Arepa Burger Recipe
If you love burgers and you love arepas, why choose between the two? This Arepa Burger brings these two favorites together in one delicious bite—juicy seasoned beef, fresh toppings, and a warm, crispy-on-the-outside Colombian arepa instead of a traditional hamburger bun.
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 scallions, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped white onion
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground paprika
- Salt and black pepper
- 4 medium thick cooked arepas
- Coleslaw
- Salsa Rosada
- Cheese
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- In a large bowl add the ground beef, garlic, scallions, onion, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. Mix well and refrigerate for about 1 hour. Form 4 patties.
- Heat a grill or sauté pan and cook the hamburgers for 5 minutes on each side until done.
- Remove to a plate and cover with aluminum foil. Allow the hamburgers to rest for 5 minutes and serve immediately on arepas with coleslaw, salsa rosada, cheese, lettuce and tomato.
A Colombian Twist on the Classic Burger
The idea for this Arepa Burger came to me one night while lying in bed, and I could not wait to get up the next day to make it! Arepas are versatile and can pretty much be filled or topped with anything you have on hand.
Arepas always come to the rescue when I am hungry and desperate for a quick meal. And just like traditional Colombian arepas, there's plenty of room to make this recipe your own. Add avocado sauce, hogao, garlic sauce, or your favorite toppings to create your perfect burger.
What Is an Arepa Burger?
It is essentially a hamburger served with a thick arepa in place of the bun. The arepas are made from precooked cornmeal, cooked until lightly crispy on the outside while remaining tender inside. I have created several arepa dishes with various toppings and fillings, but until now, I never thought of using them in a burger. I hope you enjoy this burger as much as I did!
For a Colombian-inspired version, I like to keep the toppings simple and flavorful. Cheese, tomato, lettuce, coleslaw, and salsa rosada.
Why You'll Love This Arepa Burger
Crispy, golden arepas replace the traditional bun.
The corn flavor adds something special to the burger.
It's comforting enough for a filling lunch or dinner.
You can add your favorite burger toppings.
It's a fun way to bring Colombian flavors to a familiar American favorite.
The printable recipe card with exact amounts and cooking directions is below.
Cooked arepas: You can make them at home with masarepa.
Ground Beef: I like to use 20% fat ground beef for a flavorful burger.
Vegetables: garlic, scallions and onion to make the burger patties.
Spices: cumin, paprika, salt and pepper to add flavor to the burger.
