Arepas de Queso are made with pre-cooked corn flour, butter and cheese. These arepas usually eaten for breakfast and popular in Colombia and Venezuela.
Arepa is a typical Colombian dish from the region Antioquia, my home state. They are made with pre-cooked corn flour or masarepa. There are many variations of this dish in the country and depending on the region and cook, you will also find arepas made with yuca, plantains, sweet corn, dried corn and potatoes.
I love eating warm Arepas de Queso for breakfast, spread with butter and more cheese on top, with a good cup of Colombian hot chocolate.
Colombian arepas are very versatile because they can be top or fill with your favorite ingredients and served for breakfast, appetizer, lunch or dinner.
These Cheese Arepas are an essential part of the Colombian daily diet. You can serve them as a main course or appetizer with any topping you like. I love making small sized arepas de queso with hogao. They are absolutely delicious!
What You'll Need to Make Arepas de Queso
You can find the printable recipe card with exact amounts and cooking directions below.
Pre-Cooked Cornmeal: This is the main ingredient to make this dish and can't be replace. You can find it online or at your local supermarket.
Water: To make the dough and should be lukewarm.
Cheese: I like to use grated mozzarella cheese for this recipe, but feel free to use any melting cheese.
Butter: Unsalted butter to make the dough and to cook the arepas.
Salt: To add flavor to the dough.
More Arepas Recipes To Try:
Arepa with Guacamole and Shrimp
Arepa with Chicken and Avocado
Arepas de Queso Recipe (Cheese Arepas)
Ingredients
- 1 cup pre-cooked white or yellow arepa flour or cornmeal
- 1 cup warm water
- ⅓ cup white or mozzarella cheese grated
- 2 tbsp butter
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Combine the cornmeal, warm water, cheese, 1 tbsp butter and salt, mixing thoroughly. Let mixture stand for five minutes.
- Knead with your hands for about 3 minutes moistening your hands with water as you work.
- Form 4 small balls with the dough. Place each ball between 2 plastic bags and with a flat pot cover flatten to ½ inch.
- Add the butter to a nonstick pan over medium heat. Place the arepas in the pan, and cook about 3 minutes on each side, until a crust forms or they are golden brown.
Kitty
Hi,
When I tried to make these they turned out super watery. I don’t know if it’s the ingredients I used, but I can’t even get them out of the bowl because they’re just dripping from my hands. Has anyone else had this problem? Any solutions?
Erica Dinho
Add more flour little by little until you get it right.I make arepas every day and this is the recipe I use.
Monilee
I don't understand step 3:
Form 4 small balls with the dough. Place each ball between 2 plastic bags and with a flat pot cover flatten to ¼ inch.
What do you mean Place each ball between 2 plastic bags and with a flat pot cover flatten to ¼ inch?
Erica Dinho
Here is the step by step video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiDPP2JP9zI
Monilee
Thank you 🙂
Robert
My wife is Colombian and her mom made these all the time. I made them for breakfast this morning and they were great! "Mamita" passed a 3 years ago and we did not have the foresight to write down recipes so your website is a Godsend. Thank you!
Jose Alonso
Hockey Pucks from Antioquia? no thanks; get the Real Arepas The Size of a dinner plate from the region of the state of Cesar and Norte de Santander,Colombia: Please!!!!!
Jade
I'm curious what I've done wrong. This is my first time making arepas, or any kind of Columbian food. It seems so simple, but as I am cooking them they are just falling apart. The dough sticks well enough to itself, but once it begins to cook and I have to go to flip them they just crumble into a mess. Still delicious, but not arepas.
Tom
No “U” por favor lol “COLOMBIAN..
Just sayin....
Tom
Common mistake .... sounds like either too much water ... type of cheese maybe to fresh. Love this Blog... for 14 yrs spent about a 1-2 months per year in Cali. Fell in love with the people and Culture .
El barrio Alphonso Lopes
Tom
Ugh!!! LOPEZ ...lol see what I mean!!!
Donna
I just met the nicest Colombian man at church and I look forward to trying this recipe so next week at Mass I can bring him a surprise! I am hoping the way to mans heart is thru his stomach so I want to make sure I make Oscar something I know he will like! Your site has been amazing for me! Thank you so much!
Rhonda
Help. What did I do wrong? My arepas came out very tough and not "airy" in the middle. The only thing I did different was I had to walk away from my dough for about 15 minutes.
Laura
I was referred by a friend to your site. Love your recipes! I just now subscribed via email.
monica
I finally made arepas for the first time. I am, um, in my 40s! Mi mama will be so proud of me! Multi-cultural day (at kid's grammer school) here we come! Thank you for the recipe. Easy and delicioso!
Antonio
These arepas de queso are very simple to make . I make them every day.
Marie
I love Colombian food and your recipes are so amazing! Great job writing this blog!
Kristen
Erica, my husband and I have fallen in love with arepas, thanks to your recipe! I have especially found it helpful because I am gluten-intolerant, but corn is A-OK, so this is a great bread sub for me. Do you have any tips or tricks for prepping in advance or speeding up the process, or do you just make them fresh from square one every time.
By the way, would you happen to know how to make ceviche?
Kristen
Lo que le explico arriba a Maria, seria eso lo que hace Ud. para facilitar el proceso?
Erica Dinho
I usually make a large batch and cook them for about 60 seconds on each side. Let them cool and place them in the freezer in zip lock bags.Every time you want one, just take it out of the freezer and cook it until is done.
Maria Khan
Quiero hacer bastantes arepas y congelarlas pero no se si las congelo crudas o asadas. Gracias
Erica Dinho
Maria, las puedes medio cocinar (no totalmente) y luego las pones en una bolsa con cierre y las puedes poner en el congelador.
Requiem_11
If you are in Australia I found this South African product which works just as well; Protea maize meal. I found it at a particular woolies, but check South African specialty stores too. If you are in Brisbane, go to penissi in the gaba to get PAN and lots of other Colombian items like triguisar and panela.
Anonymous
I tried them this week for the first time, with the Pork, Mushrooms and Avocado Sauce on this wonderful site. So easy to make and the taste was awesome. I was lucky enough to find arepa flour at my local Safeway. I look forward to trying some of your other dishes that are served with them.
Thank you Erica for sharing your wonderful food with us.
Dan
Greetings. I know this is an older post, but I had to add my 'thank you'. Made these this past week end for the first time. Delicious. Especially with sausage gravy!