Competition Rules

2026 Green Chile Food Competition Rules & Guidelines

The Middle Tennessee Hatch Green Chile Roast is turning up the flavor with three exciting competitions:

• Green Chile Enchilada Competition
• Green Chile Stew Competition
• Hot Chile Eating Competition

Competitions will take place Friday evening, September 25, 2026, during the festival kickoff at the Wilson County/Tennessee State Fairgrounds.

General Competition Rules

1. Participants must register in advance using the official competition registration form by following the link on the home page. Space may be limited.
2. Contestants must check in at the competition area no later than 30 minutes before their scheduled competition.
3. Contestants may enter more than one competition dependent upon space.
4. Food entries must be prepared and transported following all applicable food-safety requirements. Additional preparation and temperature-control instructions will be provided to registered contestants.
5. Entries are intended for judging only. Contestants may not distribute samples to the public unless specifically authorized by event organizers.
6. Recipes may be original creations, family recipes, or traditional favorites. By entering, contestants confirm that they have permission to prepare and submit the recipe.
7. Entries will be identified by number whenever possible to allow for blind judging.
8. Judges’ decisions are final. In the event of a tie, the entry receiving the highest flavor score will prevail. If the flavor scores are also tied, the judges will determine the winner.
9. Contestants will be provided serving containers for the food to be presented to the judges.
10. The event organizers reserve the right to disqualify an entry that arrives late, does not meet the competition requirements, or presents a food-safety concern.
11. Unsportsmanlike behavior, interference with another contestant, or failure to follow instructions may result in disqualification.

Green Chile Enchilada Competition

Bring us your best enchiladas and show us what green chile can do!

Entry Requirements

• Each entry must prominently feature green chile in the filling, sauce, topping, or a combination of these.
• Entries may feature meat, cheese, vegetables, or any creative combination.
• Contestants must provide at least five  judge-sized portions.
• Enchiladas should arrive fully prepared and ready for judging.
• Any garnishes or accompaniments must be presented with the original entry.
• Entries must be submitted in a disposable pan or a clearly labeled container that can be easily portioned for the judges.

Judging Criteria

• Overall flavor: 40 points
• Use and balance of green chile: 25 points
• Texture and consistency: 15 points
• Appearance and presentation: 10 points
• Creativity and originality: 10 points

The entry with the highest combined score will be named the 2026 Green Chile Enchilada Champion.

Green Chile Stew Competition

Whether your recipe is traditional, smoky, spicy, hearty, or completely original, we want to taste your best green chile stew.

Entry Requirements

• Green chile must be a prominent ingredient and flavor in the stew.
• Entries may contain pork, beef, chicken, vegetables, beans, potatoes, or other ingredients of the contestant’s choosing.
• Contestants must provide at least one gallon of finished stew for judging and portioning.
• Stew must arrive fully cooked, hot, and ready to serve.
• Contestants must provide a slow cooker, roaster, thermos, or other approved appliance capable of safely maintaining the stew’s temperature until judging.
• Garnishes may be included but must be presented with the entry.
• Bread, tortillas, chips, or other accompaniments may be added, but will not be included in the scoring unless organizers announce otherwise.

Judging Criteria

• Overall flavor: 40 points
• Use and balance of green chile: 25 points
• Texture and consistency: 15 points
• Aroma and appearance: 10 points
• Creativity and originality: 10 points

The entry with the highest combined score will be named the 2026 Green Chile Stew Champion.

Hot Chile Eating Competition

Think you can handle the heat? Contestants will face rounds of increasingly hot chiles until only the strongest chile eater—or eaters—remain.

Eligibility and Safety

1. Contestants must be at least 18 years old and present a valid photo ID at check-in.
2. Every contestant must sign the competition acknowledgment and liability waiver before participating.
3. Anyone who is pregnant or has a known chile allergy, heart condition, respiratory condition, gastrointestinal disorder, or other medical concern that could be aggravated by extremely spicy food should not participate.
4. Contestants are responsible for determining whether they are physically able to participate safely.
5. Contestants may withdraw at any time. There is no penalty or embarrassment in choosing to stop.
6. Event officials may remove a contestant at any time if they believe continuing could endanger the contestant’s health or safety.

Competition Format

• All chiles will be supplied by the event organizers.
• Each round will feature a chile or portion selected by the organizers, with the heat generally increasing as the competition progresses.
• Contestants must eat the entire portion presented during each round.
• The chile must be thoroughly chewed and swallowed before the contestant may advance.
• Contestants may be asked to show the judge that their mouth is empty.
• Contestants must wait for the official signal before beginning each round.
• No drinks, food, antacids, candy, gum, or other forms of relief may be used while a contestant remains in the competition.
• Contestants may not deliberately spit out, hide, or discard any part of the chile.
• Contestants must avoid touching their eyes or face during the competition.
• Vomiting results in immediate elimination and medical evaluation when appropriate.
• A contestant may signal withdrawal at any time. Once relief food or a beverage is accepted, the contestant is eliminated.
• The final contestant remaining will be declared the winner.
• If multiple contestants complete every planned round, organizers may provide an additional round or declare a tie when continuing would not be advisable.

After a contestant withdraws or is eliminated, relief items will be available. Contestants should remain in the designated recovery area until event personnel determine that they are ready to leave.

Important Information

Competition schedules, check-in instructions, preparation requirements, prizes, and any approved equipment will be sent to registered contestants before the event.

The Middle Tennessee Hatch Green Chile Roast reserves the right to adjust competition procedures when necessary for fairness, safety, food handling, weather, participation levels, or circumstances beyond the organizers’ control.

Come ready to cook, compete, and celebrate green chile!