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    Home » Recipes

    Chile Relleno Cheese Dip

    Published: Jun 6, 2021 · Modified: Feb 28, 2023 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    If you like chile rellenos, you are going to love this Chile Relleno Cheese Dip Recipe! This dish is basically the classic Mexican dish in a melty, cheesy poblano dip form that's perfect for parties, BBQs, and celebrations.

    chile relleno dip on a chip
    Jump to Recipe

    I've started ordering Chile Rellenos whenever we go out for Mexican food. I love to try different variations of this classic Mexican dish and indulge in the fried peppers with cheese. Since this dish is my new favorite, I've made a few versions of my own at home including my Baked Chile Rellenos and my Chile Relleno Enchiladas.

    I wanted to share my baked version with my friends and I decided to come up with this Chile Relleno Cheese Dip so that everyone at our party could try some. Any excuse to have roasted peppers, cheese, and salsa in a homemade dip with tortilla chips is ok with me! You also get the flavors of a chile relleno without the frying, so really, this dip is better for you than the original dish.

    What are Chile Rellenos?

    Chile Rellenos translates to “stuffed peppers” in Spanish and originated in the city of Puebla, Mexico. Traditionally, they are roasted peppers stuffed with cheese and/or meat, dipped in an egg batter, and fried. They are usually served with red or green salsa or sauce. Traditional Chile Rellenos are REALLY delicious, but they also pack a lot of calories, especially the fried version.

    roasted chiles in pan for relleno dip

    Ingredients Needed to Make this Roasted Poblano Appetizer

    From the Pantry

    This recipe is great because you use a few staples from the pantry including canned diced tomatoes and canned diced green chiles. You could also use crushed tomatoes, which are already processed into a sauce-like consistency, but I like my salsa to be a little more chunky.

    Fresh Produce

    You will also need some fresh vegetables and herbs. Of course, you will need some fresh poblano peppers to roast. There is also onion, garlic, and cilantro in the salsa.

    The Cheeses

    And the best part of this dish, the cheese! I like to create a cheese blend for my chile rellenos and this dip. I use Queso Fresco which adds some texture and is saltier than the other cheeses. Shredded sharp cheddar and mozzarella are the other two kinds of cheese to add. You could use Monterey or pepper jack cheese as well since both melt well.

    How to Make the Salsa

    This salsa is fast and easy to put together. It's heated on the stove so that all of the flavors have a chance to combine and it can go into the oven warm. First, add all of the salsa ingredients to a food processor or blender and pulse until combined. As I mentioned, I like to leave my salsa a little chunky, but you can process to your desired consistency. Once blended, pour the salsa into a saucepan over medium heat and allow it to warm up. There is no need to boil it, just stir occasionally as you are preparing the rest of the dish.

    tomato salsa for chile relleno dip

    How to Roast Poblano Peppers in the Oven

    Place the poblano peppers on a baking sheet lined with foil. Put the baking sheet on the highest rack in the oven and broil on high for 15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes. Once roasted, remove the peppers from the oven and place them in a sealed plastic bag for 10 minutes to steam. After 10 minutes, remove the peppers from the plastic bag. Peel off as much charred skin as you can. Remove the seeds and top stem.

    poblano pepper on a baking sheet with tin foil for roasting
    poblano peppers before roasting
    roasted poblano peppers on a baking sheet with tin foil
    poblano peppers roasted in the oven

    Tips on Making This Chile Relleno Cheese Dip Recipe

    • Poblano peppers aren't always spicy, so if you want to add some more heat to this dish, add some fresh jalapenos or serrano peppers to the salsa.
    • Use an oven-safe deep dish. I used my Le Cruset Stoneware which is 12" x 9".
    • Before roasting the peppers, remove as much of the stem as you can so they don't catch on fire under the broiler.
    • Try to remove as much of the charred skin as you can from the peppers. It has a bitter taste that will interfere with the rest of the dish. However, if you have a little left on the pepper, don't worry. A small amount is fine.
    • Make sure you drain the tomatoes before adding to the salsa. You can also drain the salsa through a mesh strainer before warming on the oven to make sure it's not too watery.
    • Serve this dish warm so that everyone can enjoy all of those melted cheeses.
    • When serving to a crowd, I would suggest having a serving spoon handy so that your guests can get all of the goodies in the dip on their plate.
    • Since this dip is hearty, use tortilla chips that are thick if you can. You can make your own homemade chips (baked or fried) or store-bought chips.
    baked chile relleno dip

    Other Recipes You Might Like

    • Mexican Pizza Recipe (Taco Bell Copycat)
    • Air Fryer Jalapeño Popper Taquitos
    • Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef
    • Chunky Chicken Tortilla Soup
    • Instant Pot Green Chile Chicken
    a chip with chile relleno dip on it
    Click on the image above to PIN for later!
    chile relleno dip on a chip

    Chile Relleno Cheese Dip

    A unique and delicious appetizer that creates a dip out of the classic Mexican dish!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Steaming: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Servings: 20 servings
    Calories: 144kcal
    Author: EmilyFabulous

    Equipment

    • food processor or blender
    • baking sheet
    • aluminum foil
    • deep oven-safe dish (I used a 12 x 9 x 3)

    Ingredients

    Salsa

    • 2 cans diced tomatoes, drained (14 oz)
    • 1 medium onion, quartered
    • 1 8 ounce can diced green chilies
    • 3-4 cloves garlic
    • 3 tablespoon fresh cilantro

    Peppers and Cheese

    • 5-6 large poblano peppers
    • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
    • 1 cup mozzarella, shredded (can sub Monterey or pepper jack)
    • 10 ounces queso fresco, crumbled

    Instructions

    • Add all of the salsa ingredients to food processor and pulse until blended but still a little chunky. Pour the salsa into a medium saucepan and warm over medium heat.
      tomato salsa for chile relleno dip
    • While the salsa is heating, put the poblano peppers on a baking sheet lined with foil. Place the baking sheet on the highest rack in the oven and broil on high for 15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes.
      poblano pepper on a baking sheet with tin foil for roasting
    • Once roasted, remove the peppers from the oven and place them in a sealed plastic bag for 10 minutes to steam. Turn on the oven to 375°F.
      roasted poblano peppers on a baking sheet with tin foil
    • After 10 minutes, remove the peppers from the plastic bag. Peel off as much charred skin as you can, but don't worry if there is a little still on the pepper. Cut a slit in the side, and remove the seeds and top stem. Repeat with all of the roasted peppers and then dice into ½" pieces.
      roasted poblano pepper cut open to show seeds
    • Shred and crumble the 3 kinds of cheese and mix them together in a medium mixing bowl.
      three cheese blend for relleno dip
    • Pour the warm salsa into the bottom of the baking dish. Take half of the chopped roasted poblanos and spread them out over the salsa in a layer. Top the peppers with half of the cheese mixture. Repeat the layer with the rest of the poblanos and cheese.
      roasted chiles in pan for relleno dip
    • Bake the dip in the oven at 375°F for 20 minutes. Turn the broiler on high and brown the top of the dip for an additional 3-5 minues. Remove the dish from the oven, allow it to cool for a few minutes and then serve immediatly with your favorite tortillas chips!
      baked chile relleno dip

    Notes

    • Poblano peppers aren't always spicy, so if you want to add some more heat to this dish, add some fresh jalapenos or serrano peppers to the salsa.
    • Use an oven-safe deep dish. I used a 12" x 9" size.
    • Before roasting the peppers, remove as much of the stem as you can so they don't catch on fire under the broiler.
    • Try to remove as much of the charred skin as you can from the peppers. It has a bitter taste that will interfere with the rest of the dish. However, if you have a little left on the pepper, don't worry. A small amount is fine.
    • Make sure you drain the tomatoes before adding to the salsa. You can also drain the salsa through a mesh strainer before warming on the oven to make sure it's not too watery.
    • Serve this dish warm so that everyone can enjoy all of those melted cheeses.
    • When serving to a crowd, I would suggest having a serving spoon handy so that your guests can get all of the goodies in the dip on their plate.
    • Since this dip is hearty, use tortilla chips that are thick if you can. You can make your own homemade chips (baked or fried) or store-bought chips.
    •  

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 13.3g | Protein: 8.3g | Fat: 7.3g | Saturated Fat: 4.3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 432mg | Fiber: 4.6g | Sugar: 7.6g | Calcium: 164mg | Iron: 1mg

    Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

    Did you Make This Chile Relleno Cheese Dip?

    If you make this chile relleno appetizer, don’t forget to leave a comment below. You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook in your photo!

    If you want more delicious and easy recipes, follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my email list so you never miss a new recipe! I send out an email twice a month.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says

      June 10, 2021 at 1:01 am

      5 stars
      Omg this dip looks sinful! I can almost taste the cheese and peppers.... YUM!!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        June 10, 2021 at 2:35 am

        It is sinful...which makes it so good!!!

        Reply
    2. Gina Abernathy says

      June 09, 2021 at 9:30 pm

      5 stars
      This dip is something I know I would love. I am planning on making this over the weekend. YUM!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        June 10, 2021 at 2:35 am

        I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

        Reply
    3. Colette says

      June 09, 2021 at 6:37 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve never had this type of dish before, but it looks incredible! There’s a Mexican store right by my house that sells all those ingredients for super cheap. I am definitely going to try it because I love Mexican food. You always have the best recipes, so I can’t wait 😀

      Reply
      • Emily says

        June 10, 2021 at 2:36 am

        Thanks, Colette! I'm glad you can get the ingredient nearby so you can try this dish. You are going to love it!

        Reply
    4. Nora says

      June 09, 2021 at 5:50 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! What a great idea! I will definitely make this the next time friends come over! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        June 10, 2021 at 2:36 am

        It's the perfect dip for sharing, enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Sue says

      June 09, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      5 stars
      Now that we can start having get-togethers again, I need some new dip recipes. This one is a winner, can't wait!!!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        June 10, 2021 at 2:37 am

        Yes! I took this to a recent get-together and it was wonderful. I hope you get to enjoy time with friends and family and this dip soon!!

        Reply

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