Last Updated on August 19, 2026 by Deliciously Organic Editor
I love this recipe for gluten-free arepas!
I don’t know how to convey how thankful I am that my story of recovery reached so many people last week! Many were encouraged and I loved seeing so many of you reach out to others, encouraging them in their journeys to better health. I was amazed at how many of you had similar stories of recovery from thyroid disease. How incredible!
I’ve been thinking about making grain-free arepas for a while now. This weekend I gave it a go and was thrilled with the results! I took my grain-free cornbread recipe, removed much of the moisture to create a dense “corn” cake, fried them in some ghee and served them with my crock-pot chicken fajita meat. I know arepas are a traditional Venezuelan dish, but I decided to put a bit of a Tex-Mex spin on them. You can serve them with any assortment of tender meats, herbs and spices.
Arepas (Gluten-Free)
If you’d like to serve this with a full recipe of the chicken fajita meat, then I would triple this recipe, so there are enough areas to serve with the chicken and vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours and 15 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours and 25 minutes
- Yield: About 10 arepas
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American, Mexican
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
For the Arepas:
- 2 cups almond flour
- 3 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter or ghee
- 4 tablespoons ghee for frying
For the Topping:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Chicken Fajitas in the crock pot
- 1 avocado
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 lime, quartered
Instructions
- Combine almond flour, coconut flour, sea salt, eggs and 4 tablespoons butter in a large bowl until combined. Take about 1/4 cup spoonfuls of the dough and form into a 4-inch by 1/2 inch disk. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Heat 4 tablespoons ghee in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Place dough disks in the hot oil and fry for about 2-3 minutes per side until each side is golden brown.
- Serve with Chicken Fajitas meat and vegetables, avocado, cilantro and a spritz of lime juice.
Would it work to make these thinner to be more like a mini tortilla?
I had the same thought and gave it a try. It’s more like a very thin, crispy cracker than a pliable tortilla.
I notice you use A LOT of nut flours. Do you find any inflammatory issues with them? I am allergic to nuts and have difficulty with eggs. Have you noticed any food sensitivity changes with the way you are eating now?
I do like to use almond flour quite a bit, but I do offer many nut-free recipes and have been working hard to increase the amount of nut-free recipes on the site. I always eat nuts in moderation, as they can increase inflammation if eaten in excess. The only changes I’ve noticed is that I’m not as sensitive to foods that used to be extremely sensitive to.
Hi I came across your website by chance after looking for diet changes to help depression and some horrific drug reactions to help this that sent my body into chaos . I have started the Grain Brain diet with some remarkable results only 5 weeks in . Your recipes are making this easier for myself and my family. Thank you
I’m so glad to hear of your success in just 5 weeks! I’m glad you found my site and if you have any questions, please let me know! 🙂
I recently signed up for the weekly meal plans when we ordered the new book. I am receiving the Classic meals but wish to receive the Grain Free / Paleo meal plans. Could you let me know how to make this change?
Thank you,
Mark
I appreciate your order! Please email us over at: info@deliciouslyorganic.net and we can look up your account and help you out. Thanks!
I love arepas. A grain free version sounds amazing. I love that the topping is in the crock pot- the bases would be quick and easy to whip up. My fiance and I spend the evenings in the weekends going for long runs together, and I like to have dinner already 90% prepared for when we come home because otherwise dinner gets really, really simple on those nights! I’ll be trying soon- Pinning!
I’ve never heard of arepas before – they look delicious! They kinda remind me of a mini fry bread taco. 🙂
Hi Carrie, I picked up a bag of cashew meal at TJ’s yesterday. Can it be used as a substitute for almond flour? Thanks!
I haven’t tried it, but I love how neutral of a flavor they have. It’s worth trying!
Thanks so much for your great recipes! Any suggestions for a replacement for the almond flour? Husband is allergic to all nuts.
I wasn’t that fond of these for fajitas…a bit on the sweet side for me. But my daughter loved them as snacks, and they are great with pumpkin butter spread on top.
Yes, arepas have a bit of a sweet flavor to them. Glad your daughter enjoyed them!
Has anyone tried these with egg replacer. I wonder if gelatin might work.
Is there any substitution for coconut flour? I find a lot of coconut products in grain free cooking but I have a sensitivity to coconut. I would LOVE to make arepas !!!Thanks !
I would try using some arrowroot and you might need an extra egg.
We are in the beginning stages of preparing to do the GAPS diet. I am trying to prepare meals and was wondering if you recommend a flour in place of almond? I would love to try this recipe but I have a LO allergic to nuts. Also, would you say that your cookbook offers a lot of GAPS diet options?
I don’t have a substitution that is GAPS legal and also nut-free. Lots of the recipes in my new book are Gaps friendly. Here’s a chart of all of the recipes by dietary need: https://deliciouslyorganic.net/the-grain-free-family-table-cookbook-recipe-chart/