MILD CANNED GREEN CHILE TASTE TEST 2023
When it comes to green chiles, it is generally acknowledged that fresh taste best. If they’re out of season or not available to you, canned are a delicious option.
Not to be confused with canned chile sauce, green sauce, green enchilada sauce or salsa verde that all contain onion, garlic and other high FODMAP ingredients – we’re talkin’ plain, pure, mild, beloved green chiles.
You might assume that they have similar if not identical flavor profiles. We are delighted to report that they offer many unique notes, just like wines. Fruity, lemon, alfalfa, grassiness, mineral aftertaste, clean organic, subtle heat, a nice bitter char, saltiness and even a hint of grapefruit!
So how do you choose a favorite or “best” when they are so very different and delicious in their own unique way?
This is when our Taste Test became a Tasting. By following our notes on –
● Flavor – discovering different notes, saltiness and surprises
● Texture – mushy, firm, packed in chile gravy or water
● Heat – the majority are labeled mild, some had a bit of a kick, and others did not note heat levels on the label
● Overall Impression – what makes each one unique
– you get to choose the brand that’s the perfect fit for your palate and recipe.
For example –
ORGANIC BRANDS that have a clean taste and less sodium and are better suited for dessert recipes such as candied green chiles for topping cakes, cheesecakes, and for green chile cookies.
MILD BRANDS WITH SOME CHILE HEAT (yes, some mild brands have a kick!) have been noted if you are sensitive to even a hint of heat.
SALTIER BRANDS WITH NOTES OF LEMON are great for fish and seafood dishes, and you may find that the salt called for in your recipe is not needed.
FIRE ROASTED BRANDS add a delicious bitter char to stews, casseroles and green chile sauce. Fire Roasted have yet to be tested by Monash, and while they did not trigger my symptoms, use your own judgment according to your individual tolerances. Also of note – some non-fire roasted brands offer char flavors.
The brands we’ve chosen are available at most U.S. markets, carnicerias and online. The majority are small 4-ounce (113 g) cans of chopped chiles that are packed in their own chile juices (gravy) or water, with varied amounts of sodium. We have included 3 organic chiles, and two large 11-ounce cans of Mild Canned Whole Green Chiles that are popular for making rellenos (stuffed chiles) or slicing into fillets for topping burgers and layering into sandwiches and casseroles.
15 cans, open minds and no predetermined outcomes – as several brands were new to us – we could feel the love before we picked up the can opener. So let’s get started!
Listed in no particular order …
RIO LUNA MILD ORGANIC DICED GREEN CHILES
Small can: 4-ounce / 113 g
Olam Chile Peppers, Fresno California
● Ingredients: Organic green chile peppers, water, contains less than 2% of citric acid, sea salt.
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 45 mg
● Flavor: green chile forward, herbaceous, mild tanginess and peppery, low salt, notes of lemon, clean
● Texture: chopped chiles, not much water, slightly firm, not mushy, contains some seeds
● Heat: mild, some heat but barely noticeable
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Buttery and Clean, If you are following an organic diet this is an excellent, clean tasting brand
CASA FIESTA MILD NON-GMO DICED GREEN CHILES, ROASTED & PEELED
Small can: 4-ounce / 113 g
Teasdale Latin Foods, Flower Mound, Texas, Product of Mexico, Packed in the USA
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, water, salt and citric acid.
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 118 mg
● Flavor: green chile-forward, peppery, mild pleasant grassy/ alfalfa, mild tanginess, medium saltiness, slightest hint of bitterness that we enjoyed
● Texture: mostly chopped chile, not much liquid, slightly firm, not mushy, contains small amount of seeds, tiny pieces of soft charred chile which is common in many brands
● Heat: mild, slightest hint of heat
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Buttery, Nice Char Bitterness
HATCH SELECT MILD CHOPPED GREEN CHILES
Small can: 4-ounce / 113 g
Hatch Chile Co, Albuquerque, New Mexico
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, water, contains less than 2% of calcium chloride, citric acid, salt.
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 120 mg
● Taste: green chile-forward, salty, tangy, peppery, citrus, herbaceous, not bitter, hint of fruitiness that surprisingly reminds us of grapefruit
● Texture: chopped green chiles in green chile gravy, some seeds, small bits of chile skin
● Heat: mild, no heat
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Buttery, Salty, Fruity
HATCH MILD WHOLE GREEN CHILES
Large can: 11-ounces (765 g)
Hatch Chile Co, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Product of Mexico, Not Grown In New Mexico
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, water, salt, citric acid and calcium chloride
● Sodium per 1 whole chile / 35 g: 125 mg
● Flavor: green chile-forward, salty, tangy, citrus, herbaceous, not bitter, hint of fruitiness that surprisingly reminds of grapefruit, low medium heat
● Texture: approx. 14 chiles per can, whole peeled 4 to 5-inch chiles, packed in water, soft but firm enough for making small to medium rellenos, cutting into fillets to top burgers or layer into Mexican casseroles, not mushy, they hold their shape
● Heat: low medium
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Buttery, Salty, Citrus-Fruity, will stand up to stuffing for rellenos
O ORGANICS MILD GREEN CHILES DICED
Small can: 4-ounce / 113 g
Lucerne Foods, Pleasanton, California
● Ingredients: Organic green chile peppers, water, contains less than 2% of citric acid, sea salt.
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 45 mg
● Flavor: green chile-forward, mild grassy notes, mildly salty, hint of lemon and alfalfa, clean, light mineral aftertaste
● Texture: soft diced chiles with juices, some seeds, small soft bits of chile skin, a few very fine pieces of stem
● Heat: mild, no heat
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Buttery, Clean with Some Bitterness, if you are following an organic diet and enjoy char flavor, this is an excellent brand.
KROGER DICED GREEN CHILE PEPPERS (DOES NOT NOTE HEAT LEVEL)
Small can: 4-ounce / 113 g
Kroger Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, water, less than 2% of: calcium chloride, citric acid, salt.
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 95 mg
● Flavor: green chile-forward, buttery, low-medium lingering heat will get your attention, peppery bite, nice buttery flavor, not too salty
● Texture: mostly chopped chile with some chile juices, not soupy, nice meaty texture, some seeds and pieces of orange chile meat, some bits of soft chile skin
● Heat: low-medium heat, you will feel it
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Noticeably Buttery, Lingering Heat
LA VICTORIA MILD DICED GREEN CHILES FIRE ROASTED
Small can: 4-ounce / 113 g
Megamex Foods, Orange, California
● Ingredients: Fire roasted green chiles, water, salt, citric acid (to acidify).
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 100 mg
● Flavor: green chile-forward, herbaceous, some heat between mild and medium, salty, tangy, slightly bitter char
● Texture: firm with a bit of crunch, mostly chiles not much gravy, some seeds, bits of char for good flavor, a few pieces of stem
● Heat: between mild and medium
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Slight Bitter Char, Buttery, Lingering Heat
LA PREFERIDA ORGANIC MILD GREEN CHILES DICED
Small can: 4-ounce (113 g)
La Preferida, Chicago, IL, Certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers, USA Packed, Product of Mexico
● Ingredients: Organic green chile peppers, water, sea salt, citric acid
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 45 mg
● Flavor: herbaceous, mild mellow chile pepper, low salt, mildly tangy smooth, clean, buttery
● Texture: soft chopped chile, almost mushy, mostly chiles with little gravy, a few seeds, bits of soft chile skin
● Heat: mild, no heat
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Smooth, Clean, Buttery, If you are following an organic diet, this is an excellent, clean, brand.
LA PREFERIDA MILD GREEN CHILES DICED, ROASTED & PEELED
Small can: 4-ounce (113 g)
La Preferida, Chicago, IL, USA Packed, Product of USA & Mexico
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, water, salt, citric acid, calcium chloride.
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 192 mg
● Flavor: mild chile pepper, grassy, medium to noticeably salty, herbaceous, grassy, buttery, some tanginess
● Texture: soft with some firmness to the chile meat, mostly chiles with a bit of gravy, a few seeds and bits of soft chile skin
● Heat: mild, no heat
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Salty, Tangy, Grassy, Buttery
GOYA DICED GREEN CHILES FIRE ROASTED (DOES NOT NOTE HEAT LEVEL)
Small can: 4- ounce (113 g)
Goya Foods, Jersey City, New Jersey, Product of Mexico
● Ingredients: Roasted green chile peppers, water, iodized salt, citric acid, calcium chloride
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 100 mg
● Flavor: chile-forward, salty, mildly bitter char,
peppery, slight tanginess, slightest hint of heat, lemony
● Texture: soft, packed in a good amount of water, bits of soft charred skin
● Heat: slight heat, just above mild
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Mildly Tangy, Nice Char Flavor, Buttery, Some Heat
MACAYO DICED GREEN CHILES ROASTED AND PEELED (DOES NOT NOTE HEAT LEVEL)
Small can: 4-ounce (113 g)
Macayo Mexican Foods, Phoenix, Arizona
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, salt and citric acid
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 118 mg
● Flavor: herbaceous, salty, lemony, peppery – reminds a bit of fresh ground black pepper, hint of char bitterness, slightest hint of heat
● Texture: mix of soft and slightly firm chile meat, a few bits of soft chile skin, some seeds, mostly chile not much gravy, bits of char
● Heat: just a hint
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Peppery, Lemony, Buttery, Slight Hint of Heat
ORTEGA MILD FIRE ROASTED DICED GREEN CHILES
Small can 4- ounce (113 g)
B&G Foods, Parsippany, New Jersey, Product of Peru
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, water, salt, citric acid, calcium chloride
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 110 mg
● Flavor: mild mellow chile pepper, herbaceous, no heat, hint of char bitterness, smooth tanginess, hint of salt and lemon
● Texture: not mushy, chile meat has some firmness, packed in water, no gravy, a few seeds and tiny bits of charred skin
● Heat: mild, no heat
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Clean, Nice Char Flavor, Buttery, Hint of Lemon
ORTEGA MILD FIRE ROASTED WHOLE GREEN CHILES
Large can: 27-ounces (765 g)
B&G Foods, Parsippany, New Jersey, Product of Peru
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, water, salt, citric acid.
● Sodium per 1 whole chile / 35 g: 115 mg
● Flavor: green chile-forward, buttery, clean, herbaceous, not too salty, mild “pickled” tanginess, mild char
● Texture: approx. 15 chiles per can, whole peeled, 4 to 5-inch chiles, packed in water, soft yet firm enough for making rellenos, cutting into fillets to top burgers or chopping for stews, not mushy, they hold their shape
● Heat: mild, no heat
● Overall Impression: Clean, Buttery, Mildly Salty, Hint of Char and Tanginess
SIGNATURE SELECT MILD DICED GREEN CHILES FIRE ROASTED
Medium can: 7-ounces (198 g)
Better Living Brands, Pleasanton, California
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, water,, contains less than 2% of calcium chloride, citrus acid, salt
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 120 mg
● Flavor: buttery chile, herbaceous, salty, lemony, slightly tangy, hint of heat
● Texture: more firm than soft chile meat, not watery, some gravy, bits of soft chile skin, a few pieces of stem, few seeds
● Heat: mild with the slightest touch of heat
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Buttery, Clean, Salty, Lemon
OLD EL PASO MILD CHOPPED GREEN CHILES PEELED
Small can 4-ounce (113 g)
General Mills, Minneapolis, Minnesota
● Ingredients: Green chile peppers, salt, citric acid, calcium chloride. Contains bioengineered food ingredients, learn more at Ask.GeneralMills.com.
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 95 mg
● Flavor: peppery, herbaceous, pronounced grassy alfalfa, medium salty, mild to almost medium heat, mellow citrus, hint of orange blossom
● Texture: good bite to the chile meat, not much gravy, tiny bits of soft chile skin, a few seeds
● Heat: mild to low-medium
● Overall Impression: Delicious, Citrus, Nice Floral Notes, Buttery, this brand has prominent grassy notes and tastes distinctly different from all of the other brands
TRADER JOE’S MILD CANNED GREEN CHILES
Small can 4-ounce (113 g)
● Ingredients: Green Chile Peppers, Water, Contains less than 2% of Calcium Chloride, Citric Acid (acidifier), Salt.
● Sodium per 2 Tblsps serving / 30 g: 120 mg
● Flavor: Nice buttery green chile, citrus notes, not bitter, not grassy, just enough salt that you most likely won’t need to add more salt to your recipe, tangy
● Texture: Packed in water with a surprisingly thick chile gravy (like a ready-made sauce), firm chile bits, some seeds
● Heat: Notice that the TJ Chile Meter is slightly above the Mild level. This is spot-on, as there is a little kick of heat right up front that lingers for a few minutes. We found these same heat levels with canned Mild brands such as Old El Paso, Casa Fiesta, and La Victoria.
● Overall Impression: This is an excellent, flavorful canned green chile. The thick gravy consistency makes for a ready-made chile sauce for spreading on burgers, an omelet or sandwich. When adding to a stew, you most likely will not need to add salt. I recommend adding salt during the last step of a recipe, to your taste.
If you are sensitive to heat, you will notice a kick of it just above mild, but not close to medium (like a jalapeño pepper). We enjoyed this very much!
Is there a brand you know and love that is not listed here? Feel free to leave a suggestion on our contact page and we’ll try to track it down and add it to the list.
GREEN CHILE NOTES:
Soft bits of chile skin, seeds and char are perfectly normal to find in canned chiles. The char can infuse a bitterness into the chiles that we enjoy very much, however, this is to your taste.
Fire Roasted does not mean that the chiles have higher heat levels. Rather, this refers to the process of roasting the chiles to remove their tough skins.
Monash has tested mild, fresh and canned green chiles. At the time of this writing –
MILD FRESH green chiles are low FODMAP and are noted on the Monash app as containing Moderate FODMAPs at 4 medium (230 g) per serving.
MILD CANNED green chiles are noted on the Monash App as being low FODMAP at 2 AUS tablespoons (28 g) per meal.
Monash reported back to us that the canned chile listing only has the household standard serve size as it is very low in FODMAPs. As such, they have not added upper serves but will consider doing so in the future.
Brands may on occasion change or add ingredients, and we find it best to check the labels when buying canned chiles. Also, flavor profiles of brands may slightly change from batch to batch.
Visit our Shop Page where you can order canned green chiles.
Read our articles on:
Green Chiles – How Do They Taste?
Monash Note: Given chillies contain capsaicin, we recommend consuming with caution and advise everyone to test their own individual tolerance of chillies since capsaicin can trigger IBS symptoms in some individuals.