Chiles Rellenos (Poblano Peppers Stuffed with Black Beans and Sweetcorn)

Chiles rellenos are Mexican stuffed poblano peppers, valued for the way the mild, earthy chilli softens after roasting while still holding its shape around a savoury filling. Instead of the richer battered and fried style, this version is baked in a tomato sauce, making it practical for everyday cooking while keeping the essential roasted-pepper character. Black beans and sweetcorn give the filling substance, sweetness and texture, with cumin and chipotle adding warm smokiness. A final scattering of coriander and lime sharpens the sauce and lifts the beans, so the dish feels hearty without being heavy. Serve as a vegetarian dinner with rice, tortillas or a simple salad.
Cuisine style Mexican-inspired vegetarian cooking
Flavor profile Smoky • Savory • Tangy
Spice level Medium
Techniques Roasting • Baking • Simmering
Key equipment Oven • Baking dish • Saucepan
Cooking style Make-ahead friendly • Freezer-friendly • Meal prep friendly

Why this recipe works

  • Roasted depth: Blistering the poblanos before stuffing brings out their gentle smokiness and makes the skins easier to remove.
  • Bright, balanced sauce: Tomatoes and lime cut through the earthy beans and sweetcorn, keeping the finished dish lively rather than heavy.
  • Practical for planning: The peppers and filling hold well once baked, making the dish useful for batch cooking, leftovers or reheating later.

Get the most out of this recipe

Adjust the heat

  • For less heat: Use less chipotle or swap it for smoked paprika to keep the smoky flavour without as much chilli warmth.
  • For more heat: Add extra chipotle to the tomato sauce gradually, tasting as it simmers so the heat stays balanced.
  • Finish with lime: A squeeze of lime at the end sharpens the sauce and helps balance the chipotle’s smoky heat.

Texture tips

  • Roast the poblanos well: The peppers should be blistered and darkened in patches before steaming; this helps them soften and peel more easily.
  • Thicken the sauce first: Simmering the tomato sauce before baking prevents the finished dish from becoming watery.

Make-ahead tips

  • Roast and peel ahead: The poblanos can be roasted, steamed and peeled in advance, then filled and baked when needed.
  • Reheat gently: Reheat covered in a 180°C (355°F) oven until piping hot, adding a little water if the sauce has thickened too much.
  • Freezer-friendly: Cool completely before freezing, then defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating until piping hot.

Authenticity notes

  • Baked vegetarian style: Classic chiles rellenos are often stuffed poblanos served with a tomato-based sauce; this version uses beans and sweetcorn and skips the battered, fried coating.
  • Flexible filling: Chiles rellenos vary widely by filling, with cheese, meat, beans or vegetables all commonly used depending on the version.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Heat the oven to 220°C (430°F). Put the poblano peppers on a baking tray and roast for 18 to 22 minutes, turning once, until blistered and blackened in patches. Transfer to a bowl, cover with a plate and leave for 10 minutes to steam.
  2. Meanwhile, cook the corn: bring a saucepan of water to the boil, add the cobs and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until just tender. Drain, cool briefly, then cut the kernels off the cobs. Set aside.
  3. Lower the oven to 200°C (390°F). Warm the sunflower oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, then cook the onion for 6 to 8 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Stir in the garlic, ground cumin and chipotle pepper and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the chopped tomatoes and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Tip about two thirds of the sauce into a baking dish and spread it out. Keep the remaining sauce in the pan.
  5. Rinse and drain the black beans, then stir them into the remaining sauce along with the sweetcorn. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the filling is hot, then take off the heat. Finely chop most of the coriander and stir it through, reserving a little for serving.
  6. When the peppers are cool enough to handle, rub off the skins as best you can and cut a slit down one side of each pepper. Remove the seeds, keeping the stems intact. Spoon the bean and sweetcorn filling into the peppers, then nestle them into the baking dish on top of the tomato sauce.
  7. Spoon a little of the sauce from the dish over the peppers to lightly coat them. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the peppers are tender and the filling is piping hot. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  8. Cut the lime into wedges. Serve the chiles rellenos topped with the reserved coriander and a good squeeze of lime.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • For easier peeling, make sure the peppers are well blistered before steaming; the skins should slip off with gentle rubbing.
  • If you are sensitive to heat, start with half the chipotle pepper and add more to taste once the sauce is simmering.
  • Food safety: if serving to pregnant people, young children, older adults, or anyone immunocompromised, ensure the filling is piping hot all the way through before serving.

Substitutions

  • Replace the chipotle pepper with 1 tsp smoked paprika for smokiness with less heat.
  • Replace the lime with lemon for a similar bright finish.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Cool completely, then refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat in a 180°C (355°F) oven for 15 to 20 minutes until piping hot; add a splash of water if the sauce looks dry. Freeze in a lidded container for up to 2 months and defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.

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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 1h 15min (30min active)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Cuisine: Mexican
Freezer friendly Kid friendly

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