Hatch Green Chile
Also known as: New Mexico chile, Hatch chile, New Mexico green chile
The soul of New Mexican cooking, the Hatch green chile is grown in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico and is legally protected as a geographic indicator. The roasting ritual — massive drums over open flame at harvest time — is a cultural event as much as a cooking technique.
The full profile
Hatch chile is not just a pepper variety, it's a geography and a tradition. The alluvial soil and climate of the Hatch Valley produces a pepper with a specific sweetness and earthiness that can't be replicated elsewhere — growers in other states have tried. The annual harvest ritual, when rotating metal drums roast peppers by the bushel at every grocery store parking lot in New Mexico, is one of the defining sensory experiences of the American Southwest. The Hatch Chile Festival exists because this pepper matters to people in a way few ingredients do.
Flavor
Earthy, roasted sweetness with a gentle, lingering warmth and a hint of smokiness.
Color
Green (unripe) or red (ripe)
Heat level
Mild
500–3K SHU
0–2,500 SHU
Did you know
New Mexico is the only US state with an official state question: 'Red or green?' — referring to which chile sauce you want on your food.
How to use it
- —Green chile cheeseburgers — the New Mexico state dish
- —Stacked enchiladas with green or red chile sauce
- —Chile rellenos stuffed with cheese
- —Green chile stew with pork and potatoes
- —Roasted and frozen for year-round use
Pairs well with
Shop these
Sauces and products that feature hatch green chile.
Fresh verde
Cholula Green Tomatillo Hot Sauce
Tangy tomatillo base with a brighter, greener heat than the red. A natural pour on fish tacos, avocado toast, huevos rancheros, and grilled corn.
View on Amazon ↗Bright finisher
Tajin Clasico
Citrusy chile seasoning for fruit, grilled corn, rims, cucumbers, and the kind of summer snacks that disappear fast.
View on Amazon ↗Smoky shortcut
Chipotle Peppers in Adobo
The pantry move for smoky mayo, burger sauce, taco braises, and chili that tastes like you actually thought ahead.
View on Amazon ↗Cook with it
Recipes that use hatch green chile.
mexican · inferno
Apr 18, 2026Camarones en Salsa del Diablo - Devil's Sauce Shrimp
Sweet, plump shrimp swimming in a seriously fiery Mexican chile sauce that brings together 7-pot peppers, charred tomatoes, and smoky chipotles. This coastal Veracruz recipe doesn't mess around with the heat, but it keeps the beautiful briny sweetness of the seafood front and center. 60 min · 0 saves.
mexican · hot
Apr 17, 2026Torta de Chorizo con Salsa de Habanero
A generous Mexican chorizo sandwich layered with crispy spiced pork, charred onions, and a molcajete-ground habanero salsa that brings serious heat to every bite. 45 min · 0 saves.
mexican · hot
Apr 14, 2026Habanero-Glazed Chicken Tinga with Yellowbird Sauce
Tender shredded chicken simmered in smoky chipotle, then glazed with bright habanero sauce for beautiful layers of heat and flavor. 110 min · 0 saves.