Great Chile, great freshness, very good communication! ThanksJames H · Verified
🌶️ 100% Big Jim Hatch chile🌡️ Medium heat · ~6,500 SHU (NMSU CR706)🫑 Large, thick-walled pods🔥 Best for roasting & rellenos✓ Bred at NMSU with Jim Lytle, 1975
$11.95Sold out
$11.95Sold out
Why 500,000+ Customers Keep Coming Back
These Hatch Green Chilies are so nice and fresh. And very flavorful with the right amount of heat.Tina L · Verified
The chile came in a heavy box so no damage to the chiles. Of course, I like to say, hatch green chile is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. The chile was a little milder than expected but very tasty. Every now and then, you get a hot one. I always expect that. All and all, it’s super tasty and good. I will be ordering it again next season. Being from NM and living in NC, it’s great!!Dulcy R · Verified
The Chile's all looked great when they got here! And we got them faster than anticipated :)Tracey H · Verified
I only eat Hatch green chiles!! I am a little disappointed that the mild has a little kick to it, just like the medium heat did. Business of my severe GERD, I had to go back to eating the mild frozen green chile. I still love it even though it is upsetting my stomach!!! I will always buy Hatch green chiles over any other brand!! After living in NM for a couple of years on and off, I developed a love for green chiles and started making my own green chile sauce and I either eat it with tortilla chips or on a Mexican burger!!!Lisa B · Verified
Hatch green chile is my favorite! I prefer it very hot but have several friends here in CA who cannot take the heat and love the Hatch green mild. The Hatch Chile Store is the best! I have ordered a variety of Hatch chile products and will be ordering more.. Highly recommended A++Shaun D · Verified
Excellent product, very pleased. I live in CA and have a hard time finding stores, markets and vendors that provide good quality red chile pods. I do travel back to my home state of NM whenever I get the chance but do run out of my hatch products. I very much appreciate and recommend The Hatch Chile Store for their variety and quality of their Hatch chile products and their excellent packaging and shipping care. A++Shaun D · Verified
Fantastic product. I grew up in NM but now live in the Midwest and can't live without green chile!Carmine D · Verified
I was visiting my Son & family in Beaumont, TX a couple years ago and my daughter in law introduced me to this incredible chili pepper!!!! Well I've been hooked since ☺️ I came home and introduced it to my grand daughter in laws. We absolutely love it. I purchased a case of fresh chili's once I receive them, I fire-pit roasted them and they are in my freezer awaiting enhancing one of our family mealy!!! Excellent produce that everyone should try!!! Thanks! Gloria C.Gloria C · Verified
These Barker pods were FIRST CLASS. They were very tasty and also very clean as packed. My wife grew up, as a child, in Arrey (near your packing facility - maiden name of Enriquez) and her family raised red chile during her childhood. She was wall-to-wall smiles when she made her usual stack of "stacked" enchiladas as she said that this taste brought back her childhood. We are sold on your product. Thank you.John C · Verified
Honestly do happy with my purchase! Can't wait to place another order. Best stew ever just enough heatGuest C · Verified
This is my very favorite green chile. I've ordered it several times and have never been disappointed. The packaging is secure and delivered in a timely manner. I would highly recommend this product to all green chili lovers.Mary W · Verified
Very good sauce for everything.Terry T · Verified
Good quality green chile sauce....John V · Verified
Wonderful flavor. My husband loves it and he is hard to please when it comes to red chile sauce. The heat rating is accurate. We've gifted it to friends who appreciate a good red chile sauce. I highly recommend this product to all red chile sauce lovers.Mary W · Verified
The chile is very good! A little milder than expected, but still very nice. Living away from NM, it's wonderful to still be able to stock the freezer and have the flavor of New Mexican cooking.Damon R · Verified
Delicious. Definitely prepare in your air fryer.Dana S · Verified
I like to make my own enchilada sauce with NO tomato. These chiles are so smoky and toasty. Just what I like!Sherry T · Verified
Fantastic. The best I’ve ever had. Definitely prepare in your air fryer.Dana S · Verified
This is the second time I have ordered and have been extremely satisfied both times. Their customer service is wonderful and the chiles arrive perfectly boxed and Excellent flavor!! I will order again next season!!Karen B · Verified
Green Chile is great! Love it always great. ! Get it every year..usually get more,did not get enough, more next year!Grizelda N · Verified
I know this years harvest has had its struggles, but it’s probably one of the best tasting and hot batches we’ve ever tasted! The extra hot, is EXTRA HOT! Roasting and peeling was easy! Fresh with no loss during shipping! Great batch! Thank you for delivering a taste of home to us that no longer live in NM!Sarah G · Verified
Our chili arrived in South Carolina beautiful and fresh. So happy with our order.Rodney O · Verified
What can I say? 5 Stars! The Chile Store has brought my native NM flavor to me a thousand miles away. Thank you.Phoebe D · Verified
as I said before nothing like hatch chili the best of all breeds of chili nothing compares, I made different recipes with the 5 lbs I got and the family loved each and every one. The only thing is I Know how to contact you all so not so many e-mails please I will order from you in the future just slow the e-mails thank youBrad D · Verified
Arrived in perfect condition. I roasted them the day of arrival. Excellent flavor.Blair E · Verified
Its great stew and if you want to add a few veggies to suit your taste, all the better!!!!!!!Lyle P · Verified
Tough growing season, but my chiles were outstanding! I am extremely pleased with this year's shipment.Robert S · Verified
Peppers were fresh and ready to roast. Living in the mid Atlantic region it is almost impossible to find Hatch Peppers. Our peppers are now in the freezer and will use through the year. Green Chili Chicken soup was superb. We’ll be buying more next year.Barbara A · Verified
Roasted and frozen ready for the winter I have eaten several , delicious, So glad I found you I have been hatch chile bereft since I Left New Mexico years ago Love your recipes Tess FranklynTess F · Verified
Chilies were all Fresh, weroasted iAll in the freezer. Great experience Thanks!Sara C · Verified
I think I did this once already...but I had chile sent to my son in September. It was recieve d in excellent shape, all the way in Maine. He was thrilled, as usual!Janice J · Verified
Right away I was attracted to the wonderful odor coming out of the box. I was impressed with the size and freshness. Some were used in a large batch of delicious salsa. I then roasted the rest and froze most of them. The aroma while roasting is seductive and I wanted to start eating them immediately. A couple of the roasted ones were used in a white bean chili that was wonderfully delicious . I will use the rest of the frozen ones in recipes during the winter. I hope I have enough.Sherrie C · Verified
We purchased chiles for three members of our family that live in NC and FL. Chiles arrived on time and are being enjoyed.Donald A · Verified
Great, had it mixed in with scrambled eggs the first morning. Delicious!! Really miss green chile after leaving NM due to health issues after 55 years.Dale W · Verified
Best chile around! I always keep it on hand!Vicki D · Verified
The green chili came packed with care when I opened the box the green chilies smelled amazing. The roasting of these chilies were fantastic. There’s nothing like hatch chili.armendarizvicky@yahoo.com A · Verified
100% worth the purchase! Mine tasted like fresh picked and smoked Hatch Chiles. Will buy again!William E · Verified
The Red Chile Powder has a nice spice flavor without the extreme heat. This is my Go-To for dried bean flavoring. E joy!William E · Verified
Hatch Green Chili sauce is by far and away the best product on the market. Taste, color, heat, density- it has it all. I have tried others, but never again will I waste money on others...@!!! I was also pleasantly surprised when placing my order on how quickly Hatch staff were able to reply and accommodate my delivery request. I needed to delay an order due to a travel issue. The staff replied and complied with my request immediately. So.... Great product, super service... don't waste time and $$ elsewhere.Paul F · Verified
Quick answer: The Big Jim is a large, thick-walled Hatch green chile pepper developed at New Mexico State University with farmer Jim Lytle in the 1970s. It runs Medium heat (~6,500 SHU) — hotter than an Anaheim or poblano, comparable to a medium jalapeño — with long, meaty pods ideal for roasting and chile rellenos.
The Big Jim Pepper at a Glance
Heat
Medium · ~6,500 SHUNMSU CR706. Hotter than Anaheim or poblano.
Pods
6–12″ longThick-walled and meaty — the big Hatch pod.
Best for
Roasting & rellenosAlso smothering, sauces, and freezing.
Origin
NMSU × Jim Lytle, 1975Bred for the Hatch Valley.
Every chile product in this collection is made with Big Jim, our Medium-heat Hatch variety. Read the full Big Jim guide →
The Big Jim is the variety most people picture when they think of Hatch green chile. Co-developed at New Mexico State University by Dr. Roy Nakayama and chile farmer Jim Lytle in the 1970s, Big Jim was bred specifically for the Hatch Valley — long meaty pods, thick walls, and Medium-tier heat (~6,500 SHU per NMSU's Chile Pepper Institute, CR706; varies plant-to-plant and our pods often run a touch milder than the cultivar mean) that lets the roasted chile flavor take center stage without scorching the table. A single pod can run six to eight inches, which is why it became the standard for chiles rellenos and stuffed preparations.
What makes a Hatch Big Jim different from a Big Jim grown somewhere else is the soil and elevation of the Hatch Valley in southern New Mexico. The alkaline Rio Grande bottomland, the altitude, and the swing between hot days and cool nights concentrate a depth of flavor you don't get from peppers grown in California, Mexico, or anywhere else — even if they carry the same variety name. Our Big Jim chile comes from fifth-generation farms in the Hatch Valley, harvested at peak season and processed at our packing shed in Garfield, NM.
In this collection you'll find fresh-frozen roasted Big Jim chile, Big Jim-based sauces and powders, and prepared foods — tamales, chimichangas, salsas — made with real Big Jim chile. If you're new to Hatch chile, Big Jim is the right starting point: classic flavor, approachable Medium-tier heat, and versatile enough to go into almost any New Mexican dish. See What Are Hatch Chiles? for more variety background.
Quick answer: The Big Jim is a large, thick-walled Hatch green chile pepper developed at New Mexico State University with farmer Jim Lytle in the 1970s. It runs Medium heat (~6,500 SHU) — hotter than an Anaheim or poblano, comparable to a medium jalapeño — with long, meaty pods ideal for roasting and chile rellenos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Big Jim pepper?
Big Jim is a New Mexico chile cultivar — a large, thick-walled Hatch green chile bred at New Mexico State University with farmer Jim Lytle in the 1970s. At about 6,500 SHU it sits in the Medium band: real Hatch flavor, manageable heat, and pods long enough to stuff for rellenos.
How hot is Big Jim chile?
Big Jim is a Medium-tier chile — approximately 6,500 SHU per NMSU's CR706 (Nakayama & Lytle, 1975). Heat varies plant-to-plant and we find our Big Jim often runs a touch milder than the cultivar mean. The roasted flavor stays the star, with a real but manageable warmth that suits everyday New Mexican cooking. If you're buying for kids or heat-sensitive guests, our Mild varieties (1904, Joe Parker, NuMex 6-4) are a gentler step. For a full comparison of our heat levels, see our Heat Level Guide.
Can I use Big Jim chile the same way I'd use an Anaheim or poblano?
Structurally yes — Big Jim, Anaheim, and poblano are all in the same long-pod category and can swap in most recipes. The flavor is different, though. Big Jim has a more complex, earthier roasted profile than Anaheim (which can taste thin by comparison) and a lighter heat than poblano. Anywhere a recipe calls for green chile, Big Jim works.
Why are Big Jim pods so large compared to other chiles?
Big Jim was specifically bred for large pod size — that was part of the original NMSU development goal. The thick walls make it ideal for stuffing (chiles rellenos, whole chile strips) and mean more actual chile per pod when you're chopping or processing for stew or sauce.
Are your Big Jim products gluten-free?
Our plain roasted and frozen Big Jim chile is naturally gluten-free. Prepared products like tamales and chimichangas contain wheat — check the individual product labels for allergen details. If you have celiac disease or a strict gluten intolerance, stick to the straight chile products and sauces.
How should I store frozen Big Jim chile after it arrives?
Transfer straight to your freezer on arrival — our frozen chile ships with dry ice or gel packs to arrive cold, but the sooner it goes in the freezer the better. Properly frozen, it holds well for 2 years. Once thawed, use within 3 days and do not refreeze.
What's the best way to cook with frozen roasted Big Jim chile?
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or run under cool water still in the bag. From there, chop it into green chile stew, layer it into enchiladas, stir it into scrambled eggs, or pile it on a burger. The roasting is already done — you're just reheating and seasoning. For more ideas, visit our Recipes page.
The Complete Guide to the Big Jim Hatch Chile
Big Jim is the chile that put Hatch on the map. Developed in 1975 at New Mexico State University by Dr. Roy Nakayama and Hatch Valley grower Jim Lytle—a son-in-law of Joseph Franzoy, the valley's first commercial chile farmer—Big Jim once held the Guinness World Record for the largest chile pepper on Earth, with pods stretching past thirteen inches. Its thick, meaty walls and approachable Medium-tier heat (approximately 6,500 SHU per NMSU's CR706; our pods often run a touch milder than the cultivar mean) made it the definitive relleno chile and a staple in kitchens across New Mexico. Every Big Jim product below is Certified Hatch—grown in the same Hatch Valley soil where Lytle and Nakayama first tested the variety nearly fifty years ago—and flame-roasted, shipped fresh, or jarred into sauces within days of harvest.