Description
Golden, flaky, and stuffed with rich beef and cheese, these Delicious Empanadas are the ultimate comfort food — perfect for a quick dinner, tasty lunch, or freezer-friendly snack. They’re easy to make, filled with savory flavor, and ideal for anyone looking for satisfying food ideas, easy dinner ideas, or meal prep recipes. Whether you’re after a quick breakfast pastry or a savory appetizer, this easy recipe delivers warm, handheld perfection.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
0.5 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
1 egg
0.5 cup cold water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
0.5 teaspoon chili powder
0.25 cup tomato sauce or paste
0.5 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg for egg wash
1 tablespoon water for egg wash
Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
1. In a bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Mix egg, water, and vinegar. Combine and form a dough. Chill 30 minutes.
2. In a skillet, heat oil and sauté onion and garlic. Add beef, cook until browned. Drain fat.
3. Stir in tomato sauce, cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes. Cool slightly.
4. Roll out dough and cut into 4–6 inch circles.
5. Place 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of beef filling on each dough circle. Top with cheese.
6. Moisten edges with water. Fold over and crimp with fork to seal.
7. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheet with parchment.
8. Place empanadas on sheet. Brush with egg wash.
9. Bake 22–25 minutes until golden brown.
10. Cool 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
Don’t overfill the empanadas to prevent bursting.
Let the beef filling cool before stuffing the dough.
Brush egg wash generously for a golden crust.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 empanada
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 390
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 11
- Cholesterol: 45
Keywords: empanadas, beef empanadas, easy dinner, quick meal, freezer-friendly snack, food ideas