Big Jim Chile
Also known as NuMex Big Jim · New Mexico Big Jim · Big Jim
The Big Jim Chile, officially NuMex Big Jim, is a giant mild New Mexico chile developed in 1975 at New Mexico State University. Renowned for pods up to 14 inches long with thick walls and bright sweet flavor, it excels in chiles rellenos and roasted green chile dishes.
About 1/5.3 the typical heat of a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU).
Growing
~80 days to maturity
Fruit size
18–35 cm
Flavor & Use
Bright and sweet when green, becoming slightly hotter and sweeter when ripened to red; rich, savory taste enhanced by roasting with meaty texture ideal for stuffing.
Culinary
About
Developed by Dr. Roy Nakayama at New Mexico State University in cooperation with grower Jim Lytle as a hybrid of native New Mexican chiles and a Peruvian pepper, the Big Jim Chile produces exceptionally large, conical pods that routinely reach 7 to 12 inches in length and up to 3 inches wide, with some specimens exceeding 14 inches and once holding the Guinness World Record for the largest chile pod at 13.5 inches. Their flavor is bright, sweet, and savory, intensifying slightly in sweetness when ripened red while remaining family-friendly. Vigorous plants grow 24 to 36 inches tall, yielding 24 to 30 pods each, and are a staple in New Mexican cuisine for roasting, stuffing, salsas, grilling, and drying into decorative ristras. A later heritage selection restores even more traditional flavor with higher yields.
Backstory
The Big Jim Chile was created in 1975 at New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute by Dr. Roy Nakayama in partnership with local grower Jim Lytle. Bred for larger size, better yields, and to preserve traditional New Mexico chile flavors, it was named in honor of Jim Lytle. It quickly became popular for its record-breaking pods and is extensively grown in New Mexico. A heritage version was later developed from stored seeds to restore even more authentic flavor, higher yield, and longer pods.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExploreParents
Peppers bred from Big Jim Chile
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Big Jim Chile?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 2,967–6,510 SHU (Lab-verified). Capsi uses a sourced range and a trust tier, not a single marketing number. How we verify heat: https://web.thecapsi.app/learn/heat-and-capsaicin/how-we-measure-heat
- What does Big Jim Chile taste like?
- Bright and sweet when green, becoming slightly hotter and sweeter when ripened to red; rich, savory taste enhanced by roasting with meaty texture ideal for stuffing.
- How do I grow Big Jim Chile?
- Big Jim Chile: about 80 days to maturity, arid/subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
- What can I substitute for Big Jim Chile?
- Anaheim pepper, Hatch green chile, bell pepper