Liberty • Equality • Fraternity
From Our Colorado Table › Recipe 09
Pueblo Chile Cheeseburger
A juicy cheeseburger topped with roasted Pueblo chiles
The Pueblo Chile Cheeseburger keeps the burger familiar and lets roasted Pueblo chiles do the talking. A hot beef patty, melted cheese, and a generous layer of roasted chile create a burger with unmistakable Southern Colorado character — simple, bold, and built around one of Pueblo’s signature flavors.
Our Story
Pueblo Flavor on a Familiar Favorite
A cheeseburger does not need much explanation, but in Pueblo it does not take much to give one a strong local identity. Add roasted Pueblo chiles and an ordinary burger immediately becomes something tied to Southern Colorado.
The chile brings more than heat. Fresh-roasted Pueblo chiles add a smoky, earthy flavor and enough moisture to work naturally with melted cheese and a well-seared beef patty.
This is a straightforward burger meant to keep the chile front and center. The toppings can be adjusted to taste, but the defining combination is simple: beef, cheese, roasted Pueblo chile, and a good bun.
A Matter of Tradition
In Pueblo, roasted chile season changes the smell of the city. Roadside roasters, farm stands, markets, and family freezers become part of the annual rhythm, and roasted chiles find their way into meals well beyond traditional Southwestern dishes.
Putting Pueblo chile on a cheeseburger is a natural expression of that local food culture. Some cooks use a whole roasted chile, while others chop it. Some add onion or tomato, while others leave the burger almost completely unadorned.
The important thing is that the chile tastes like Pueblo. The burger is the canvas; the roasted chile supplies the local signature.
The Recipe
Pueblo Chile Cheeseburger
This is the complete Lodge 2738 Pueblo Chile Cheeseburger recipe. Use freshly roasted Pueblo chiles when available. Mild, medium, or hot all work — choose the heat level that suits your table.
Pueblo Chile Cheeseburger — Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, preferably 80/20
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 slices cheddar, American, pepper jack, or Monterey Jack cheese
- 4 large roasted Pueblo green chiles, peeled and seeded
- 4 hamburger buns
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened, for toasting the buns
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced or finely chopped, optional
- 1 medium tomato, sliced, optional
- Shredded lettuce, optional
- Mayonnaise, mustard, or your favorite burger sauce, optional
- Pickles, optional
Pueblo Chile Cheeseburger — Preparation
- Divide the ground beef into four equal portions and shape into patties about 3/4 inch thick. Make a slight indentation in the center of each patty so it cooks evenly.
- Season both sides of the patties with kosher salt and black pepper just before cooking.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet, griddle, or grill over medium-high heat. Cook the burgers for about 3–4 minutes on the first side without pressing them down.
- Turn the burgers and continue cooking for another 3–4 minutes, or until they reach your preferred doneness.
- Place one roasted Pueblo chile over each burger, then top with a slice of cheese. Cover the skillet briefly or close the grill lid until the cheese is melted and the chile is hot.
- Lightly butter the cut sides of the buns and toast them on the skillet or grill until golden.
- Place each chile-and-cheese-topped burger on a toasted bun. Add onion, tomato, lettuce, pickles, or condiments if desired.
- Serve immediately while the cheese is melted and the roasted Pueblo chile is still hot.
From the Family Kitchen
Watch It Made
Coming Soon – Watch It Made Video
Watch this space…Keep the Recipe
Share It Around Your Table
Explore This Recipe Locally
Restaurants • Markets • Local Ingredients
As the IHCN local-food network expands, this section will connect the Pueblo Chile Cheeseburger to local restaurants, chile growers, markets, butcher shops, and bakeries.
Serves This Dish
Discover Pueblo-area restaurants serving chile cheeseburgers and other local Pueblo chile favorites as participating IHCN listings are confirmed.
IHCN Connection ComingPueblo Chile Growers
Find local farms, chile stands, roasters, and seasonal sources for authentic Pueblo chiles.
Local Sources ComingMarkets & Bakeries
Explore local meat markets, cheese sources, bakeries, and grocers for burgers, buns, toppings, and other ingredients.
Local Sources Coming