Arepa Rellena con Queso is a popular dish in Colombia and Venezuela. This is a Colombian-Style Cheese Stuffed Arepa recipe. It's very easy to make and delicious.
What is an Arepa?
It is one of he most popular foods in Colombia and Venezuela. There are many variations of this dish in Colombia. They are basically patties made with precooked corn flour. They can be filled or topped with different ingredients and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
These cheese stuffed arepas are very easy to make and the recipe doesn't require a lot of ingredients. They are rich, cheesy and absolutely delicious. You can eat them alone or served with huevos pericos on the side.
If you want to try more arepa recipes, check my arepas de yuca, arepa de huevo, arepa de papa and arepa Boyacense.
Ingredients to Make Arepas de Queso
You'll find the printable recipe card with exact amounts, cooking directions and step by step cooking video below.
Pre-cooked Corn Flour: To make arepas you must use masarepa or pre-cooked corn flour, some brands are P.A.N. and Goya. Some regular grocery stores sell it on the international food aisle. You can also find it in Latino markets or online.
Salt: To flavor the dough.
Water: Use lukewarm water to make arepas.
Butter: To make the dough and to cook the arepas.
Cheese: I recommend using whole milk mozzarella cheese.
How to Store Arepas
You can store them in the refrigerator for up to 7 days in a ziploc bag or in an airtight container.
If you want to freeze them, let the arepas cool completely and wrap them well with plastic wrap. Then place inside a freezer ziploc bag and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Cheese Stuffed Corn Cakes Recipe (Arepas Rellenas de Queso)
Ingredients
- 2 cups pre cooked corn meal masarepa
- 2 cups warm water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon soft butter divided
- 12 slices mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a medium bowl mix the masarepa, water, salt and butter. Knead with your hands for about 3 minutes moistening your hands with water as you work.
- Form 6 small balls with the dough. Place each ball between 2 plastic bags or parchment paper and with a flat pot cover flatten to about ⅓ inch. The arepas should be about 5” in diameter.
- 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 until they are golden brown.
- Split the arepas using a knife as you would do with an English muffin and stuff wit 2 slices of mozzarella cheese.
- Place the stuffed arepas back on the skillet over medium high heat and cook 2 minutes on each side or until the cheese is melted and serve immediately.
LeeAn Kahriger
Sorry meant queso above spell correction switched it...
LeeAn Kahriger
Has anyone ever had the arepas con quasi at the airport in Bucaranga? Those were my very favorite! Would this recipe be similar?
herman
can you tell me what corn i can use to make the arepa santaderana,and maybe you have the recipe,I look foward to your daily recipes thanks
mARIA eSCOBAR
I am a Colombian grandama, living for 47 yrs, here in the USA. I already passed the recepie to my 4 daughters in law: German, Italian, Irish and from Georgia. They all know how to make them with cheese. I add a little bet of sugar, to complement the ingredients. Also before putting them together, I let the maza rest for 5 minutes. make a big ball, and cut it in the number of arepas you are going to make. That way everyone has the same size! I use Mazarepa.
Angelica
Erica, me encanta tu pagina hace 4 a~os estoy fuera de Colombia y es una maravilla encontrar tantas recetas en un solo lugar, me encanta cocinar cositas para mis amigos y asi darles a probar un poquito de la maravillosa comida que tenemos en nuestro pais.
Sigue adelante!!
maribel
Thank you so much for these recipes!! I did another one of yours and my boyfriend thats colombian didnt believe it at all!!! the taste was so authentic!!! great job!!!
Martha
Hi Erica,
Just have a question. Why you have not come out with a book on your own?
I would love to buy a couple if you just had one out there that we all can enjoy your fantastic receipes.
Abrazos,
Martha =)
Erica
Martha- maybe I should try to write my own cookbook! Thank you so much for the wonderful comment 🙂
Luis Fernando
Soy Colombiano nacido en Santiago de Cali y residente fuera de Colombia. Felizmente si hay restaurantes de comida típica de Colombia, en este país donde vivo. Allí yo como las deliciosas arepas colombianas, de cualquier tipo.
I LOVE AREPAS. I LOVE COLOMBIA.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
I love this!!! I feel so hungry now....:-((( and I am not supposed to eat anything after 8pm...
linda
I wonder how do some Arepas come out softer and higher mine taste good but feel a little dense any suggestions
Erica
Linda- I usually follow the same directions from this post and they are perfect! Water your hands when your are making the balls, that can help a little.
Alfonso Galvez
Esta receta se ve muy buena, pero me gustaria que probaras las arepas con queso ack Pepper Jack..Este queso le da un sabor medio picante y la arepa queda maravillosa. Trate y no se va a arrepentir..
Erica
Hola Alfonso,
gracias por el comentario.....seguro que voy a probar tu receta!
Erica
Thank you everyone for the comments! Gracias a todos por los comentarios:)
Tangled Noodle
We are fortunate to have at least one Colombian restaurant here in Minneapolis where I had my first taste of arepas! This looks wonderful (especially with all that lovely cheese oozing out!) I will be on the look out for masarepa - my husband would really enjoy these.
Alejandra Castillo
Yo soy de Colombia y me encanta tu pagina, muchas gracias por mostrar algo lindo de nuestro pais que es la comida.
En el rancherito un restaurante en Copacabana (Antioquia) hacen arepas como estas. y en mi casa mi mami muchas veces las hace con jamon y queso blanco.
Yo no conozco las arepas Venezolanas pero estas son muy comunes en nuestra region. Tambien tengo un libro de cocina Colombiana que tiene estas arepas, pero la receta es con cuajada.
Me gustan mucho tus fotos, sigue con el buen trabajo
Claudia
Yo soy Colombiana y vivo en Medellin y si he visto arepas como esa en muchos restaurantes tipicos Colombianos y tambien las hacemos en mi casa.
Me encanta tu pagina, Felicidades.
Erica
Federico.
Mi abuelita , mis tias y mi mamá siempre han hecho esta clase de arepas rellenas de queso o tambien arepas rellenas de huevo .....Yo se que son similares a las Venezolanas, pero en Colombia tambien las hacemos y la arepa de huevo por ejemplo es tipica de la region del caribe.
Nosotros no hacemos rellenos de pollo, chorizo, etc, como los Venezolanos. En Colombia las hacemos delgadas y les colocamos los guisos encima, pero las recetas que yo coloco aqui es por que mi familia las ha hecho por muchos años.
Gracias por tu comentario!
Erica.