Air Fryer Empanadas Recipe

Today’s air fryer empanadas recipe introduces a healthier way to make one of the most popular Latin American street foods. It’s also the perfect recipe we’ve crafted for National Empanada Day (April 8). Without using excess oil, the air fryer creates a crispy outside layer while leaving the filling tender and juicy.

Empanadas come in various styles depending on their country of origin. Whether fried or baked, there are endless possibilities for fillings. Either way, this delectable pastry will invoke feelings of comfort and familiarity whenever you have them.

What Are Empanadas?

Empanadas are a Spanish/ Latin American savory pastry turnover made of dough and filled with various ingredients. The filling varies from protein to vegetables which are seasoned well before being baked or fried to golden brown perfection.

Is Our Recipe Healthy?

Our air fryer empanadas are relatively healthy.

First, air frying, in comparison to deep-frying, significantly reduces the calories and saturated fat intake. This is a great health benefit as there is ample vidence that consuming too much oily food causes health problems like stomach pain, weight gain, and diabetes.

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Furthermore, the main nutritional content of our air fryer empanadas recipe is carefully calculated, accounting for calories, sodium, and saturated fat. As a result, this recipe makes a wholesome, fulfilling meal with a nutritional value that is in line with the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines.

If you happen to be looking for another healthy turnover recipe, check out our calzone  and these homemade air fryer pizza rolls. This Italian pastry is best served hot with salad for a light lunch or dinner.

Ingredients You'll Need

Different cultures put their own spin empanadas; thus, the ingredients list varies from country to country. However, there are a few unifying elements that every tasty empanada includes:

• Protein: Beef is the most common meat used for empanadas filling, but you can also substitute it for other types. Note that if you use chicken or turkey for the filling, you may need to add some extra olive oil and seasoning to keep the dish from being dry and bland.
• Vegetables: You can go with any vegetables your heart desires. Onion and carrot give a sense of sweetness, while pulses like beans and peas offer a great dose of healthy carbohydrates.
• Spices and Seasoning: The meat and vegetables are seasoned with salt, pepper, and herbs to give them the ultimate, savory flavor.
• Dough: This comes down to personal preference. Besides the original empanada dough, the dish can also be made with pie, pizza, or bread dough.

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What Kind of Dough Is Used for this Recipe?

You may notice that the classic empanada dough has quite similar ingredients to pie crust: flour, butter, salt, egg, and water. The dough is made by adding butter, rolling it out, and folding it over repeatedly.

Once baked, this creates thin layers sandwiched with melted butter, resulting in flaky, melt-in-mouth puff pastry. 

If you don’t have enough time to make empanada dough at home, here are some alternatives that can be bought at the local supermarket:

• Pre-Rolled Pie Crust: This variety is one of the most common options for empanada dough. Note that it might turn out a bit sweeter than the original pastry pockets.
• Crescent Rolls: You can press and roll them out until they reach the desired thickness level.
• Empanada Dough Discs: The good news is that there is no need to seek out specialty stores; empanada wrappers can easily be found in most frozen food aisles. The store-bought versions are already made into a round shape and come ready to cook, saving you the time and hassle of making them yourself.

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How to Store and Reheat Empanadas

1. Store

Leftover empanadas should be kept in an airtight container or a Ziplock bag and placed in the refrigerator for up to 4 – 5 days. Cooked empanadas can also be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months. And there is no need to thaw them before cooking, they can go right from the freezer into the oven.

2. Reheat

Air fryer empanadas can be reheated either in an air fryer or in the oven. To do so, place the pastry on a baking sheet for a few minutes until warmed through and crisp again on the outside.

Check out our healthy air fryer dinner roundup for more delicious tasty recipes.

What to Serve with Empanadas

You can find many types of empanadas from different countries around the world. Some empanadas come in small sizes and are great as appetizers or snacks. Many countries in Latin America have a bigger version that can be served as the main dish.

We prefer to side empanadas with pico de gallo and orange pineapple juice. Pico de gallo is full of fresh and juicy bites that add to the nutritional value as well as the taste. The juice rounds it all off and refreshes your palate, getting it ready for the next bite.

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Satisfy Your Cravings with These Mouth-Watering Beef Finger Foods

Hosting a party or need an easy appetizer? Try our cocktail meatballs recipe! These savory bites are made with ground beef, breadcrumbs, and a tangy sauce that's sure to please any palate. Serve with toothpicks for easy snacking.

This recipe for beef quesadillas is a cheesy, flavorful way to enjoy leftover beef. The meat is combined with sautéed onions and peppers, then sandwiched between two tortillas with plenty of melted cheese. Serve with salsa and sour cream for a delicious meal or snack.

For those who adore beef finger food recipes that are equally scrumptious, peruse our collection for more delectable options.

Air Fryer Empanadas

5 from 1 vote

If you want to have a healthier version of classic empanadas, look no further than this air fryer empanadas recipe. The pastry, packed with freshly made beef filling, comes with no extra grease.

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• cook TIME 25 mins
• prep TIME 20 mins
• total TIME 45 mins

• COURSE Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
• CUISINE Latin American
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 452 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 6 oz 85% lean ground beef
• 8 oz puff pastry dough
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 3 oz onion (chopped)
• 2 oz celery (chopped)
• 3 oz carrot (chopped)
• 4 oz frozen peas (thawed)
• 4 oz unsalted dark red kidney beans
• 1 tsp garlic (chopped)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 cup homemade tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp unsalted chicken broth
• 2 tbsp basil

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

Make the filling:

1

Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in 3 oz onion and 1 tsp garlic and sauté until soft and fragrant (about 1 minute)

2

Add in 2 oz celery and 3 oz carrot, stir fry for another 2 minutes. Then add 6 oz ground beef to the skillet and cook until no longer pink, 1 minute.

3

Add 4 oz peas, 4 oz kidney beans, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp thyme, 1/4 tsp paprika and season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Stir fry for an additional 2 minutes.

4

Set aside and let cool.

Assemble:

1

Divide 8 oz dough into 8 equal parts.

2

Roll each piece of dough on a lightly floured surface until you have a circle of 5 inch in diameter, depending on how big you want it to be .

3

Add the meat filling to the center of each pastry. Fold the dough over to enclose the filling.

4

Use a fork to press and seal the edges closed.

5

Brush each empanada with egg wash until coated.

6

Poke a small hole in the surface of the empanada so that the moisture can escape while baking.

Bake:

1

Place empanadas in the air fryer’s basket, cook at 360°F for 10 minutes. Flip empanadas and continue cooking for another 3 minutes. Then remove from the air fryer.

Make the sauce:

1

In a saucepan, cook 1/2 cup tomato sauce over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp chicken broth and bring to the boil. Remove from heat.

2

Blend the sauce with a hand blender until smooth. Garnish with 2 tbsp basil.

Serve:

1

Serve empanadas hot with tomato sauce for dipping.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Empanadas

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 452Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g

42%

Saturated Fat 11g

69%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 77mg

26%

Sodium 435mg

19%

Potassium 450mg

13%

Carbohydrate 38g

13%

Fiber 5g

21%

Sugar 6g

7%

Protein 16g

32%

Vitamin A 4901IU

98%

Vitamin C 17mg

21%

Calcium 54mg

5%

Iron 3mg

17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.