20 Empanada Recipes (Savory and Dessert Empanadas)
on Oct 11, 2022, Updated Nov 02, 2023
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Looking for delicious finger food that kids and adults will enjoy? Say hello to our favorite empanada recipes! These Latin American pastries are popular for good reason.
Their fillings can range from savory to sweet, and they are the perfect snack for parties, potlucks, lunch boxes, or a rainy day.
Try these 22 empanada recipes to find your favorite version of these delicate dough-wrapped parcels. Sweet or savory, spicy or mild – you decide.
What is An Empanada?
An empanada is a handheld turnover consisting of pastry and filling that is either baked or fried. The name comes from the Spanish word, ‘empanar’, meaning ‘breaded’, and it is a popular item in Spanish, southern European, Latin American, and Iberian-influenced cultures.
Is Empanada Dough The Same As Pie Dough?
While you can certainly use frozen pie dough as a substitute, empanada dough is actually less flaky and will hold a filling without becoming soggy. Best of all, the dough works well for both fried and baked empanadas.
Best Empanada Recipes
Chicken Empanadas
These Argentine-inspired chicken and veggie pockets are a party food that all of your guests will love. Buttery pastry encases shredded chicken, onions, peppers and garlic to create a delicious savory snack – what more could you want?
Beef Empanadas
Treat your friends and family to these tasty meat pies at the next game-day gathering. The only danger is that you might run out before the game is over!
How To Make Empanadas
This thorough and straightforward recipe gives you a step-by-step formula for making faultless empanadas. Whether you make the dough by hand or use a mixer, you’ll get perfect meat pockets every time.
Colombian Empanadas
Empanada recipes will vary from country to country and from region to region. With their vibrant yellow shell, these Colombian empanadas are made with precooked corn flour and filled with ground meat, potatoes, vegetables and spices.
Empanadas Dough Recipe
Making empanadas from scratch might sound daunting, but it’s much easier than you think. With this tutorial, you’ll learn how to whip up your own dough using just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes of prep work, and we’ll show you how to fold them, too.
Crab Empanadas
You’ll find these tasty pies sold by vendors along the Gulf Coast of Mexico. We can’t take you to the beach, but after one bite of these crab empanadas, you’ll definitely feel like you’re at the sea. Wash them down with an ice-cold cocktail or beer!
Argentinian Empanadas
Create these authentic Argentinian empanadas the next time you need finger food or snacks. The recipe is so easy to follow, and the savory filling is enough to impress even the toughest food critic.
Air Fryer Empanadas
A healthier alternative to deep frying, these air fryer empanadas are made with ground beef, peppers, and onion. The buttery, flaky pastry is ready to roll in minutes and the air fryer does the rest.
Apple Empanadas
You’ll want these apple empanadas for dessert every weekend after you’ve tried them! Then again, they’ll go down just as easily for breakfast or a quick snack! They’re delicious on their own, but they’ll be just as good with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.
Baked Empanadas
The filling inside these Argentine-style empanadas is so good that you could eat it over cauliflower rice for dinner. However, when you want the comfort of these buttery, flaky pies, we definitely recommend making and baking the dough.
Cheese Empanadas
These cheese empanadas are based on a popular street food in Ecuador known as ‘Empanadas de Viento’. The fried cheese turnovers are stuffed with mild white melting cheese and sliced scallions, enclosed in dough, sealed, and sprinkled with sugar. Now you can enjoy them in your own home.
Black Bean Vegan Empanadas
These vegan empanadas substitute meat and cheese with black beans and traditional pie dough with puff pastry. The dough still turns out flaky but doesn’t require frying. Genius!
Shrimp Empanadas
What makes this recipe different? The empanada dough is made from plantains, which are widely used in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. They make a tasty crust for these empanadas which have a strong Spanish influence, featuring olives, onions, garlic, tomato, olive oil and chile.
Pumpkin Empanadas
These pumpkin hand pies are the perfect dish to take along to any fall potluck, party or gathering. Filled with a simple spiced pumpkin filling, the pastry pockets are baked to flaky golden brown perfection.
Vegetarian Empanadas
Make a large batch of these crowd-pleasing vegetarian empanadas as a tasty appetizer or moreish after-school snack. They include black beans, corn, potatoes, veggies, and plenty of fragrant spices for a healthy and satisfying bite.
S’mores Empanadas
Light and flaky with just a hint of sweetness, these s’mores empanadas are a delightful dessert version of the popular Mexican snack. This recipe uses mini marshmallows and chocolate chips, but you can create your own variation using anything from leftover Halloween candy to pie fillings and Nutella.
Fish Empanadas
These fish empanadas are fragrant and flavorful with a delicious filling of fish, green peas, chickpeas and garam masala. You can use canned salmon or tuna in a pinch, but you’ll get the best flavor from fresh fish.
Spinach And Potato Empanadas
These vegan-friendly spinach and potato empanadas are packed with flavor from fresh spinach, sweet potatoes, and coconut curried chickpeas. We’re pretty sure these will go down well with meat-lovers, too!
Chorizo Empanadas
Empanadas filled with chorizo and cheesy goodness? Yes, please! The filling for these savory turnovers comes from a Mexican appetizer called ‘choriqueso’. It’s usually eaten as a dip with tortilla chips or as a filling for corn tortillas. You’re about to enjoy it as a mouthwatering filling for empanadas – divine!
Strawberry Empanadas
Not sure what to make for your next tea party? We highly recommend these sweet and tangy strawberry empanadas. Delicious buttery and flaky golden pastries are filled with strawberries and freshly baked, then rolled in sugar for a wow-factor treat or lunch box snack. For dessert, simply add cream or ice cream.
Best Empanada Recipe
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup cold water
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Filling
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 medium onions, diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- salt and pepper, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup hot water
Other
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
Empanada Dough:
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a dough blade, combine the flour, salt, and sugar. Slowly add the melted butter, followed by enough water to create a soft and smooth dough.
- Form the dough into a disc and wrap it in plastic. Set aside in the fridge for 1 hour.
Empanada Filling:
- Drizzle the oil in a large pan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and caramelized. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until just fragrant.
- Stir in the shredded chicken and season with the paprika, cumin, salt, black pepper, and ground chili. Add the water, bring to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, until most of the water has evaporated, about 20-30 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. At this point, the filling can be refrigerated until the next day if desired.
Bake The Empanadas
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a thin sheet. Use a 4 ¾ inch circular cutter to cut the dough into circles.
- Place about 2 tablespoons of the cooled chicken mixture in the center of each circle. Brush the edges lightly with a little beaten egg and fold the dough over the filling. Press the edges together to seal.
- Use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges or create a rope appearance by slightly pulling out the edge of the dough and folding it over from one end of the empanada to the opposite side.
- Place the empanadas two inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Brush the tops with beaten egg and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
