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This chile relleno casserole features layers of roasted poblanos, melted Monterey and Colby jack cheese, and fluffy eggs, all baked in a large dish instead of individually stuffed and fried. Great for brunch, lunch, or dinner!

A slice of chile relleno casserole served with sour cream and salsa.

Easy Chile Relleno Casserole

When you want chiles rellenos but don’t feel like frying, you need to make this chile relleno casserole. It’s a really great breakfast recipe, but I’ve also eaten this with corn tortillas and spicy salsa for dinner, and it’s just so delicious! The recipe video went viral on Instagram as soon as I posted it, and I knew then and there that this recipe was a total hit!

Here’s why I love this recipe:

  • Easy to make. Traditional chiles rellenos can be a pretty labor-intensive dish since each poblano pepper is individually stuffed with cheese, coated in a batter, and then fried. This dish avoids all that and is cooked in the oven instead while still achieving the signature fluffy, egg-based batter everyone loves.
  • Baked, not fried. This casserole not only lets you enjoy all the flavors and elements of classic chile rellenos in a fraction of the time and with half the effort, but it’s also baked and requires no frying!
  • Enjoy morning, noon, and night! This is a great recipe to serve for weekend brunch, makes a delicious vegetarian dinner, or can be made ahead and enjoyed for breakfast and lunch throughout the week.
Ingredients in chile relleno casserole.

Ingredients

  • Poblano peppers: I used fresh poblano peppers that were roasted and peeled. I found them to have better flavor and more like a chile relleno than if using canned green chiles. I roasted the peppers under the broiler in the oven, but you could also roast them over an open flame on a gas stove.
  • Shredded cheese: I used a mix of shredded Monterey jack and shredded Colby jack cheese. You could also use Oaxaca/Quesillo or Chihuahua cheese.
  • Egg mixture: The egg mixture poured on top of the casserole combines eggs, whole milk, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and seasonings for the perfect fluffy texture. This is the binding agent for the casserole. 
  • Seasonings: I used a mixture of kosher salt, coarse black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano for extra flavor. 

How to Make Chile Relleno Casserole

Roast the poblano peppers in the oven directly under the broiler or on the stove over an open flame until blackened and blistered. If you’ve never roasted poblanos before, here’s a more in-depth post all about how to roast poblano peppers.

Once roasted, cover them with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. This will trap the heat and soften the pepper skin, making it easier to remove. 

Once softened, peel and remove as much of the skin as you can on each pepper. You can do this by hand or gently scrape with a butter knife. Make a vertical slit down the middle of each pepper and remove the stems, seeds and veins.

Pulling the skin off of roasted poblano peppers

Layer the peppers and cheese. Grease a 2 quart or 9×9 inch baking dish and place 3 roasted poblano peppers in an even layer on the bottom of the dish. Top the peppers with 1 cup Monterey jack cheese and ยฝ cup Colby jack cheese. Repeat this process with the remaining peppers and cheese.

Roasted poblano peppers in a baking dish with shredded cheese.

Make egg mixture. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, flour, baking powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and coarse ground pepper together until fully combined.

The egg mixture for chile relleno casserole in a large bowl being whisked.

Pour the mixture into the baking dish with the peppers and cheese.

The egg mixture for chile relleno casserole being poured into a large baking dish.

Bake the casserole for 45 minutes until the edges of the casserole are golden brown and the middle is puffed up and set.

Chile relleno casserole garnished with fresh cilantro.

Rest. Once baked, allow the casserole to rest at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes.

A slice of chile relleno casserole on a serving spoon.

Serve and enjoy! Top with chopped cilantro and serve immediately with sour cream and your favorite salsa.

Baking sheets. These are my favorite baking sheets. Theyโ€™re a great size and super versatile for baking or cooking. 

Glass mixing bowls. I prefer using glass mixing bowls over plastic. Theyโ€™re more sturdy and wonโ€™t stain.

Ceramic baking dishes. This set of 3 comes in all different sizes and is one of those kitchen items that will be weekly!

A slice of chile relleno casserole on a plate served on a dollop of sour cream.

Storing and Reheating

To store, place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. 

To freeze, place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. 

To reheat, place in the microwave in 1-minute increments until warmed through. To reheat from frozen in the oven, bake at 350ยฐF for about 20 minutes until warmed.

4.91 from 71 votes

Chile Relleno Casserole

This chile relleno casserole features layers of roasted poblanos, melted cheese, and fluffy eggs, all baked in the oven instead of fried.
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 6 medium poblano peppers
  • Cooking spray or olive oil, for greasing
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese, divided
  • 1 cup shredded Colby jack cheese, divided
  • 5 large eggs
  • 1 ยฝ cups whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ยฝ teaspoon onion powder
  • ยผ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ยผ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • For serving: chopped cilantro, sour cream, roasted tomato salsa

Instructions 

  • Set your oven rack directly underneath the broiler and turn the broiler on high. Place the poblano peppers on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and broil for 5 minutes on each side until the skin is mostly blackened and blistered.
  • Remove the baking sheet from the oven and loosely cover it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap to trap in the heat. Allow the peppers to steam and the skin to soften for 5 minutes.
  • Peel, rub off, and discard as much of the loose skin as you can from each pepper.
  • Make a vertical slit down one side of the peppers and remove and discard the stem, seeds, and veins. Set the prepared peppers aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF and grease a 2-quart or 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
  • Lay 3 of the roasted peppers on the baking dish in a single, even layer. Sprinkle the top with 1 cup of Monterey jack cheese and ยฝ cup of Colby jack cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining peppers and shredded cheese.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and black pepper until fully combined.
  • Pour the mixture on top of the layered cheese and poblanos.
  • Bake for 45 minutes until it is puffed up in the center and the eggs are set and golden around the edges.
  • Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped cilantro and enjoy.

Video

Notes

  • This is a great make-ahead dish. You can roast the poblanos up to 2 days ahead of time. You can also assemble the chile and shredded cheese layers and store them in the fridge the night before.
  • I used shredded Monterey jack and Colby jack cheese, but this would also be great with Quesillo or Chihuahua cheese.
  • Never roasted peppers before? Here are more tips and tricks on how to roast poblano peppers.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 221mg | Sodium: 730mg | Potassium: 425mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1362IU | Vitamin C: 96mg | Calcium: 570mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment and star rating below!

Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.

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65 Comments

  1. Jennifer Dembowski says:

    5 stars
    Delicious and easy! We loved it!

  2. Deborah says:

    5 stars
    I always have a difficult time removing skin from poblanos after roasting. Any suggestions?

  3. Joy says:

    5 stars
    Boy, did we ever enjoy this! Did the peppers ahead of time as suggested and completed the recipe the following day. Just finished up leftovers for breakfast today and my hubby wants more for later. He’ll have to wait till I get to the store!

  4. Lj says:

    5 stars
    Much easier way to make rellenos and still have the great taste!!lj

  5. Terry says:

    I made it using hatch green chiles I got this year. It was great. Easy to put together and it was very good. I will make again

  6. Claudia Hernandez says:

    5 stars
    Canโ€™t wait to make it!!! Thank you so much โค๏ธ

  7. Heather says:

    Could you sub out the flour for something that’s gluten free?

    1. Isabel says:

      Hi Heather, I’ve never personally tested using a gluten-free flour, but I think using a 1-to-1 gluten free flour (like from Bob’s Red Mill) would work.

  8. Bev says:

    5 stars
    Fabulous!! Delicious!! Perfect!!

  9. Sally says:

    what temperature for the oven??

    1. Isabel says:

      Hi Sally, The oven temp should be 350ยฐF.

  10. Julie Mondragon says:

    5 stars
    Thank You for this recipe it’s easier than the frying method! I just put it in the oven I made rice and homemade tortillas!! I am ready to eat dinner ๐Ÿด lol Thanks again

    1. Isabel says:

      Thanks, Julie! Definitely much easier than frying.