Homemade Green Chili Powder

Mean green…

It may surprise some, but green chili powder is real and just as tasty as any of the red chili powders commonly available. But the rub (no pun intended): Green chili powder is a whole heck of a lot harder to source. You can buy it online, but if you have extra green chilies sitting around, like Anaheim peppers or jalapeños, you can make it yourself with just a little time and a lot of sun (or a dehydrator).

You can use green chili powder just as you would red chili powders that are 100% chili pepper-based (cayenne powder, ancho powder, chipotle powder, etc…). The main difference is in the color (obviously) and flavor. The color is perfect for adding heat to salsa verde and other green sauces (as red powders can impact their color). Flavor-wise, green chili powders tend to not be as earthy and bold – think a more subtle flavor that’s impacted by the natural flavor profile of the pepper and not a smoking process (like chipotle powder).

Green chili powder works very well with meats that are more mild in flavor, like pork and chicken, and it’s also delicious sprinkled on fresh salads to provide a spice bump. 

Homemade Green Chili Powder

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 hours hrs

Total Time 10 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

• 10 to 20 fresh green chilies Anaheim peppers, jalapeño peppers, etc...

Instructions

 

• Cut the stem and/or cap off of the chili peppers, then slice the peppers in half lengthwise (keep seeds in), then:

Option 1: Dehydrate using a dehydrator (faster, 8 to 10 hours)

• Place pepper halves in dehydrator and follow your machine's instructions. It typically takes 8 to 10 hours at 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove the dried chili peppers from the dehydrator, then grind them using either a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
• Store the green chili powder in an airtight container.

Option 2: Dehydrate by the sun (slower, 3 to 4 days)

• Place the chili peppers on a plate or baking dish, then set the dish in a location with direct sunlight.
• Once the chilies are dried (3 to 4 days), grind the chilies using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
• Store the green chili powder in an airtight container.

Notes

Consider your preferred spiciness level and flavor profile when making your green chili powder. For instance, just to name a few options:

- Anaheim peppers: Mild heat, slightly sweet
- Padron peppers: Mild heat, slightly nutty
- Hatch peppers: Mild to medium heat and earthy
- Jalapeño peppers: Medium heat, bright and grassy
- Serrano peppers: Medium heat (hotter than jalapeño), bright and grassy

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