Colombian breakfast foods are a flavorful showcase of the country’s traditional Colombian dishes, offering a delicious start to the day.
From the hearty calentado, a dish of reheated rice and beans, to the crisp and savory carimañola, made with yuca, Colombian breakfasts combine fresh, local ingredients with bold flavors.
Whether you’re enjoying a warm arepa, a tropical fruit smoothie, or a comforting bowl of changua, these traditional Colombian dishes celebrate the country’s love for good food and its rich culinary heritage.
Join us as we explore the best Colombian breakfast foods and discover why they’re a must-try!
Traditional Colombian Breakfast Dishes
Here are 14 incredible Colombian breakfast foods that you can try:
- Tamales
- Arepas
- Arepa de Huevo
- Arepa Paisa
- Bandeja Paisa
- Changua
- Calentado
- Caldo de Costilla
- Aguapanela con Queso
- Chocolate Completo
- Bollo
- Pan de Queso
- Huevos Pericos
-
Carimañola
Just want the recipes? Browse our Colombian breakfast hub for every dish below with its own step-by-step recipe.
Keep reading to find out more about each of these delicious Colombian breakfast options.
Who knows? You may even find something you want to add to your weekly breakfast menu.
1. Tamales
Tamales are famous throughout Latin America and are made from corn or rice dough.
They’re then stuffed with meat and vegetables.
What sets Colombian tamales apart is that they’re wrapped in banana or plantain leaves and then steamed for a few hours.
Within Colombia, there are a ton of variations of tamales depending on the region.
Some people enjoy them doughy and round, while others prefer them flat and crumbly.
Tamales are available at restaurants and food stalls all over Colombia, but they’re also made at home.
2. Arepas
Arepas are incredibly versatile and can be eaten at any time of the day.
They’re similar to a corn cake, typically made from ground white or yellow corn.
The cooking method varies; you can fry, deep fry, or grill them on an open fire.
The way they’re served also varies by region, and they can be either sweet or savory.
For example, in some areas, people enjoy them deep-fried and serve them with eggs, beef, and chicharrón, which is a type of fried pork.
In other areas, people either grill or bake them then coat them in sugar, chocolate, melted cheese, or butter.
Like tamales, there are many, many variations.
If you’d like to make them at home, it’s easiest to use precooked corn flour, like DOÑAREPA Harina Precocida Amarilla or everybody’s favorite Harina Pan.
3. Arepa de Huevo
Arepa de Huevo, or arepa stuffed with egg, is a type of arepa that’s commonly eaten for breakfast.
This version of the arepa is fried in oil. It’s then removed from the oil, sliced along the side, and a raw egg is placed inside it.
The Arepa de Huevo is fried in oil once again until the egg is cooked.
It’s popular in the Caribbean area of Colombia.
4. Arepa Paisa
The Arepa Paisa is commonly eaten in the Antioquia region of Colombia.
They’re different from other types of arepas in that they’re crispy, thin, and lighter in color.
These tasty corn cakes are grilled and can be eaten alone or as a side dish at any part of the day.
Colombians spread them with butter, top them with a slice of cheese, and season them with salt for breakfast.
If you plan to make these at home, you can’t go wrong with an Arepa Maker.
This way, you get an Arepa Paisa that’s all the same size and shape.
5. Bandeja Paisa
Bandeja Paisa is a full spread that’s comparable to a full English breakfast.
This hearty meal usually includes:
- Fried eggs
- Rice
- Red beans
- Chorizo
- Ground beef
- Chicharrón (fried pork rind)
- Arepas
- Avocados
- Plantain
Historically, farmers would eat this meal in the morning to keep them full for a long day of labor.
Because of this, Bandeja Paisa was thought of as peasant food, but this has undoubtedly changed.
The amount of food on this platter has now placed it on the more expensive side of a menu.
6. Changua
If you crave something comforting and warm for breakfast, you’ve got to try changua.
Every region has its version, but it’s essentially a soup that’s made by boiling milk with scallions, green onions, parsley, and coriander.
An egg is then poached in the traditional Colombian soup, and it’s served with croutons, arepas, or almojábanas (cheese rolls).
7. Calentado
Calentado means ‘the heated dish.’
Traditionally, it was common for Colombians to eat rice and red beans in the evening for dinner.
In an effort to avoid waste, the leftovers were reheated the following morning for breakfast.
Nowadays, calentado includes:
- Rice
- Red beans
- Plantains
- Eggs
- Arepas
8. Caldo de Costilla
Caldo de costilla is a Colombian beef rib stew made with the following ingredients:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Cilantro
It’s famously known as the best hangover cure.
It’s hearty and delicious and is usually eaten with arepas or rice on the side.
9. Aguapanela con Queso
A sugarcane drink and cheese, aguapanela is a hot, sweet beverage.
It’s made by adding unrefined panela or sugarcane to boiling water.
The popular Colombian beverage is then served with a slice of queso fresco, a type of salty, soft cheese.
To get the sweet-salty flavor, the cheese is submerged into the drink, and because it’s boiling hot, it melts into the aguapanela, leaving you with a cup of gooey deliciousness.
Aguapanela is also used as a treatment to cure colds and cases of flu.
10. Chocolate Completo
Starting your day with chocolate is always a good idea!
Hot chocolate, cheese, and bread make up this decadent meal.
Hot chocolate is made with boiling water, cocoa, and sugar and served with a slice of mild white cheese, buttered bread, and almojábana (corn cheese roll).
Traditionally, small blocks of cheese are put into the cup of hot chocolate.
When you finish the hot chocolate, the bread is used to soak up the cheese and chocolate at the bottom of the cup.
11. Bollo
Bollo is a bun that can be made with either corn, potatoes, or yuca.
It’s then wrapped in corn husks and boiled.
In Colombia, it’s usually eaten for breakfast with cheese or served with chorizos or other types of fried meats.
You can also buy bollo from street vendors, and they’re available at supermarkets.
12. Pan de Queso
Pan de queso is a cheesy, fluffy roll enjoyed for breakfast.
It’s made with grated cheese and tapioca flour, which gives it its light texture.
It’s also typically eaten plain or with cream cheese and can be served hot or at room temperature.
You can think of it like a cheesy bagel.
13. Huevos Pericos
Huevos Pericos is one of Colombia’s most popular breakfast dishes.
It is a simple and quick scrambled egg recipe that incorporates scallions or green onions and tomatoes.
It traditionally is served along with arepas and Colombian cheese.
The term “pericos” means parakeet in english referring to the dish’s bright and colorful presentation.
14. Carimañola
Carimañola is a beloved Colombian breakfast dish with roots in the Caribbean coastal region.
This delicious treat is a deep-fried cassava (yuca) dough stuffed with flavorful fillings like ground beef, shredded chicken, or cheese.
The outer layer, made from mashed yuca, is crisp and golden after frying, while the inside is soft and savory.
Often served with a side of suero costeño, a tangy cream sauce, carimañolas are a perfect blend of texture and flavor.
They are not only a popular breakfast item but also a favorite street food snack, showcasing Colombia’s creativity in using local ingredients like yuca to craft irresistible dishes.
Delicious Colombian Breakfast Foods to Start Your Day
Colombian breakfasts are a delightful exploration of the country’s culinary heritage, blending hearty, savory, and sweet flavors that cater to every taste.
From the crispy and flavorful carimañola to the comforting warmth of a bowl of changua, these dishes highlight the creativity and diversity of Colombia’s regions.
Try recreating these dishes at home or plan a visit to Colombia to savor them firsthand.
Don’t forget to share your favorite Colombian breakfast experience in the comments!
Sources
- Culture Trip: Traditional Colombian Breakfasts You Must Try
- My Colombian Recipes: 10 Traditional Colombian Breakfast Dishes
- Uncover Colombia: Colombian Culture Meals
- Taste Atlas: Popular Breakfasts in Colombia
- BNB Colombia: Eat Like a Local 6 Traditional Colombian Breakfast Dishes
- Lonely Planet: 5 Traditional Colombian Breakfasts
- Hip Latina: Different Types of Colombian Arepas
- Uncover Colombia: Colombian Dish Bandeja Paisa
- Colombia: 6 Perfect Moment Colombian Treats
- Wikipedia: Pan de Queso
- Uncharted Colombia: Not Your Average Tamale
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Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.