At El Chubby’s you get three chili choices: hot green, mild green and red. If you like real heat and want the one we’re best known for, order the hot green. If you want all the green chili flavor with a gentler kick, go mild green. If you’d like a different, earthier flavor, try the red. We make our green chili fresh every day here in Aurora, and you can have any of the three inside a burrito, smothered over the top, on a burger, or by itself as a side all the way up to a quart.
That’s the short answer. The longer one is below, because your chili choice changes the whole meal. With the evenings getting cooler, it’s also a good time of year to order a little extra.
What’s the difference between hot green, mild green and red chili?
Green chili in Colorado means something specific. It’s a stew-like sauce built around green chiles, and people here put it on just about everything. You’ll notice we spell ours “chili.” That’s how we write it when it’s ours.
Our hot green chili is the one we’re best known for. It has a real kick, the kind you notice and then reach for another bite anyway. If you already know you like spicy food, start here. If you only try one thing here, make it this.
Our mild green chili gives you the same green chili character with the heat turned down. It’s a good choice for anyone who’s still finding their spice level, for kids who are ready to try something beyond plain, and for those days when you want comfort more than fire. It’s easy to order one of each and let everyone at the table taste.
Our red chili is a different direction altogether. Red chili in general is usually made from dried red chiles, which tend to give it a deeper, earthier flavor than green. If you’ve been ordering green for years, red is worth a try on your next burrito just to see how it changes the plate. Some people end up switching sides. Others go back to green and feel even better about it.
If you want to read more about the peppers behind these sauces, we have a piece on the top 10 chiles used in Mexican cooking, and another on why our green chili stands above the rest.
Inside or smothered: where does the chili go on a burrito?
This is where most first-time guests need a quick tour. Our burritos come five ways, and the chili is the main difference between them.
A Plain burrito has no chili or cheese. A Chili burrito has green chili inside. A Special has green chili and cheese inside. A Smothered burrito is smothered with green chili and cheese on top. A Deluxe is smothered and then topped with lettuce and tomatoes.
So if you’ve been searching for a smothered burrito near you, the Smothered and the Deluxe are the two you want. Pick your filling first (bean, beef, beef and bean, chicken, carnitas, carne asada, Philly cheesesteak, or the Mexican Hamburger), then pick your style, then tell us which chili. A beef and bean burrito smothered in hot green is a classic order for a reason. A chicken burrito smothered in mild green is a softer, easy favorite. And a carnitas burrito smothered in red is a combination more people should try.
A tip from the counter: if you want the chili flavor but you’re taking your burrito to go, the Chili or Special styles keep the green chili inside the tortilla, which makes them easier to eat on the road. Smothered burritos are best eaten at a table, or at least with a fork and some napkins nearby.
Can you put green chili on a burger or fries?
Yes. Any burger on our menu can be smothered with your choice of chili, from a plain hamburger up to a double bacon cheeseburger. It’s one of the most Colorado things you can order, and people who try it once tend to order it again. We also make Smothered Fries, and our Cheesesteak Smothered Fries if you want a heartier plate.
The chili goes well beyond burritos and burgers, too. Smothered tamales, smothered rellenos and a smothered beef and bean burrito all show up on our combination plates. The breakfast menu has Huevos Rancheros, Steak Rancheros and Huevos con Chorizo, and green chili is right at home on those plates. Since almost anything here can be prepared the way you like, ask for chili on whatever you’re ordering, or ask for it on the side if you want to control how much goes on.
How much green chili can you order to take home?
You can order our chili by itself from the sides part of the menu, in sizes from a side all the way up to a quart. A side cup is perfect for dipping a burrito or adding to a plate at home. A quart is what people take when they want to make their own smothered burritos, top eggs in the morning, or keep some around for the week.
On a cool fall evening, a quart of green chili and a stack of tortillas makes an easy dinner for the whole house. Some folks warm it up and eat it straight from a bowl. Others pour it over leftover burritos or hash browns. However you use it, it’s the same green chili we make fresh every day for our own plates.
Which chili should you order on your first visit?
If you can handle some heat, get the hot green. It’s what we’re known for, and we’d like you to taste it. If you aren’t sure, order mild green on your burrito and a side of hot green to try on the side. That way you can find your level without committing a whole plate to it. And if you’re coming back for a second or third visit, give the red a turn.
We’ve been serving green chili at 1191 S Abilene St since 1991, and there’s no wrong answer. The right chili is the one that keeps you coming back.
When you’re ready, stop in, swing through the drive-thru, or order online for pickup or delivery. Whatever you order, just tell us your chili.
