Description
These Beef & Cheese Empanadas are savory hand pies filled with a flavorful mixture of seasoned ground beef, onions, garlic, and gooey cheese, all wrapped in a golden, flaky crust. Perfect for snacking or as a main dish, these empanadas are sure to be a hit!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
For the Empanadas:
- 1 package empanada dough discs (or homemade pie dough cut into 5-inch rounds)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cook the Filling: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ground beef, cooking until browned. Season with cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, and tomato sauce. Let cool and mix in shredded cheese.
- Assemble Empanadas: Place beef mixture on each dough disc, fold over, and seal edges. Brush with egg wash.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Serve with sour cream, salsa, or guacamole on the side.
- Freeze assembled, unbaked empanadas for up to 3 months—bake straight from frozen, adding 5–7 minutes to the cook time.
- Use pepper jack cheese for a spicier version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 empanada
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
