleno casserole with toppings. Some of my favorites are

Pico de gallo
Avocado
Sour cream
Olives
Green onions

I always keep cans of green chiles in my pantry so that I can make this recipe whenever the craving strikes. With all the eggs in the batter, this dish even makes a great brunch option!

No need to get out the deep fryer for great chile rellenos, this easy casserole is all you need to get those same restaurant style flavors.

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A slice of chile relleno casserole with pico de gallo and sour cream on top.

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5 from 9 votes