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The best green chile stew is loaded with bite-sized chunks of pork that are seasoned with onion and plenty of garlic. The pork is simmered in a green chile sauce until tender enough to almost fall apart when you bite it.
New Mexico Green Chile Stew
This is the ultimate comfort food.
Filled with that irresistible pork, potatoes, and roasted green chile, this stew is what I dream of when the weather starts cooling off each fall. And before any other native New Mexican can correct me, I am well aware of the ridiculousness of actually claiming the BEST NM Green Chile Stew, because technically, I do love them all.
That said, this is my family’s best green chile stew, and we love it more than all the others. Made with chunks of tender pork and potatoes, spicy hot green chile, and a savory broth that you’ll be dipping your tortillas into and scraping the bowl clean, this is it for me.
Green Chile Stew
Over the years, I’ve made Green Chile Stew with many different kinds of meat: pork, ground beef, steak, and chicken. However, this Green Chile Stew is hands-down our favorite.
Not that I won’t happily try YOUR green chile stew recipe if you send it to me! I don’t discriminate between green chile recipes. We love adding green chile to our enchiladas, burritos, tacos, soups, and scrambled egg skillets. If the dish includes green chile, my boys will dive straight into it.
I am a transplanted New Mexican now living in Oregon. This recipe is exactly what I remembered getting at a restaurant in downtown ABQ. So delicious! 👍
Green Chile Pork Stew
I’ve had so many requests for a slow-cooker version of this recipe, I finally played with it the other day. And I’m oh so happy to tell you that it worked beautifully.
You don’t even need to brown the meat! Just toss every ingredient into the crock-pot all at once and cover it with the lid. Simmer on HIGH for 6 hours. When the potatoes are fork-tender and the pork is tender enough to pull apart, it’s ready to eat!
This is my kind of recipe for sure, and it is easy as can be whether you make it on the stove or in the crock-pot! This native New Mexican happily eats her green chile with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Packed with so much flavor and hearty chunks of potatoes and pork, this is a simple winter meal that our entire family enjoys. There is more flavor from all of the chile in this recipe than there is actual heat.
My boys all began eating this green chile stew when they were barely on solid foods. We’re big fans of starting the green chile addiction early in life around here.
Chili vs Chile
Is it chili or chile? In the end, it doesn’t really matter, as it’s all going to be delicious. Depending on where you live or happen to be at this moment, both words can be used to refer to a type of pepper, usually a hot one.
However, in New Mexico, chili typically is used when referring to a type of dish, like this steak chili or creamy chicken chili. And chile is used when referring to dishes that contain a good amount of chile peppers in the recipe.
Dishes made with green or red chile peppers are often named with chile in the recipe name. Foods like this Green Chile Stew are made with loads of green chile peppers, meat, and potatoes or beans. This is a stew, not a traditional chili recipe, so we call it a green chile stew, to recognize the chile in the recipe.
Pork Green Chile Recipe
If you’re new to cooking with chile or leery of the heat, I recommend starting with a mild green chile. In some grocery stores, you may be lucky enough to find frozen chile in the freezer section of the grocery store.
If frozen isn’t available, you should be able to find canned green chile in different levels of heat in most grocery stores. You can substitute salsa verde for the green chile sauce if you’re unable to find green enchilada sauce in your store.
Several years ago, I tried making this with sweet potatoes and my family went crazy over it. My favorite version is still the traditional stew made with white potatoes, but it is really great both ways. However you make it, this soup is fantastic.
Crock-Pot Green Chile Stew
Slow cookers or crockpots are an appliance of which I have more than one. If you are an avid slow cooker user like I am, you might understand the need for more than one. So, let’s talk about my favorites:
First up is this 6-quart slow cooker that has a locking lid. These crockpots are fantastic for transporting foods. Mine has gone everywhere from church potlucks to barbecues, game nights to Thanksgiving dinner. However, fair warning, these slow cookers run crazy hot. Low is closer to a boil than a simmer, the warm setting actually simmers. So trust me when I say HIGH is high.
My everyday slow cooker is this 8-quart Crockpot. It’s my go-to appliance for cooking large roasts and big batches of chili. Fun fact: did you know that a full 4-quart cooker, actually cooks more slowly than a half-full 8-quart cooker?
For just cooking a few pounds of chicken to shred for enchiladas or other smaller recipes, this 3-quart version is perfect.
Thanksgiving has become a breeze since I have mastered how to hold all of the side dishes using these medium-sized round slow cookers.
If you aren’t a fan of the idea of keeping more than one slow cooker in the house, these CrockPockets are a game-changer when it comes to preparing and holding multiple dishes at the same time. They slide into a standard 6-quart crockpot, dividing it into two sections that are perfect for serving different side dishes or keeping taco fillings warm for parties.
Green Chile Stew Recipe
To make the stew on the stovetop: Combine the pork, flour, pepper, and garlic powder in a gallon-size Ziploc bag and shake well to coat. Saute the garlic and onion with a bit of oil in a large pot or Dutch oven and then add the flour-coated pork.
Cook the pork until browned, and then add the green chile, green chile sauce, stock, and salt. Cover and simmer on low for 45 minutes. Then, add the potatoes and simmer again, until the potatoes are fork-tender, approximately 15 minutes.
It gets even easier when you make the stew in a slow-cooker: Combine the pork, flour, pepper and garlic powder in a gallon-size Ziploc bag. Shake to coat thoroughly and then add the dusted pork to the crock-pot. Add the potatoes, chiles, green chile sauce, stock, and salt. Cover with lid and cook on HIGH for 6 hours, until the potatoes are fork-tender and the pork can be pulled apart.
Green Chile Recipes
Do you like green chile? Do you like chicken pot pie? Do flaky buttery cheesy biscuits make you grin? If so, this spicy chicken pot pie casserole is going to make you very happy.
Crispy-edged green chile chicken burritos full of cheesy goodness are an easy-to-assemble mealtime hit, full of green chile flavor. Green chile waffles with cheddar and bacon are the latest cheesy waffle deliciousness to hit our table. If you’ve been hanging out with me here for long, you likely know just how big my weakness is for savory waffles.
Green chile carnitas are the perfect combination of two of my favorite savory things. It’s tough to find a combo that beats pork and green chile in my mind. Carnitas are cooked until melt in your mouth tender; then roasted at high temperature until the edges caramelize.
New Mexico Recipes
For some more New Mexico favorites that you might like to try these Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, Calabacitas, and New Mexico Posole. These recipes are classic. And if you haven’t tried it yet, Carne en su Jugo (a.k.a. Meat in its Juices) is another dinner that my family really enjoys.
Cheesy green chile and bacon biscuits are a terrific addition to any meal and this easy drop biscuit recipe comes together in just minutes! Flaky pie crust filled with fluffy, creamy eggs, spicy green chile, and cheese adds up to a delicious green chile quiche for any day of the week.
Green chile guacamole is spicy with green chile, tangy with lime, and kept fresh with cilantro and spices. This guacamole is a favorite snack on game day or any day of the week.
The Best Green Chile Stew
Ingredients
- 1-2 pounds pork stew meat or pork shoulder chopped into ½” pieces
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour or cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ yellow onion chopped into 1/2 “ pieces
- 3 large cloves garlic minced
- 7 ounces chopped green chile about 3/4 cup worth (frozen works fine)
- 28 ounces green chile enchilada sauce about 3½ cups worth
- 3 cups chicken stock or water, plus 1 tablespoon chicken base
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
- 4 cups diced potatoes about 2 large potatoes
Instructions
- Combine the pork, flour, pepper and garlic powder in a gallon size Ziploc bag. Shake to coat thoroughly and then set aside.
- In a large pot over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the fresh garlic and onion and sauté until translucent, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Add the dusted pork and cook until browned, approximately 5 minutes. Add the chiles, enchilada sauce, stock and salt and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low for 45 minutes.
- Add the potatoes and raise heat to boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, approximately 15 minutes. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally posted 1/4/2012 – recipe notes and photos updated 9/29/25}
I lived in New Mexico for 38 years and now live in Florida. Tried this recipe. Yes, it is the best Green Chili Stew! Try it.
What a great review, Joseph! I’m glad you like the stew.
Tried it with Russet once and then the white potatoes and I think the russet had better flavor. NOw I have only made the two batches so it could be my cooking. But just a note. Otherwise, this is a very easy recipe and really good results 3/19/21
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the stew, Keith.
This was awesome. Will make again. Did add some chopped red peppers.
I’m glad you enjoyed the stew, Lynn.
This was GREAT – simple and delicious and easily (naturally) gluten free if you use cornstarch and make sure your enchilada sauce does not have gluten.
I’m so glad that you like the stew, Jennifer.
Great stew. I dusted the pork with cumin. You just get a hint when you bite into the meat. Iwill definitely try with sweet potatoes next time..Most excellent dinner.
I’m thrilled that you like it, Robin.
I go to Santa Fe every year in October, but missed last year because of the pandemic. I’ve been craving a good green chili pork stew, and honestly, your recipe seemed too easy to be that good. But, I figured I’d give it a try and go from there. WOW! I have now sent it to everyone I know who cooks and bookmarked it as one of the top three stews I’ve ever made. My family isn’t even home for dinner yet, but I keep sampling out of the stewpot. It’s amazing. My only addition was a can of corn, although I might have preferred hominy but did not have it and was too lazy to go back to the grocery store. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful creation!
This is awesome, Chad. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the stew.
Hi Mary, thanks for the recipe. I havent made it yet, but I am wondering if I use 505 green chili’s do I still need the green chili sauce as well? Also, do you think pork tenderloin will work well or should I find a different cut? Thank you!
Yes, you’ll still need the enchilada sauce to form the broth for the stew. Pork tenderloin will work for this as well, you’ll just want to watch the meat and adjust the cooking time if necessary. I’m guessing it will be able the same.
Salt is listed twice. Once after flour. Second after stock. Is salt in the flour dusting & also in the stew or just one or the other?
Also do you have pressure cooker cook times? I think this would be a snap in my Instant Pot.
That is correct, Whitney. There is salt in the flour coating for the pork. And then the stew is salted at the end of the cooking process and that amount is adjusted to taste. I’ve never tried this in the instant pot.
For anyone who has made this using both the stove top and slow cooker methods, which one is better? I’m going to make for first time, so if anyone can point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.
I’ve made it both ways, Mike – many times. My first choice is stove-top because I can control it more closely.
Love this recipe. What are some good side dishes?
We typically serve this with warm tortillas, Robin.
Hi, I have been making this for over 2 years from your post but I use the instant pot, sauté the meat, remove then onions and butter, then everything else. High pressure for 45 minutes, quick release and it is perfect. Just wanted to share.
Hi just a side note, I am from North Carolina never been to the western side of the US, but this is everyone’s favorite stew in my family that I make. Thank you.
I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying the stew, Carey!
Thank you for adding the Instant Pot directions! Much thanks! Soooo much quicker and easier.
Thank you for adding instant pot directions!
Awesome! Tastes like something I would find in New Mexico. I added fresh graded corn at the very end (keep the corn crunchy), which seems to work. Its a keeper. Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you liked it, Nathan! It’s really good with corn too.
Nathan, try adding a can of hominy next time, way better than corn. Might wanna try making Pozole, its like grn chile stew but no potatoes and has hominy. Very tasty.
A crowd pleaser every time and a recipe I’ve added to my “most be able to cook at any moment” repertoire. Thank you for sharing!
Awe! That makes me so happy, Gretchen!
I made mine with chicken as I’m allergic to pork, very good.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I made the crockpot version of this and followed the recipe exactly besides changing the serving size to 8. I grilled about 12 large green chiles. Wowowowow! So good!!! I served it the next day with warm tortillas and garnished with cilantro and grated cheese. Everyone went back for seconds. Thank you so much for this recipe ❤️
Ps. It’s a lot of prep if you’re starting with fresh green chiles and a huge pork shoulder (which I had never chopped before) so it took me longer to make than anticipated but 1000% worth it.
I am so happy you enjoyed the chile. I bet it was fantastic with freshly roasted chile too!
I made this for the guys after snowmobiling,
They absolutely loved it. I did add smoked paprika to give it a little smoky taste, and used the crackpot, it was wonderful! This is definitely going to be a regular in our house.
P.S. I actually used a crockpot… not a crackpot🤭😬
hahaha, that might apply when it comes to green chile around my house. We can’t stop eating it!
I’m so very happy that you all enjoyed it, Glenda!
This recipe is great. I grew up in New Mexico and love green chile stew. I have made a beef version using this recipe as a base and tweaked here and there, turns out beautifully everytime. I know beef isn’t authentic but my family loves beef and it definitely still tastes amazing! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
I’m so glad you like it!
This was a super easy recipe I cooked mine in the crockpot it is delicious and I will make again
I’m thrilled you like the stew. We made a batch this past weekend too!
Carey, thank you for the instant pot directions. I received one for Christmas and this is going to be my first recipe. Any other suggestions?
Great warm stew for a cozy day! I doubled the recipe with the intention of serving 6 people and had plenty to share. I also added celery, cabbage and zucchini to give it a little more veggies, it turned out wonderful!
Best Ever Green Chili Stew
Thank you for sharing this recipe. The entire family agrees the recipe is a keeper.
I used canned mild green chilis and mild enchilada sauce.
Planning to make this tomorrow… you say lean pork… are you talking tenderloin or loin? I was surprised because I kind of expected it to be shoulder or butt, to get that fall apart element to the slow cooked portk
Because of the long simmer time, you can get away with a leaner cut, if you like, however most of the time I just use a shoulder or a butt roast because I nearly always have one in the freezer. I need to note that in the recipe. Thanks, Linda!