This may be the most delicious paleo dish I’ve ever created. A Mexican food staple, chili rellenos are typically filled with a cheesy meat mixture, battered, and then fried. They are topped with an assortment of sauces that can range from a cooked red salsa to a queso cream sauce. They are delicious, but can be terrible for you.

I miss the tasty Mexican dish so decided to attempt a paleo version. It turned out SO well.

I chose to make my chili rellenos with poblano peppers. Although Hatch chilies are celebrated as making the best chili rellenos, poblanos are in season MUCH longer and are easier to work with.

Why eat peppers? Peppers have some great health benefits. Peppers, hot or mild, contain an impressive amount Vitamin A (good for eyesight and immune system), C (may reduce risk of cancer), and B6 (vital for brain and immune chemical reactions). Peppers also contain a compound called capsaicin that has been shown to promote weight loss, reduce appetite, and help relieve pain. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. Poblanos are mild but do have some spice.

I stuff my peppers with simple browned ground meat seasoned with some Mexican spices. I chose beef for this recipe but have also made it with ground chicken, turkey, and bison. All versions are tasty.

I served the stuffed peppers on top of a cooked Mexican red sauce. The sauce is ridiculously tasty and will have you wanting to pour it over everything.

The only ingredient that may be hard to find is Mexican oregano. If you can’t find it, don’t fret; regular oregano works just fine.

I recommend you enjoy this Paleo Chili Relleno with a Fed and Fit Skinny Margarita.

¡Buen apetito!

paleo Chile relleno

ingredients for paleo Chile relleno

tomatoes and spices for paleo Chile relleno

chiles

chiles

ground beef for paleo Chile relleno

ground beef for paleo Chile relleno

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stuffed chiles with ground beef

paleo Chile relleno

Paleo Chili Relleno

5 from 1 vote
By Cassy
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
These may be a little different than traditional ones, but they are SO good!

Ingredients  

  • 4 large fresh poblano peppers
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 3 large tomatoes
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons cumin divided in half
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder divided in half
  • 2 tablespoons Mexican oregano divided in half
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt divided in half
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions 

Preparing the chilies:

  • Set your oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  • Place the poblano peppers on the foil and place under broiler until blistered and slightly blackened. This will take approximately 10 minutes – turn them over every 3 minutes to be sure they are evenly charred.
  • Once they peppers are evenly blistered and charred, remove from oven and let cool.
  • Reduce oven to 350 degrees.
  • Once the peppers are cool to the touch, remove their skin. It should come off easily due to the charring process. Be careful not to tare the peppers while you remove the skin.
  • Cut a 3 inch slit in each pepper and scrape out the inner membrane and seeds with a large spoon.
  • Set back on the aluminum foil-lined baking sheet.

Ground meat:

  • In a medium sized frying pan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, half of the onions, and half of the garlic until they are slightly browned.
  • Add the ground meat and stir until almost cooked through.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of cumin, 1 tablespoon of the Mexican oregano, ½ tablespoon chili powder, and 1 teaspoon sea salt.
  • Turn the heat up to high and stir regularly until the meat is nicely browned.
  • Turn heat off and set aside.

Red Sauce:

  • In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, half of the onions, and half of the garlic until they are slightly browned.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of cumin, 1 tablespoon of the Mexican oregano, ½ tablespoon chili powder, and 1 teaspoon sea salt.
  • Sauté the dried herbs and spices with the onions/garlic for approximately 2 minutes. This heat applied directly to the herbs and spices will release more of their flavor and add a smoky quality to the sauce.
  • Roughly chop your tomatoes and add them to the pan.
  • Cook until the tomatoes break down and the ingredients are evenly combined. This will take approximately 10 minutes over medium heat.
  • Pour the sauce into a blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend until the sauce is smooth. You may add water until you get the consistency you desire.
  • Set aside.

Assembly:

  • Spoon an even amount of ground meat in each pepper.
  • Bake the now stuffed peppers at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
  • Spoon the red sauce onto a plate and place the stuffed pepper on top.
  • Top with cilantro and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

If you have an open grill or gas stove, you can char the peppers there.

Nutrition

Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1287mg | Potassium: 905mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1883IU | Vitamin C: 112mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 6mg

Additional Info

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 384
Keyword: chili relleno, paleo chili relleno

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About the Author

Cassy Joy Garcia, NC

Cassy Joy Garcia, a New York Times best-selling author, of Cook Once Dinner Fix, Cook Once Eat All Week, and Fed and Fit as well as the creative force behind the popular food blog Fed & Fit.


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15 Comments

  1. Do you have any recommendations for freezing and reheating these? Made them already once and the hubby was super impressed!

    1. I’d cook them through, let cool, cover, and then freeze! To thaw, either set them out a few days before in the fridge or pop in the cool oven and turn up heat slowly. Bake until hot in the middle 🙂

  2. Love your recipe…the Chile’s Rellanos were awesome. I served them with “mexican rice” (cauliflower) and a guacamole salad. Loved it!!?

  3. I could drink the sauce by itself! Amazing Paleo version for one of my favorite Mexican dishes.

    1. Great! I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for the feedback 🙂

    1. Hi, David! I haven’t calculated calorie content in a while but did a quick count just for you 🙂 One serving {meaning one stuffed pepper with 1/4 of the sauce}, equals 595 calories. Hope that helps!

  4. I made these last night with green chilies from Hatch, New Mexico (Hatch Green Chilies). Oh my, OUTSTANDING. I love the simplicity of the seasoning and the flavor of the red sauce and spice of the pepper. I’m stocking up on chilies so I can make it again and again before they go out of season. Cheers from my kitchen to yours!

    1. Thanks, Jenifer!! I’m so glad you loved the rellenos. Thanks for the awesome comment 🙂