Modern Forage: Pueblo, CO
The Pueblo Slopper uses Pueblo green chile (Mirasol/Marisol variety, botanically distinct from Hatch chile) and is served in a bowl swimming in chile, not as a handheld burger. Over 25 restaurants in the Pueblo area serve it; the World Slopper Eating Championship is MLE-sanctioned since 2019.
Pueblo anchors the Pueblo Slopper, an open-faced cheeseburger swimming in Pueblo green chile sauce (made from the locally-grown Mirasol chile). The dish is structurally distinct from the New Mexico green chile cheeseburger (served in a bowl, eaten with a spoon).
This list is almost certainly incomplete; Pueblo holds further hyper-local dishes that have not yet surfaced in the survey.
A note on the Where-to-eat blocks. Every entry below carries a list of restaurants and, where available, star ratings as of the date this post was published. These are a snapshot. Verify hours and addresses before driving anywhere.
Pueblo Slopper — Pueblo, CO
An open-faced cheeseburger (often double patty) smothered in green chile sauce, topped with cheese and raw onions, served in a bowl and eaten with a spoon. Originated in Pueblo taverns in the 1950s through 1970s (origin contested between Gray’s Coors Tavern and Star Bar). The name reportedly came from regular customer Herb Casebeer, who told the cook to “just slop it all up.” Defined by its use of Pueblo green chile, made from Pueblo chiles (particularly the Mirasol/Marisol variety), which are botanically and flavor-distinct from New Mexico Hatch chiles. Over 25 restaurants in the Pueblo area serve their own versions. The World Slopper Eating Championship is held at the Colorado State Fair (MLE-sanctioned since 2019). The Chile & Frijoles Festival attracts ~100,000 visitors annually. Key distinction from NM green chile cheeseburger: the slopper is served in a bowl, swimming in chile. It’s closer to a casserole than a handheld burger. The chile sauce is the main event. The burger is the vehicle.
Sources: Atlas Obscura (Gastro Obscura); Colorado Dept. of Agriculture / Colorado Proud (2025); Wikipedia; Grokipedia (2026); PuebloPages (2024); MoveToTraveling (2024, firsthand Pueblo native account). Six+ independent sources.
Where to eat: Gray’s Coors Tavern, Pueblo (claimed origin). Star Bar, Pueblo (rival origin claim). Sunset Inn, Pueblo. Bingo Burger, Pueblo. Annual Chile & Frijoles Festival, Pueblo (September).
More from the series
Browse the rest of the Modern Forage survey.
Research & primary sources
Methodology, validation logs, and the entries that didn’t make this post are in the modern_forage/ on GitHub. Every entry here passed a 2+ independent-source check; the citations under each dish list them.