This stuffed poblano peppers recipe might be my new favorite summertime dinner. It has all the best parts of stuffed bell peppers – a fresh, flavorful filling, fun garnishes, and juicy roasted peppers – but the poblanos add an extra layer of heat. The whole thing is super fresh, super flavorful, and really darn fun to eat. If you’ve never cooked with poblano peppers before, they’re a chili pepper with a mild to medium heat level. On the Scoville scale, which measures how spicy peppers are, they range from 1,000 to 2,000 Scoville heat units. For context, bell peppers score 0, while jalapeños can range anywhere from 2,500 to 8,000. In my experience, poblano peppers are typically mild, but if you’re sensitive to spice, choose them with caution. Look for larger poblano peppers (they’re typically less spicy) or use regular bell peppers in this recipe.
Stuffed Poblano Peppers Recipe Ingredients
I make my stuffed poblano peppers filling with a mix of fresh veggies and heartier plant-based ingredients. It’s packed with bold, zesty flavor, but it feels really light and fresh at the same time. Here’s what’s in it:
Rice and black beans – They make this recipe hearty and satisfying! White and brown rice both work great here, so use what you have on hand. Cauliflower – The secret ingredient that makes this filling so light! Broken into tiny pieces or pulsed into cauliflower rice, it makes you feel like you’re eating more rice than you really are. Spices – Cumin, coriander, and oregano add delicious aromatic flavor. Diced red onion, red bell pepper, and fresh spinach – They punch up the flavor and make these peppers feel super fresh. And lime juice and tomatillo salsa add tangy, zesty flavor!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Stuffed Poblano Peppers Variations
Once you prep the filling, you can finish these peppers three ways:
Totally plant-based. My favorite variation! Top the peppers with avocado slices or guacamole, extra tomatillo salsa, and chile lime cashew cream. The cashew cream is a bit of an extra step, but it’s SO GOOD on these peppers and on this veggie burrito bowl. (Blend once, eat twice!) My regular cashew sour cream, cilantro lime dressing, or chipotle sauce would also be great here. With cheese in the filling. Mix crumbled feta or Cotija cheese into the filling before you stuff the peppers. Then, bake them and top them with the fixings suggested above! With melty cheese on top. This one is Jack’s favorite. If you’re someone who needs melty cheese on your stuffed peppers, top them with a layer of your favorite shredded cheese before they bake. I recommend Monterey Jack or sharp cheddar. Then, bake until the cheese is melted and starting to brown. Yum!
What’s your favorite variation? Let me know in the comments!
Serving Suggestions
This recipe yields 1 poblano pepper (2 stuffed halves) per person, which is enough for a light dinner. Enjoy them on their own, pair them with a simple green salad, or serve them with any of these fresh side dishes:
Corn on the Cob Grilled Vegetables Mexican Street Corn Salad Cilantro Lime Rice Grilled Fajita Veggies
And don’t forget the margaritas to drink! Enjoy!
More Favorite Tex Mex Recipes
If you love these stuffed poblano peppers, try one of these tasty Tex Mex recipes next:
Sheet Pan Nachos Homemade Taquitos Vegetarian Tacos Jerk-Spiced Jackfruit Tacos Best Breakfast Burrito Healthy Taco Salad
