Baked Arepas with Black Beans and Cotija Cheese

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

Baked arepas filled with seasoned black beans and topped with crumbly Cotija cheese for a hearty, healthy Latin American meal. This latin american-inspired latin american (vegetarian, gluten free) ready in about 45 minutes pairs pre-cooked white corn flour (masarepa), warm water, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart.

Ingredients

• 2 cups pre-cooked white corn flour (masarepa)
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup black beans, cooked and drained
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, mix 2 cups pre-cooked white corn flour with 1 tsp salt, then slowly add 1 1/2 cups warm water, stirring until a soft dough forms; rest for 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: Divide dough into 6 equal portions and form into 4-inch diameter, 1/2-inch thick disks.
3. Step 3: Place the arepas on a parchment-lined baking sheet and brush each with 1 tbsp olive oil.
4. Step 4: Bake for 20 minutes, then flip each arepa and bake an additional 10 minutes until golden and firm.
5. Step 5: While arepas bake, in a small bowl mix 1 cup cooked black beans with 1/2 tsp ground cumin and 1/4 tsp garlic powder.
6. Step 6: Once arepas cool slightly, slice horizontally and fill with seasoned black beans, sprinkle 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese, and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro.