The Fresh Chile Company
2023 Matador Hatch Chile Enchilada Sauce (XHot)
This 2023 Matador Hatch Chile Enchilada Sauce (XHot) is a 16 oz jarred red enchilada sauce made from freshly picked Hatch red chile peppers, garlic, salt, and citric acid; it is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and has no added sugar. It is intended for enchiladas, huevos rancheros, posole, and general topping use, and customer reviews give it a perfect 5 out of 5, while Reddit users report it is the closest jarred Hatch product to fresh chiles. The XHot Matador variety is described as having above-average heat.
- Color
- Red
- Category
- Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Condiments & Sauces > Hot Sauce
- MPN
fcc-enchi-matador-xhot-jar
Specifications
XHot Hatch red chile enchilada sauce made from freshly picked Hatch chile peppers, with a bold heat level. Vegan and gluten-free.
Flame roasted, no dried or dehydrated pods, no sugar added, no preservatives. Pairs well with enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and posole.
- Color
- Red · red
- Occasion
- everyday, casual
- Gender
- unisex
- Condition
- new
- Weight
- 1.6 lb
- Category
- Food, Beverages & Tobacco > Food Items > Condiments & Sauces > Hot Sauce
Additional Attributes
- 2023 harvest
- made with freshly picked Hatch Red Chile peppers
- flame roasted
- no dried or dehydrated pods
- no sugar added
- no preservatives
- XHot heat level
- 16 oz jar
- boiled down from fresh peppers
- pairs with enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and posole
- vegan
- gluten free
- dairy free
- grain free
- plant based
- fat-free
Product Insights
This 2023 Matador XHot is a single-harvest capture of fresh Hatch Valley red chile, boiled down within the ~30-day harvest window from fresh pods (never dried) and carrying a century-old NMSU breeding line protected by New Mexico law. It delivers a smoky, savory, naturally sweet puree with citric tang, no cumin or oregano, and only garlic, salt, and citric acid — the Matador cultivar's heat (~15,000 SHU, 2–6× a jalapeño) builds and lingers rather than being an additive. The fat-free sauce starts as a loose puree and thickens into a clingy coating after 20–30 minutes of simmering, making it New Mexico's mother sauce for stacked enchiladas, carne adovada, and posole, with heat that mellows and integrates into long-cooked dishes. The main tradeoff: it's a seasonal vintage (the 2023 jar can't be remade until the next harvest) and requires refrigeration with use within 3–4 weeks before flavor dulls, though a 90-day money-back guarantee makes the extra-hot jar a refundable experiment.
Verified claims
- Terroir
- Single-summer Hatch Valley vintage grown at about 4,000 ft
- Flavor
- Smoky, savory, naturally sweet puree with citric tang and no cumin or oregano
- Texture
- Loose fresh-pod puree that thickens on a gentle simmer, no flour needed
- Heat
- Matador XHot hits about 15,000 SHU, 2–6× a jalapeño, with heat that builds and lingers.
- Ingredients
- Fresh Hatch red chile, garlic, salt, citric acid only — XHot heat is a Matador cultivar trait, not an additive.
- Slow-cooking
- Heat mellows and integrates into posole, carne adovada, and long-simmered chile sauces.
- Fresh-pod process
- Fresh red Hatch pods are boiled down inside the ~30-day harvest window; no dried pods.
- Cooking behavior
- A smooth, fat-free purée that thickens into a clingier coating after 20–30 minutes of simmering.
- Uses
- New Mexico's mother sauce for stacked enchiladas, carne adovada, posole, and holiday tables.
- Origin
- Hatch Valley origin protected by 2012 New Mexico law; 2023 is a single-harvest vintage.
- Authenticity
- 2023 single-harvest Hatch; a native New Mexican calls it the only jarred Hatch product close to fresh chile.
- Value
- At $7.95 on sale, the 16 oz jar costs about $0.50/oz.
- Culinary role
- Red chile is New Mexico's mother sauce — for stacked enchiladas, carne adovada, and holiday tables.
- Money-back guarantee
- A 90-day money-back guarantee makes an extra-hot jar a refundable experiment
- Endorsements
- Cowboy Kent Rollins and native New Mexican buyers vouch for its fresh-Hatch authenticity.
- Hatch provenance
- The New Mexico origin claim is protected by state law; pods come from a century-old NMSU breeding line.
- Shelf life
- Refrigerate after opening and use within 3-4 weeks; beyond, flavor dulls before safety does.
- Leftover handling
- Fat-free sauce won't separate when baked; leftover can be simmered 20-30 minutes to thicken.
- Sweetness
- No added sugar — ripe red Hatch chile carries the flavor, so the sauce is tangy-savory, not sweet.
- Use cases
- Buyers eat it straight from the spoon, and it anchors stacked enchiladas, posole and carne adovada.
- Seasonality
- Fresh red Hatch is available only about 30 days a year, so this 2023 jar is a single-harvest capture.
- Vintage
- 2023 on the label is a single-harvest vintage; the jar can't be remade until the next Hatch harvest.
- Production
- Boiled from freshly picked Hatch red pods during the harvest window — no dried or dehydrated pods.
- Unit price
- At the $7.95 sale price, the 16-oz jar costs just under $0.50 per ounce.
Product record
- Title
- 2023 Matador Hatch Chile Enchilada Sauce (xhot)
- Brand
- The Fresh Chile Company
- Price
- $12.95 USD
- Availability
- Out of stock
- Rating
- 5 stars, 2 reviews, scale 5
Buying Guide
0 comparisons · 3 sourcesUses
Enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and posole
Spoon it over enchiladas, huevos rancheros, or posole. For stacked enchiladas, smother the layers with the sauce and your favorite cheese and filling.[1,2]
Burgers and chili
Use it as a hot sauce on burgers, or stir it into chili.[2]
Burritos, tamales, and eggs
Also try it on burritos, tamales, and eggs.[3]
Carne Adovada
Use it to flavor stewed or braised shredded pork for carne adovada.[1]
Image Analysis
1 images- 01
Product
Front-facing clear glass jar of red sauce with a gold metal screw cap and a black wrap label showing a central yellow badge and two red chili illustrations.
- Jar shapeTransparent cylindrical glass jar with gently rounded shoulders near the neck and a slightly rounded base visible at the bottom.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.12 · w 0.60 · h 0.82 (high) - CapGold-colored metal screw-on lid with fine ridged grip around the edge and a flat top.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.02 · w 0.44 · h 0.12 (high) - Sauce visibleSmooth red sauce filling the jar, visible above and below the label and visible through the clear glass.
2 regions
x 0.24 · y 0.14 · w 0.52 · h 0.58 (high); x 0.20 · y 0.72 · w 0.60 · h 0.22 (high) - Label background textureWrap-around black label with a subtle woven or burlap texture visible across its surface.
1 region
x 0.16 · y 0.36 · w 0.68 · h 0.36 (high) - Central badge graphicYellow ornamental shield-shaped badge centered on the label with a thin red outline and decorative inner details.
1 region
x 0.37 · y 0.42 · w 0.26 · h 0.26 (high) - Left chili illustrationVertical red chili illustration with a green stem printed on the label to the left of the central badge.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.39 · w 0.14 · h 0.32 (high) - Right chili illustrationVertical red chili illustration with a green stem printed on the label to the right of the central badge, symmetrical to the left chili.
1 region
x 0.64 · y 0.39 · w 0.14 · h 0.32 (high) - Lower label bannerBlack banner area at the bottom of the label containing yellow script and block text lines for product name and size.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.64 · w 0.44 · h 0.18 (high) - Small side graphicsPartial circular graphic and white text elements visible at the left and right label edges, cropped by the image frame.Partial
2 regions
x 0.05 · y 0.46 · w 0.11 · h 0.22 (medium); x 0.84 · y 0.46 · w 0.11 · h 0.22 (medium) - Dense glossy highlightsSpecular highlights on the glass and sauce indicating glossy reflective surface finish.
- Front badge top text“HATCH”
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.43 · w 0.12 · h 0.05 (high) - Brand name text block“The Fresh CHILE CO.”
1 region
x 0.37 · y 0.46 · w 0.26 · h 0.14 (high) - Year text“2023”
1 region
x 0.47 · y 0.56 · w 0.06 · h 0.04 (high) - Product variant name“Matador”
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.64 · w 0.20 · h 0.06 (high) - Product type text“ENCHILADA SAUCE”
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.69 · w 0.32 · h 0.07 (high) - Size text“16 fl oz (454g)”
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.75 · w 0.20 · h 0.04 (high)
Packaging
Black wrap-around paper or printed label with a yellow central badge, red chili illustrations, and product text lines including variant and size.
- Wrap label formatSingle continuous wrap-around label covering the midsection of the jar.
1 region
x 0.16 · y 0.36 · w 0.68 · h 0.36 (high) - Label main copyThe label contains a central yellow badge graphic with the brand block and year, flanked by two red chili illustrations and a lower black banner with product name and size.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.40 · w 0.40 · h 0.40 (high) - Label texture detailVisible woven or burlap-like pattern printed across the black label surface.
1 region
x 0.25 · y 0.42 · w 0.50 · h 0.30 (high)
Other
Studio-style product shot on a white background with even lighting and no visible props; image tightly crops the jar horizontally with slight space above the lid.
- BackgroundPlain white background filling the frame.
- Lighting and shadowsEven diffuse lighting with soft shadowing under the jar and specular highlights on the glass and lid.
- Crop and compositionJar centered vertically and horizontally, cropped with small margins left and right and a little space above the lid.
Colors
bright tomato red· sauce#C21E1Cmetallic gold· lid#C3B35Dmatte black· label backgroundPackaging#151215vivid yellow· central badgePackaging#FECB1Bchili red· chili illustrationsPackaging#D42A2E- Jar shapeTransparent cylindrical glass jar with gently rounded shoulders near the neck and a slightly rounded base visible at the bottom.
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
2 total2 reviews · out of 5
Very good I like it
Loved it ordering more!
Reddit Insights
3 threads · r/hotsauce, r/SalsaSnobsReddit users generally praise Fresh Chile Company products for fresh, flavorful Hatch chile flavors, with some noting blandness or sweetness in certain varieties.
Most commenters recommend Fresh Chile Co jarred Hatch products, describing them as delicious and close to fresh, though some find certain products bland or overly sweet.
Themes
Use Cases
- Burgers
- Chili
- General topping / eat by itself
Watch Out For
Community Q&A
- Is Fresh Chile Company worth buying?
- Most Redditors say yes, describing the products as delicious and close to fresh, though some find certain varieties bland or too sweet.
- How does Fresh Chile Co compare to 505?
- Fresh Chile Co is seen as a more authentic Hatch, NM product, while 505 is more widely distributed.
Compared To
vs fresh Hatch chiles
Fresh Chile Co jarred Hatch is considered the closest to fresh Hatch chiles by a native New Mexican.
vs 505 Hatch Green Chile
Fresh Chile Company (formerly/alternatively branded 575) is distinct from 505; 505 is more widely available but Fresh Chile Co is from Hatch, NM (area code 575).
Source Threads
Native New Mexican recommends Fresh Chile Co jarred Hatch
I'm native to NM. This is the only jarred Hatch product that comes close to the fresh stuff I get every harvest. I recommend it.
u/QuiverofSamr/hotsauceView thread →
User praises Fresh Chile Co 575 sauce and shows burger
575 is amazing. The ads got me on FB. Super delicious, unique flavor and very fresh. You can eat it with a spoon by itself but really good on anything. I’ve probably gone through 10 jars. Here’s a 575 burger I made. Do it!
u/PennTechr/SalsaSnobsView thread →
Review of Fresh Chile Co chile varieties and interest in Matador extra hot
I ordered several jars of these as well. The medium green chilies are pretty good, but a little bland. I also ordered a jar of the red and green hot Sandia chile version, and that was much more flavorful. There's also an extra hot Matador version that I'd like to try.
u/joefitzpatrickr/hotsauceView thread →
Provenance
- Merchant Link
- https://freshchileco.com/products/pre-order-2023-matador-hatch-chile-enchilada-sauce
- Platform
- shopify
- Updated