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    Home > Mexican Southwest Recipes > New Mexico Hatch Green Chile Sauce

    New Mexico Hatch Green Chile Sauce

    Published: Apr 28, 2021 · Modified: Jan 26, 2023 by Lea Ann Brown · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    How to make new mexico green chile sauce

    Enjoy this easy homemade Hatch green chile sauce on everything from steak, tacos, burritos or enchiladas. Simple with ingredients This New Mexico sauce adds the perfect Southwestern flair for any main dish you can throw its way. With just a few ingredients and about 15 minutes of your time, you’re on your way to fiesta time.

    A bowl of hatch green chile sauce garnished with cilantro

    If you’re chile pepper crazed like us, don’t miss my post on Hatch Green Chile Recipes.

    About This Recipe and Why It Works

    Is it normal to get so obsessed with a chile pepper? For us here in Colorado, it’s completely normal because we happen to have neighbors to the South that spoil us with their famous Hatch Chile Peppers.

    Each Fall, we celebrate the arrival of Hatch Chile peppers. Parking lots and roadside stands fire up their chile roasting drums and the aromas of New Mexico chiles fill the air.

    We evangelize and we obsess. We talk constantly about them and we add Hatch chile peppers to almost everything we cook.

    The Hatch Valley is considered the chile capitol of the world, and lies South of Truth or Consequences.

    One of the recipes I love to make is this Hatch Green Chile Sauce. Or, chile verde sauce.

    It’s a simple, but exciting combination of chopped chile peppers, onions and garlic. With chicken broth and flour to thicken the sauce.

    It works because it truly showcases the smoky, rich, earthy flavor of Hatch Chile Peppers.

    You could also call this Green Chile Salsa, but with the addition of broth and flour pushes is to the green chile sauce category.

    Thick, rich and teaming with Hatch chile peppers, grab a spoon and drizzle it on everything from scrambled eggs to breakfast burritos.

    Let’s take a look.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    Making this green chile sauce is easy using just a few simple ingredients and a little prep time.

    Mise en place. Always gather ingredients before starting any recipe. It will save you time and organize your mind.

    Ingredients to make Hatch Green Chile Sauce
    • Roasted Hatch Green Chile Peppers: You’ll need two cups which will equal about 10 roasted chile peppers. Seeds and stems removed, most of the outer charred skin removed and chopped.
    • Chicken Broth: 2 cups.
    • Onion: Use a sweet onion or yellow onion for this green chile sauce recipe.
    • Olive Oil: No need to haul out the expensive olive oil you’ve purchased to make vinaigrette’s. I keep a big bottle of Costco olive oil that I use for sauteeing.

    Ingredient Swaps and Substitutions

    • Chile Peppers: If you simply don’t have access to fresh roasted Hatch Chile Peppers, you can use roasted Anaheim or roasted Pueblo Chile Peppers grown in Colorado. Roasted Poblano peppers are also a good choice here. You can also use canned roasted Hatch Chile Peppers and many grocery stores carry frozen roasted, chopped peppers in the freezer section. Keep in mind Anaheim peppers carry little heat.
    • Broth: Substitute vegetable broth to make this a vegetarian green chile sauce recipe.
    • Onion: You could substitute a red onion for the yellow or sweet onion, however, keep in mind, red onions have a strong flavor and will over-power the Hatch Chile peppers. And after all, those peppers are the star of the show. Stick with a milder onion.
    • Oil: Canola oil is a good substitute for olive oil.
    • Garlic: Don’t have any fresh garlic? Substitute 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder or garlic salt.

    Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy

    cooking onions to make hatch green chile sauce
    Step 1
    • Step 1: Start by heating the oil in a fry pan on your stovetop over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onions. Turn heat down a bit and saute until onions are tender, about 5 – 6 minutes, stirring often. Add the chopped garlic and cook until fragrant. About 1 minute.
    Adding flour to make green chile sauce
    Step 2
    • Step 2: Add the flour to the onion and garlic mixture. Stir and continue cooking for 2 more minutes. Be careful not to let the flour brown.
    Adding hatch green chile peppers to fry pan to make sauce
    Step 3
    • Step 3: Add the chopped Hatch Chile Peppers to the pan and cook, stirring until peppers are heated.
    Cooking hatch green chile sauce in a fry pan
    Step 4

    Step 4: Stir in the chicken broth and simmer until the sauce has thickened. This will take about 5 minutes.

    Tips and FAQ’s

    Is Hatch Chile Sauce Hot?

    This is the beauty of this recipe. You can select either mild, medium or hot chile peppers to make this sauce. Customizing the heat level to suite your taste. We are “medium” people.

    Exactly What Are Hatch Chile Peppers?

    Simply stated, for a pepper to be labeled as a Hatch Chile Pepper they must be grown in the Hatch Valley region of Southern New Mexico. These chiles are more than a single variety. In fact, there’s a wide selection of sub-varieties grown in the Hatch Valley,  that fall under the title of “Hatch Chiles” which gives Hatch peppers a wide swing on the Scoville scale.

    When and What Is Hatch Chile Season?

    Hatch Chile Pepper harvest begins in August and normally runs through the end of September. But will all crops, weather is king, so the season can start in July and run into October.

    Where Can You Buy Hatch Chile Peppers?

    If there are not chile roasting stands in your area, you can always order them from The Hatch Chile Store. They have a supply of frozen almost year round to ship. Some grocery stores carry supplies of frozen Hatch Chile Peppers in the freezer section. There are also canned chile peppers that are labeled “Hatch” that you can purchase at your grocery store. From what I’ve been told when visiting the Hatch area, these are not chiles from the Hatch Valley, but a brand name that uses the word Hatch. They’re still a good option for recipes calling for Hatch Chiles.

    Do you have to roast green chiles to make Hatch green chile sauce?

    Roasting chiles gives them a smoky flavor and tender texture. Plus it allows you to easily remove the skins. The answer is yes.

    Can I Freeze This Sauce?

    Yes! This sauce easily freezes. Tip: freeze in pre-measured 1/2 cup portions to easily pull out the amount you need.

    What is the difference between green chili sauce and red chile sauce?

    Green chile sauce is made with green chile peppers. If left on the vine longer, chile peppers will turn red and red chiles are usually dried whole or ground to make red chile powder. Either powder or dried red chile pods are used to make red chile sauce.

    How long will this green chile sauce last?

    This Hatch Green Chile Sauce will last about 5 days in the refrigerator. Or up to 3 months in the freezer.

    how to clean roasted chile peppers

    Pro Tip: When cleaning roasted chile peppers, DON’T rinse the peppers under water. It will rinse away some of that smoky roasted flavor. Use your hands or a knife to remove charred skin. If you’d like a smooth Hatch Green Chile Sauce, let the sauce cool a bit and place in a blender or food processor.

    Serving Suggestions

    Grilled flank steak with green chile sauce

    Now that you’ve got a big beautiful bowl of that chili verde sauce, here are some ideas on how to use it.

    • For an easy steak meal, simply grill a salt and peppered flank steak for about five minutes per side.Slice the steak against the grain, then drizzle some of the Hatch chile sauce over the top. And since the sauce is make ahead, this is such an easy steak dinner.
    • A perfect condiment for Yucatan Chicken Breast.
    • Drizzle over fried potatoes.
    • Add a spoonful to your next serving of scrambled eggs.
    • It’s perfect for a Smothered Breakfast Burrito.
    • Serve with Chuck Roast Tacos.

    Recipe For Hatch Green Chile Sauce

    I hope you give this New Mexico Green Chile Sauce recipe a try, and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating and leave a message about your experience with the recipe.

    And if you have a favorite way to use chile verde sauce, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

    And if you’re looking for even more Mexican food recipe ideas, don’t miss my Mexican Food Category. You’ll find lots of great recipes including the most popular and most classic chile recipe on my site, How to Make Hatch Green Chile, Colorado Style.

    More Mexican Sauce and Condiment Recipes

    • Homemade Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde
    • Chipotle Black Bean Corn Salsa
    • Essential Mexican Restaurant Style Salsa
    • Chipotle Peach Salsa Recipe
    A bowl of hatch green chile sauce garnished with cilantro

    Roasted Hatch Green Chile Sauce

    Roasted Hatch Chile Sauce adds the perfect Mexican flair for any type of meat. Simply roasted Hatch green chili peppers and garlic come together for fresh topping.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Mexican
    Cuisine: Southwestern Mexican
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 37kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups roasted green chile peppers seeds, stems, most of skin and veins removed. Or 2 cups canned chopped chile peppers (already roasted and chopped)
    • 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil Canola or Olive oil.
    • 1 Cup Sweet Onion chopped
    • 2-3 cloves garlic peeled, chopped
    • 2 Tablespoon Flour
    • 2 cups Chicken broth
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Heat a fry pan over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the oil. When the oil starts to shimmer, add the onion. Cook for about 5 minutes or until tender. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. About 1 minute.
    • Add flour, stirring, and cook for about two minutes. Add chopped chiles and cook, stirring, for about a minute.
    • Add chicken broth and cook until the sauce starts to thicken. About 5 minutes. Finish with lime juice (optional) and salt.
    • Note: If you want a smooth creamy sauce, let the sauce cool and chop it in a blender or food processor.

    Notes

    Is this sauce hot? This is the beauty of this recipe. You can select either mild, medium or hot chile peppers to make this sauce. Customizing the heat level to suite your taste. We are “medium” people. 
    This sauce freezes well. Tip: freeze in pre-measured 1/2 cup portions to easily pull out the amount you need.
    Roasting chiles gives them a smoky flavor and tender texture. Plus it allows you to easily remove the skins. 
    To roast your own chile peppers: Turn on a broiler and adjust the rack to the highest level. Break the stems off the chiles and cut them in half lengthwise and lay them cut side down on a baking sheet. Scatter the garlic cloves among the chiles.
    Slide under the broiler and roast until the chiles are soft and blotchy black in places. About a minute or two. Place charred chiles in a plastic bag (partially sealed) and steam for about 10 minutes. Proceed with recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 37kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 302mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @lannisam or tag #CookingOnTheRanch!

    Hatch Green Chile Sauce … It’s What’s For Mexican Food

    This post was first published in July of 2015 and updated April, 2021 to add step by step photos.

    And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

    If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jim says

      December 19, 2022 at 6:58 pm

      5 stars
      I buy 50# of hot Hatch Green Chilies yessir and have them roasted. This is my second time on this recipe and decided to throw in did processor after cooking.
      Much better consistency, smothered avocado and pork burritos with this sauce and it was super.
      Many thanks!

      Reply
    2. Karen Van Belle says

      August 23, 2021 at 1:46 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve loved Hatch chili since I was a kid. I was raised in New Mexico about 80 miles from Hatch. This sauce is great with a little ground beef or chorizo added also, and is good on eggs for breakfast!

      Reply
    3. mjskitchen says

      May 11, 2021 at 3:48 pm

      5 stars
      So simple and so good! A beautiful sauce and love the picture of it poured over the steak. Makes me want to pull the flank from the freezer and have that for supper tonight. Here’s to hoping for a great chile season! If we could only get some rain.

      Reply
    4. John / Kitchen Riffs says

      May 05, 2021 at 8:04 am

      Yum! LOVE Hatch chilies. We usually buy a bunch and roast them, then freeze them to use later. I should just make this sauce right from the get-go — ’cause this is exactly how I often want to use them! Really terrific recipe — thanks.

      Reply
    5. Larry says

      April 29, 2021 at 10:24 am

      Salsa looks delicious. Were were in Hatch many years ago and the valley was full of chile fields but when there two years ago there were mostly pecan groves.

      Reply

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    I'm Lea Ann, A Culinary School Grad bringing you Wild West Colorado inspired recipes. You'll find lots of Southwestern, and Mexican food recipes, and some favorites from Culinary School along with pro cooking tips. If you're an adventurous home cook looking to spice up your meal plans, you'll find plenty of inspiration and reliable, approachable, easy to follow recipes.

    More about me →

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