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Traditional Homemade Chile Rellenos are one of my all-time favorite Mexican dishes. Roasted or canned chili peppers stuffed with cheese, dipped in a fluffy egg batter and fried to golden crisp perfection! Top them off with your favorite salsa or sauce. They’re amazing!

This is not a chile relleno casserole. While those are good, and I enjoy them, they will never measure up to fresh homemade Chile Rellenos!

They just can’t…it’s not their fault, they try, but they are a substitute for the real thing. This is the REAL thing!

Now Mars will argue with me that if you truly want the REAL deal you have to use a Poblano pepper. While I won’t admit it to his face…he is right! (Shhhhhh…don’t you tell!) 

How I learned to make Traditional Chile Rellenos

I was taught by my Aunt how to make Chile Rellenos. She learned from some friends from Mexico. I suggest, starting out, you do to. She taught me using Anaheim Peppers.

The reasons are simple…you can buy them canned already roasted, with the seeds, stems and skins removed. (Whew!) Also, they are a thicker meatier pepper than a Poblano, in my opinion, so they are easier to work with. (Hooray for easy!)

Lastly, they are generally a milder pepper, so your lips won’t swell up the size of…of…never mind…you get the point!

I’m going to give you step-by-step instructions and I KNOW you can make these! They really aren’t as difficult as they may seem. You will love the experience! Come on…let’s give it a whirl!

How To Make A Homemade Chile Relleno 

First remove the Chile’s from the can and drain them on a paper towel.

While the peppers are draining, cut your cheese into nice quarter inch sticks about 3 inches long. I’ve found cutting them into sticks makes it easier to stuff them into the peppers.

Look how easy those cheese sticks slide into those peppers!

TIP:  If a pepper tears while stuffing it… Scream and Panic!! I’m just kidding! Lol It’s not a big deal. It will be okay. Just move along. (These are going to be SO good!) 

Once they are all nicely stuffed you are going to set them aside and mix up the batter to dip them in.

How To Make Chile Relleno Batter

You will need three large eggs.

Separate the whites from the yolks. Place the yolks in a small bowl.

Place the egg whites in your handy dandy mixer and with the wire whisk attachment whip them until they form stiff white peaks. (Just like in the photo. Are you impressed? I’m remembering to take photo’s of all the steps! WOW!) While whipping them, add one teaspoon of cream of tartar. This is REALLY important.

Why? I have absolutely no idea! Because my Aunt told me so, and now I’m telling you. Okay, I’m joking. I forgot once and all the lovely fluffy batter fell off my pepper. (Sad…sad…sad!) So don’t forget. You don’t want a naked pepper!

Next, fold the yellow egg yolks into your firm peaks. It’s important to fold. Those egg whites are “diva’s” and want to be treated as such! (Don’t ya love my Christmas spatula!)

 Once everything is folded in and nicely blended we need those peppers you set aside. Oops…before you do that…heat a large skillet with about 1/2 inch of vegetable on medium heat. Okay…go find those peppers!

Sprinkle your stuffed peppers with a little all-purpose flour. This will just help keep that “diva” batter on your peppers. (Do you get the feeling those peppers don’t like the batter? Lol) Now for the fun part….

How To Cook Chile Rellenos

Using a regular table fork, slide it under the pepper, lift if off the plate, and gently dip it into the egg batter. Use the fork to gently push it down into the batter and cover the entire pepper with the egg batter. Then, slide the fork back under the pepper and lift it out of the bowl and over to your hot skillet.

Gently place the pepper into the hot oil and slide the fork out.

Tip: The oil should be hot enough to immediately begin cooking the pepper.

I sprinkle the top with cracked pepper and salt. Once the edges begin to brown take a “turner” or “pancake flippy thingy”, as I like to call it, and carefully flip them over. It’s really more like carefully “rolling” them over.

So beautiful! Now, just cook them a few minutes longer so that both sides are golden brown. Once done, remove from the hot skillet with your turner and lay them on a paper towel to drain off any excess oil. When they have drained you can plate them!

Traditional Homemade Chile Rellenos

Now you have a plate full of scrumptious mouth watering Chile Rellenos! We love to top ours with more grated cheese, guacamole, and the fresh homemade salsa. You can find the link for the salsa by clicking on it.

Traditional Homemade Chile Rellenos

This is exactly how they should look inside. All your cheese should be perfectly melted. You should have a nice fluffy golden batter on the outside. Batter, pepper, cheese. Ahhhhh…delightful!  Doesn’t that look YUMMY!!! Someone find me a fork!

That is it! Serve them with rice and beans, or even the Chicken Fajita’s, for a full Mexican meal! Enjoy and as always… Thanks for stopping by my Nest! Have a “Chile” day! (You knew it was coming!)

Other Great Side Dish Recipes to serve with Chili Rellenos

• Copy Cat Cafe Rio Pinto Beans
• Easy Spanish Rice 
• Delicious Chunky Homemade Guacamole
• Homemade Fresh Salsa
• Homemade Taquitos 

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