Rajas Con Crema

Silky smooth, cheesy, creamy, and filled with tender poblanos, Rajas Con Crema is the perfect side dish to pair with so many delicious eats, and we love it with pan seared pork chops or smoked chicken quarters! It’s an easy dish to make, and if you love the big, bold, and sassy flavors of grilled poblanos, then this dish is for you!

I love poblano chilis, and this is one of my favorite poblano pepper recipes. I love that they’re big and meaty and spicy, but not too spicy. They’re the perfect pick for Rajas con Crema because they infuse the sauce with a smokey, grilled, and spicy flavor. 

Eat this by the spoonful, serve it as a side, or grab some corn tortillas to scoop it up – it’s that versatile.

And, you can cook this dish right on the grill as you’re making the rest of your grilled feast. Grab a cast-iron skillet, and let’s get cooking!

What Is Rajas Con Crema

Rajas con crema, or sliced peppers in cream, is an authentic Mexican dish and delicious side dish. It’s creamy, cheesy, and chunky all at the same time. The sauce is flavored with garlic, onion, and chilis and takes on the light smoky flavor of the roasted poblano peppers.

It’s also a bit spicy, but the cream keeps the spice in check so you can eat it all up.

What Kind Of Chilis Do You Use In Rajas Con Crema?

Grilled poblanos are the most common chili for this dish. They’re meaty and have a great spice level so that you can spoon up this delish dish and not have to worry about it being too spicy.

Anaheim peppers are also sometimes used, and if you don’t like the spice, use green bell peppers.

What You’ll Need

• Poblano peppers – Fresh, not frozen.
• Bacon fat or butter – Salted or unsalted is fine.
• Red bell pepper – Yellow or orange is also fine.
• Onion – Yellow or white.
• Garlic – Fresh is best!
• Crema – You can buy Mexican crema or make your own.
• Half and half cream – Or go super-indulgent with full-fat heavy cream.
• Shredded Oaxaca cheese – Available at Latin markets and large grocery stores. Use Monterey jack cheese if you can’t find Oaxaca cheese.
• Chicken broth – Low or no-sodium store-bought is fine.

How To Make Rajas Con Crema

Fire up your grill or a gas burner on your stove and char the poblanos. You want to blister and burn the skin. Turn them often, so they’re evenly blistered.

Put the poblanos into a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap to steam them. This will help loosen the skin.

Peel off the blistered skins and discard them. Cut the poblanos open and remove the seeds and stem. 

Slice the poblanos into long, thin strips about ¼-inch wide.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet on the grill or stovetop. 

Saute the red bell pepper and onions in butter. Season with salt and pepper, then add the sliced poblanos and garlic.

Turn off the heat, stir in the crema and the cream, and bring it to a simmer. 

Add the cheese a bit at a time, stirring well to mix it in. If the cream sauce gets too thick, use a bit of chicken broth to thin it out. Reserve a bit of shredded cheese to garnish the top of the dish.

Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Like it spicier? Add some minced jalapeno when you saute the onions.
• Make the poblanos ahead of time – the roasted peppers will keep in the fridge for a day or two in an airtight container.
• Can’t find crema? Make your own by blending equal parts of sour cream and heavy cream. Add a pinch of salt and some fresh lime juice.
• No Oaxaca cheese? You can use any mild easy-melting cheese. Monterey jack is a good substitute.

Serving Suggestions

I love this easy Rajas con Crema recipe with grilled meat! Thick-cut pork chops, pork tenderloin, smoked prime rib, grilled bavette steaks, and even simple smoked chicken quarters are so much better with this saucy poblano peppers side dish beside them! Want to take your ‘cheesesteak’ to a whole new level? Serve a hot grilled steak sliced thin right over this!

You can also scoop up this creamy and cheesy dish with tortilla chips, eat it in soft, warm tortillas, or spoon it on top of nachos. Serve it with your favorite cornbread – delicious! 

Instead of serving it as a side, stir in cooked shredded chicken or pork and fresh or frozen corn kernels to make it a saucy and hearty meal.

Chile en rajas con queso (sliced chilis with cheese) is versatile. Try it with a variety of your favorite south-of-the-border dishes! 

Storage Instructions

This Rajas con Crema recipe tends to get spicier as it sits, thanks to the roasted poblano peppers, so expect any leftovers to be spicier. You can store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days, but because of the dairy in this recipe, it won’t freeze well.

More Poblano Pepper Recipes

• Fire roasted poblano crema
• Enchilada Stuffed Smoked Poblanos
• Chicken Tinga stuffed poblanos