Hatch Green Chile Powder is 100% dehydrated Hatch Green Chile — ground to a fine powder with nothing else added. No salt, no garlic, no cumin, no fillers. Just pure green chile from the Hatch Valley of southern New Mexico, dried and milled to concentrate its bright, smoky, slightly sweet flavor into a shelf-stable spice you can use year-round.
This is not "chili powder" (the spice-blend you'll find in the grocery store baking aisle). This is chile powder — a single-ingredient spice made from one of the most sought-after chile peppers in the world. The difference matters: chili powder (with an "i") is a pre-mixed blend of dried chiles, cumin, garlic, and other spices designed for Texas-style chili con carne. Chile powder (with an "e") is pure ground chile pepper — and ours is ground from Hatch Chile grown on family farms in the same valley where our family has farmed for three generations.
Single Ingredient100% Hatch Green Chile
3 Heat LevelsMild · Medium · Hot
3oz or 6ozSpice jar with shaker lid
Sun-DriedNot artificially dehydrated
What Makes Hatch Green Chile Powder Different
Most green chile powders on the market are made from generic Anaheim peppers or unspecified New Mexico-type chiles grown outside the Hatch Valley. Our green chile powder is made exclusively from Hatch Chile — peppers grown in the 30-mile stretch of the Rio Grande Valley between Hatch and Rincon, New Mexico, where the mineral-rich alluvial soil, high desert altitude (4,000+ feet), intense sun, and cool nighttime temperatures create a flavor profile that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
The chiles are harvested green at peak ripeness, dehydrated whole to preserve their color and volatile flavor compounds, then milled into a fine powder. Because we sun-dry rather than artificially dehydrate at high temperatures, the powder retains more of the bright, herbaceous character of fresh-roasted green chile — that unmistakable smoky sweetness New Mexicans build entire meals around.
Think of it this way: If roasted Hatch Green Chile is the fresh ingredient, our green chile powder is the pantry staple that lets you add that same flavor to any dish, any time of year — without thawing, roasting, or peeling a single chile.
Choose Your Heat Level
All three heat levels are made from authentic Hatch Chile — the difference is the cultivar blend used. The flavor profile stays consistent; only the intensity of the heat changes.
🟢 Mild
Warm, earthy flavor with gentle heat. Great for kids, spice-sensitive palates, and dishes where you want lots of chile flavor without the burn. Approx. 1,000–2,000 SHU.
🟡 Medium
The most popular option. Noticeable kick with full Hatch Chile flavor. Our recommendation for first-time buyers. Approx. 2,000–4,000 SHU.
🔴 Hot
For heat lovers. Robust, lingering spice that builds with each bite. Still packed with flavor — just more fire. Approx. 4,000–6,000+ SHU.
How to Use Green Chile Powder
Green chile powder is one of the most versatile spices you can keep in your pantry. Because it's a single ingredient with no added salt or spices, you're in full control of the seasoning — add as much or as little as a dish needs.
🍲 Sauces & Enchiladas
Whisk 2–3 tablespoons into broth or cream for a quick green enchilada sauce. Add flour and butter to make a roux-based green chile gravy for smothered burritos.
🥩 Rubs & Marinades
Mix with salt, garlic powder, and cumin for a Hatch Chile dry rub on chicken, pork, or steak. Combine with oil and lime juice for a quick marinade.
🧀 Mac & Cheese / Queso
Stir 1–2 teaspoons into your cheese sauce for an instant green chile upgrade. Works in any recipe that uses a béchamel or cheese base.
🍳 Eggs & Breakfast
Sprinkle over scrambled eggs, fold into an omelet, or add to breakfast burrito fillings. A pinch on avocado toast changes everything.
🍿 Snacks & Popcorn
Dust over buttered popcorn, roasted nuts, or chips. Toss with honey and chile powder for a sweet-and-spicy snack mix.
🥣 Soups, Stews & Chili
Add 1–2 tablespoons to chili con carne, posole, tortilla soup, or any broth-based soup for depth and warmth. Stir in during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
Conversion tip: 1 tablespoon of green chile powder ≈ 1 whole roasted Hatch Green Chile pod in terms of flavor intensity. Start with 1 teaspoon per serving and adjust up.
Green Chile Powder vs. Red Chile Powder
Green and red chile come from the same plant — the difference is when the chile is harvested. Green chiles are picked before they ripen; red chiles are left on the vine until they turn deep red. This changes the flavor, color, and nutritional profile.
| Feature | Green Chile Powder | Red Chile Powder |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest | Picked green (unripe) | Left on vine until fully red (ripe) |
| Flavor | Bright, herbaceous, slightly sweet, smoky | Earthy, rich, deeper sweetness, warm |
| Color | Olive green to khaki | Deep brick red |
| Heat | Tends to be sharper, more forward | Tends to be warmer, more rounded |
| Vitamin profile | Higher in Vitamin C | Higher in Vitamin A (carotene) |
| Best for | Green enchilada sauce, queso, eggs, marinades, green chile stew | Red enchilada sauce, carne adovada, posole, tamale sauce, dry rubs |
Can't decide? Many New Mexican cooks keep both in the pantry — green for brightness and red for depth. Use them together ("Christmas style") for the full spectrum of Hatch Chile flavor. Shop our Hatch Red Chile Powder →
Chile Powder vs. Chili Powder: What's the Difference?
This is one of the most common points of confusion in American cooking, and it matters because the two products are not interchangeable.
Chile powder (spelled with an "e") is a single-ingredient spice: dried chile peppers ground into powder. Nothing else. Our Hatch Green Chile Powder is 100% dehydrated Hatch Green Chile — that's it. It gives you pure chile flavor and lets you control the rest of the seasoning yourself.
Chili powder (spelled with an "i") is a spice blend — typically a mix of dried chile peppers, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and sometimes salt. It was developed in Texas in the mid-1800s as a convenient all-in-one seasoning for chili con carne.
If a recipe calls for "chile powder" or "New Mexico chile powder," it means the pure, single-ingredient version — which is what this product is. If it calls for "chili powder," it means the pre-mixed blend. Substituting one for the other will produce very different results.
Storage & Shelf Life
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. The spice jar's shaker lid keeps moisture out. Properly stored, our green chile powder maintains peak flavor for up to 12 months. It won't go "bad" after that, but the color and potency will gradually fade. For maximum shelf life, keep the jar tightly sealed after each use.
Note: Because this is a pure, single-ingredient product with no anti-caking agents, minor clumping is natural — especially in humid environments. If clumping occurs, simply shake the jar or break up the powder with a fork. It does not affect flavor or quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is green chile powder the same as chili powder?
No. Green chile powder is a single-ingredient spice made from dried green chile peppers — ours is 100% Hatch Green Chile with nothing added. Chili powder (with an "i") is a spice blend that typically includes dried chile, cumin, garlic, onion, and oregano. They are not interchangeable in recipes.
How much green chile powder should I use?
Start with 1 teaspoon per serving and increase to taste. For sauces and enchiladas, use 2–3 tablespoons per cup of liquid. For rubs and marinades, 1–2 tablespoons per pound of meat is a good starting point. As a rough conversion, 1 tablespoon of powder equals approximately 1 whole roasted green chile pod in flavor intensity.
What heat level should I choose?
Medium is our most popular and what we recommend for first-time buyers — it has a noticeable kick without being overwhelming. Choose Mild if you're spice-sensitive or cooking for kids. Choose Hot if you actively seek heat and want the chile to announce itself. All three heat levels have the same great Hatch Chile flavor; only the intensity differs.
Can I eat the powder without cooking it?
We recommend cooking our chile powder before consuming it. While it's safe as a food product, the flavor and texture are best when heated — cooking activates the volatile flavor compounds and mellows the raw, earthy taste of dried chile. Even a quick sauté in oil for 30 seconds transforms the flavor.
Is this gluten free?
Yes. Our green chile powder is 100% dehydrated Hatch Green Chile with no additives, fillers, or anti-caking agents. It is naturally gluten free. However, it is processed in a facility that handles other products, so we cannot certify it as gluten-free for those with celiac disease.
What's the difference between green chile powder and freeze-dried green chile?
Green chile powder is ground to a fine powder — ideal for sauces, rubs, and dishes where you want the chile flavor to blend seamlessly. Our freeze-dried green chile preserves the chopped texture of whole roasted chile — better for adding visible green chile pieces to dishes. Both are shelf-stable and both are 100% Hatch Chile.
How does this qualify for Mix-Match-Save?
Our green chile powder is a Mix-Match-Save product. Buy any 3 qualifying dry goods for 5% off, 6 for 10% off, or 12 for 15% off. You can mix and match across our full range of powders, seasonings, pods, pecans, and other dry goods. The discount applies automatically at checkout.
Complete Your Spice Cabinet
Most New Mexican cooks keep both green and red chile powder on hand — green for brightness, red for depth. Add our spice blend for an all-in-one seasoning option.
Hatch Red Chile Powder → · Red Chile Spice Blend → · All Dry Goods →You may also like
This section doesn’t currently include any content. Add content to this section using the sidebar.