Craving a warm, tasty cornmeal cake? These Trader Joeโs arepas in the air fryer are the perfect solution. In just about 15 minutes, you can have a warm arepa thatโs perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a snack anytime youโre craving one!

Why Youโll Love This Recipe
Arepas are a slightly sweet cornmeal-based cake originating from Columbia and Venezuela. The corn dough is patted into a disc shape and traditionally fried. It may be served with toppings, or cut open and stuffed with meats, beans, and other foods.
Thankfully, you can skip the prep work and the deep frying thanks to Trader Joeโs. These tasty arepas cook right from frozen, no defrosting required! Youโll use way less oil with the air fryer than you would with the deep fryer as well.

TJโs version are cheese-filled arepas con queso, which are delicious in a pseudo grilled cheese sort of way all on their own. However, you can also dress them up with other toppings and sauces if you want!
Theyโre also naturally gluten free, making them perfect for a variety of dietary needs.
What Youโll Need: Ingredients

- 1 box Trader Joeโs frozen corn and cheese arepas
- Additional toppings if desired
Ingredient Notes and Tips
- The air fryer cooking method works with any brand of frozen arepas.ย If you donโt have a Trader Joeโs nearby, feel free to swap in another brand like Goya, Mambo, or La Fe instead
- A little bit of salted butter on top is a traditional serving, but you can add less traditional items such as a fried egg, chili, beans, sweet and spicy jam, hot sauce, or guacamole to yours!
How to Make Trader Joeโs Arepas in an Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 375ยฐF (or the closest setting your air fryer has)
- Cut a piece of foil or parchment to fit both the arepas and your air fryer basket

- Remove the arepas from all exterior packaging and place them on the foil into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer

- Spritz the exterior of the arepas with a little oil spray if a crispier exterior is desired (optional)
- Air fry for 12 minutes at 375ยฐF, pausing halfway to flip and reapply oil if desired
- Arepas are done when they are brown on the edges, hot in the middle, and the cheese is completely melted. If needed, add an additional 1-3 minutes of cooking time as necessary
- Serve with your favorite toppings or sides!

What to Serve With Arepas
- Salted butter
- Sweet or savory jam
- Hot sauce
- Chimichurri
- Sour cream
- Fried egg
- Cheese
- Chili
- Chicken salad
- Pulled pork
- Shrimp
- Chorizo
- Ceviche
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Beans
- Fried plantains
- Coconut rice
- Fresh papaya
- Hot chocolate
- Soda
- Pilsner beer
- Chardonnay
As you can see, there are a variety of both sweet and savory options that you can serve with arepas. Choose whatever suits your mood, or try a variety and find your favorite preparation!
Serve your air fryer Trader Joeโs arepas with my easy coconut Microwave Sticky Rice recipe, or these crispy Air Fryer Frozen Coconut Shrimp.
Recipe FAQs
Can You Air Fry Trader Joeโs Corn and Cheese Arepas?
Yes, you can air fry Trader Joeโs corn and cheese arepas. The air fryer produces a similar browned exterior as deep frying, using far less oil.
You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer, as the arepas need to be in a single layer.
How Do You Reheat Trader Joeโs Arepas?
To reheat Trader Joeโs arepas, cook them in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes at 360ยฐF, or until warmed through.
This method works for other types of leftover arepas as well, and is not exclusive to Trader Joeโs brand.
How Do You Know When Arepas Are Done?
Arepas are done when the bread has puffed up slightly. The exterior should be crispy, but should give when pushed.
Tapping on the top with a spoon should create a hollow sound.
Should Arepas Be Crispy or Soft?
As to whether arepas should be crispy or soft, the answer is both. The exterior should be browned and crispy, while the interior should be soft and almost cake-like in consistency.
Grilled arepas will not have as crispy of an exterior as the fried versions, but will still be crispier where it touched the grill.
What Time and Temperature Should I Use to Air Fry Arepas?
Air fry arepas at a temperature of 375ยฐF-380ยฐF for 12-15 minutes. This may vary slightly based on your specific arepas and air fryer, but is a good average range.
This temperature is perfect for getting the outside lightly browned and crispy and allowing the cheese to melt, without burning.
Recipe Pro Tips
- The foil or parchment paper is used to help catch drips as the cheese starts to melt. You can go without, but youโll have to clean melted cheese off your air fryer basket!
- Itโs important as well that you do not block all air flow in your air fryer by completely covering the basket or rack with foil. I just fold mine to size to fit the arepa, which leaves plenty of open vents around it
- I recommend a spatula for flipping the arepas, as they will slide a little bit as the cheese starts to melt so youโll want a quick flip

Storage and Reheating
- Store leftover cheese arepas in an airtight container in your refrigerator and consume within 3 days. You should not refreeze them
- To reheat your Trader Joeโs arepas, cook them in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes at 360ยฐF, or until warmed through. Alternatively, they may be cut in half first and then microwaved for 45-60 seconds, but will lose their crispy exterior
Other Trader Joeโs Foods to Make in Your Air Fryer
- Trader Joeโs Latkes in the Air Fryerย
- Crispy Trader Joeโs Frozen Falafel in the Air Fryer
- Decadent Trader Joeโs Lava Cake in the Air Fryer
- Trader Joeโs Spanakopita in the Air Fryer
- Brazilian Cheese Bread in the Air Fryer
Final Thoughts
These tasty Trader Joeโs arepas con queso are the perfect way to enjoy a warm, cheesy, corn-based treat anytime. They cook directly from frozen and are ready to enjoy in 15 minutes or less!
I eat them for all sorts of meals, whether itโs adding an egg to the top and enjoying breakfast, or slicing my arepa open and stuffing it with savory fillings for lunch. You canโt beat the combo of the light sweetness of the arepa when paired with salty, savory, and spicy foods.
Theyโre also pretty easy to reheat, which makes them great for a quick snack or an on-the-go lunch the next day.

Trader Joeโs Arepas Air Fryer Instructions
Equipment
- Foil or parchment paper
- Spatula for flipping (recommended)
Ingredientsย ย
- 1 Box Trader Joe's frozen arepas (corn and cheese)
- Oil mist or nonstick spray (optional)
Instructionsย
- Preheat the air fryer to 375ยฐF (or the closest setting your air fryer has)
- Cut a piece of foil or parchment to fit both the arepas and your air fryer basket
- Remove the arepas from all exterior packaging and place them on the foil into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer1 Box Trader Joe's frozen arepas
- Spritz the exterior of the arepas with a little oil spray if a crispier exterior is desired (optional)Oil mist or nonstick spray
- Air fry for 12 minutes at 375ยฐF, pausing halfway to flip and reapply oil if desired
- Arepas are done when they are brown on the edges, hot in the middle, and the cheese is completely melted. If needed, add an additional 1-3 minutes of cooking time as necessary
- Serve with your favorite toppings or sides!
Notes
- The air fryer cooking method works with any brand of frozen arepas.ย If you donโt have a Trader Joeโs nearby, feel free to swap in another brand like Goya, Mambo, or La Fe instead
- A little bit of salted butter on top is a traditional serving, but you can add less traditional items such as a fried egg, chili, beans, sweet and spicy jam, hot sauce, or guacamole to yours!
- The foil or parchment paper is used to help catch drips as the cheese starts to melt. You can go without, but youโll have to clean melted cheese off your air fryer basket!
- Itโs important as well that you do not block all air flow in your air fryer by completely covering the basket or rack with foil. I just fold mine to size to fit the arepa, which leaves plenty of open vents around it
- I recommend a spatula for flipping the arepas, as they will slide a little bit as the cheese starts to melt so youโll want a quick flip
- Store leftover cheese arepas in an airtight container in your refrigerator and consume within 3 days. You should not refreeze them
- To reheat your Trader Joeโs arepas, cook them in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes at 360ยฐF, or until warmed through. Alternatively, they may be cut in half first and then microwaved for 45-60 seconds, but will lose their crispy exterior
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any sauces or sides added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition

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