Flaky, buttery pre-made pie crust is filled with a mouthwatering mix of shredded beef, cheddar, shredded potato, onion, and refried beans to make irresistibly-crispy air fryer beef empanadas! So easy and so delicious, they make fantastic finger food, perfect for appetizers or a full meal.
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Empanadas are a traditional Latin American, Spanish, and Southern European dish that’s gaining popularity. And once you try a bite, you’ll see why! With this recipe for air fryer Beef Empanadas, you can skip all the hassles of deep-frying and still enjoy savory golden turnovers packed with mouthwatering filling.
I love working with premade pie crust. It tastes just about as good as any homemade pie crust and drastically reduces prep time. Meanwhile, the filling is made with shredded beef, sharp cheddar, shredded potato, onions, and refried beans for guaranteed savory goodness in every bite!
Airfryer empanadas make amazing finger food. You can serve them as an appetizer with plenty of dipping sauces or load up a few more on your plate for a hearty, satisfying meal. Best of all, they can be ready to serve in about 30 minutes! Ready to see how it’s done? Let’s get cooking!
What you’ll love about Air fryer Beef Empanadas
- They have authentic flavor with not much work!
- Flaky, savory, cheesy – these empanadas have it all!
- Makes about 30 empanadas — great for parties or potlucks!
- The buttery dough packed with hearty filling is crazy good.
- They can be made ahead and kept covered in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
What are empanadas?
Empanadas are turnovers made from pastry and filling that can either be baked or fried to golden perfection. We get the name from the Spanish word “empanar,” which means “to wrap or coat in bread.” Empanadas are filled with everything from ham and cheese to veggie medleys to sweet varieties filled with dulce de leche. However, beef is one of the most popular fillings.
INGREDIENTS
- Cooked beef — See my suggestions below.
- Shredded sharp cheese — You can also switch up the cheese if you like.
- Shredded potato — If you’re shredding your own potato, make sure to squeeze out as much water as possible.
- Refried beans
- Onion — Finely chopped.
- Seasoning — Chipotle powder, salt, and pepper add just the right flavor.
- Prepared pie dough — Thawed.
- Egg
What kind of beef should you use for this air fryer empanada recipe?
You can use any kind of leftover beef for this recipe. I usually use leftover smoked beef or roast beef. If you’re looking for an easy way to cook a pot-roast cut of beef, I highly recommend my slow cooker birria de res recipe. You could also use ground beef in your empanadas, but be sure to drain all the excess fat, so your empanadas won’t be soggy.
HOW TO MAKE EMPANADAS IN THE AIR FRYER
- Finely chop the beef.
- Mix the beef, shredded cheese, shredded potato, refried beans, chopped onion, and seasonings in a bowl.
- Lay the dough on a lightly floured flat surface.
- Cut rounds of dough with a 2-3 inch round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter. You should have about 30 discs.
- Add filling to half of each disc of dough, leaving room around the edges, so you’re able to seal the empanadas. Take care not to overfill.
- Fold the other half of the dough over the filling, creating a half-moon shape. Press the edges with your fingers or a fork to seal.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375-F.
- Beat an egg, then brush the top of each empanada with a thin layer of egg.Transfer the empanadas to the air fryer egg-side up and air fryer for 8 minutes, then flip them.
- Alternatively, you can bake the empanadas on an air fryer rack in an oven-style or basket-style air fryer. Note: basket style can take 1-2 minutes less time.
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- You can make the empanadas and then freeze them before cooking. Then, just pop the frozen empanadas into the air fryer and add 2-3 minutes of cooking time.
- All air fryers cook at different speeds. Check on your empanadas after about 6 minutes and adjust the cooking time as needed. Don’t overcook them!
- Like your empanadas spicier? Add finely chopped jalapeno or more chipotle powder to the mix.
- Cook your empanadas in batches, so you don’t overcrowd the air fryer.
Recommended
Serving Suggestions
With their Spanish and Latin-American flavors, air fryer empanadas pair well with so many fun sides! For an extra burst of flavor, try dipping them in Roasted Tomatillo Salsa, Creamy Jalapeno Dip, or Pico de Gallo. If you’re creating an appetizer spread, you can’t go wrong serving Smoked Queso or Artichoke Jalapeno Dip with your empanadas. To turn these into a full meal, try serving them alongside Cream of Jalapeno Soup or Smoked Chicken Tortilla Soup.
Storage
Store any leftover empanadas in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze them. To reheat, I recommend popping them back in the air fryer at 375-F for 2-3 minutes to get them nice and hot again.
Step By Step Process
Air Fryer Beef Empanadas
Equipment
- 2-3 inch biscuit cutter
Ingredients
- pie dough enough for 2 pies
- 3 cups chopped beef leftover roast works well
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 cup shredded potatoes
- 1 cup refried beans
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onions
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Mix the beef, shredded cheese, shredded potato, refried beans, chopped onion, and seasonings in a bowl.
- Lay the dough on a lightly floured flat surface.
- Cut rounds of dough with a 2-3 inch round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter. You should have about 30 discs.
- Add filling to half of each disc of dough, leaving room around the edges, so you’re able to seal the empanadas. Take care not to overfill.
- Fold the other half of the dough over the filling, creating a half-moon shape. Press the edges with your fingers or a fork to seal.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375-F.
- Beat an egg, then brush the top of each empanada with a thin layer of egg.
- Transfer the empanadas to the air fryer egg-side up and air fry for 8 minutes, then flip them. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes or until they're golden brown.
- Alternatively, you can bake the empanadas on an air fryer rack in an oven-style or basket-style air fryer. Note: basket style can take 1-2 minutes less time.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- You can make the empanadas and then freeze them before cooking. Then, just pop the frozen empanadas into the air fryer and add 2-3 minutes of cooking time.
- All air fryers cook at different speeds. Check on your empanadas after about 6 minutes and adjust the cooking time as needed. Don’t overcook them!
- Like your empanadas spicier? Add finely chopped jalapeno or more chipotle powder to the mix.
- Cook your empanadas in batches, so you don’t overcrowd the air fryer.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
