Colorado is known for its Rocky Mountains, wide-open spaces, and amazing food scene. Some Famous Colorado Foods include grilled trout, anything made from Palisade peaches, bison burgers, and green chile.
These 10 recipe categories will help you get to know Colorado and its food culture in delicious ways.
Check out our 50 states unit study for some fun states info!
Colorado has southwest and midwest influences and its food is nationally recognized as some of the best in the United States.
Whether you’re in Denver, Fort Collins, or Colorado Springs, you’ll find variations of the recipes you see here.
These dishes are usually seasonal, just the way they should be!
Trout
Grilled or pan-fried trout is a specialty in Colorado because this is one of the most common types of fish in its stunning mountain lakes. It’s light and flaky and amazing when eaten the same day it’s caught.
Palisade Peaches
A town in Colorado, Palisade, grows the best peaches in the state. The combination of the rocky soil and hot summer days and cold summer nights make some of the best produce in the region. Anything you make with these peaches is amazing!
Bison Burgers
Bison burgers are popular in Colorado because of their amazing flavor. They don’t taste gamey as you might think, but rather, lean and comparable to beef. They’re served in pubs all over the state.
Green Chile
Pork green chile made with freshly roasted Hatch green chiles is a Colorado staple. You can buy roasted chiles at stands on the side of the road in August and September every year. They really make this dish spicy and amazing!
Denver Omelette
Denver omelettes are served in diners all over the United States, not just in Colorado. They are typically made with diced ham, onions, bell peppers, and cheese.
Lamb
Colorado is one of the largest producers of lamb in the country. It’s a delicacy that you can get at steakhouses in any major city.
- Roasted Colorado Lamb Chips with White Beans and Wine Sauce
- Lamb Chops with Garlic & Herbs
- Garlic & Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops
Sopapillas
Sopapillas are fried squares of dough that puff up and are covered with cinnamon sugar and honey. They’re served hot and sticky!
Rocky Mountain Oysters
The Colorado pizza was started by a pizza joint called Beau Jo’s. They serve big deep-dish pies. When you’re done with the pizza, they encourage you to drizzle honey on the large crust pieces. Yummy!
Colorado Pizza
The Colorado pizza was started by a pizza joint called Beau Jo’s. They serve big deep-dish pies. When you’re done with the pizza, they encourage you to drizzle honey on the large crust pieces. Yummy!
Olathe Corn on the Cob
Corn grown in Olathe, Colorado is another amazing crop grown in the state. The kernels are super-sweet and juicy. You can grill this corn or make it into a salad. Either way, it deserves to be the star of the dish!
- Grilled Corn on the Cob with Smokey Cilantro Lime Butter
- Corn and Proscuitto Salad
- Corn Cakes with Zucchini Salsa
