Air Fryer Chile Relleno (Easy, No Batter)
Description
Easy air fryer chile relleno — roasted poblano peppers stuffed with a creamy corn, scallion, cilantro and cheese filling, then air fried until tender and melty. No batter, no deep frying. Ready in 25 minutes. Vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 4 large poblano peppers
- ½ cup corn kernels, fresh, canned, or frozen-thawed
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack, Oaxaca, or Mexican blend cheese + extra for topping
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- To serve: extra cheese, sour cream, red chile sauce, fresh cilantro,
Instructions
- Char peppers: Air fry whole poblanos at 400°F for 8–10 min, flipping halfway. Remove and cool 5 minutes.
- Make filling: Mix corn, scallions, cilantro, parsley, sour cream, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
- Stuff: Cut a slit down each pepper. Remove seeds if desired. Spoon filling into each pepper — do not overfill.
- Air fry: Place stuffed peppers open-side up at 400°F for 8–10 min until filling is hot and cheese is melted. Add extra cheese on top in the last 2 minutes if desired.
- Serve with sour cream, red chile sauce, and fresh cilantro.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper
Notes
Filling variations
Classic cheese only
Block of Oaxaca or Monterey Jack, sealed with toothpick. Most traditional.
Black bean & corn
Add ¼ cup rinsed black beans to the corn filling for extra protein.
Chicken & cheese
Add ½ cup shredded cooked chicken to the corn mixture for a full dinner.
Chorizo & cheese
Cooked Mexican chorizo + Oaxaca cheese. Skip the corn and sour cream.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 50mgPotassium: 345mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 811IUVitamin C: 135mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg