Green Chile Breakfast Burrito
Colorado takes its green chile seriously. This Denver-style smothered breakfast burrito features fluffy eggs, crispy potatoes, and your choice of meat, all wrapped tight and blanketed in rich, tangy Pueblo green chile sauce. It's the Rocky Mountain breakfast that fuels adventures.
Equipment Needed
Instructions
Start the green chile sauce: Brown the ground pork in a saucepan over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Add chiles and simmer: Add the roasted green chiles, chicken broth, and cumin. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes until flavors meld and sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
Crisp the potatoes: In a large skillet, cook diced potatoes in oil over medium-high heat until golden and crispy, about 12-15 minutes. Add diced onion and bell pepper for the last 5 minutes. Season well and transfer to a plate.
Cook the meat: In the same skillet, cook bacon until crispy or chorizo until browned and cooked through. Drain on paper towels and chop or crumble.
Scramble the eggs: Wipe out the skillet and melt butter over medium-low heat. Beat eggs and pour into pan. Scramble gently, stirring frequently, until just set but still creamy. Remove from heat immediately.
Warm the tortillas: Heat tortillas on a dry griddle or directly over a gas flame for a few seconds per side. They should be warm and pliable with a few char marks.
Build the burritos: Layer scrambled eggs, crispy potatoes, meat, and a handful of cheese down the center of each tortilla. Fold in the sides, then roll tightly from the bottom up.
Smother with green chile: Place each burrito seam-side down on a plate. Ladle generous amounts of hot green chile sauce over the top, covering most of the burrito. This is the Colorado way.
Finish and serve: Top with more shredded cheese (it will melt from the hot sauce), a drizzle of sour cream, and fresh cilantro if desired. Serve immediately with extra green chile on the side.
💡 Pro Tips & Variations
- Pueblo vs. Hatch: Colorado's Pueblo chiles are grown at higher altitude, giving them a unique flavor. They're slightly different from New Mexico's Hatch chiles.
- Roast your own: For best flavor, roast fresh green chiles over an open flame or under a broiler until charred, then steam and peel.
- The smother is essential: In Colorado, a proper breakfast burrito must be smothered. The green chile sauce should pool on the plate.
- Denver omelet style: Add ham, onions, and green peppers to mimic the famous Denver omelet flavor profile.
- Heat levels: Colorado green chile ranges from mild to hot. Ask for "Christmas style" (half green, half red) at restaurants.
- Freeze extra sauce: Green chile sauce freezes beautifully. Make a big batch during chile season and enjoy year-round.