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Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

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.

Air fryer beef empanadas on a plate.

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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!

A top-down image of air fryer beef empanadas on a plate.

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.

A top-down shot of beef empanadas on a plate.

 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
Labeled ingredients.

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

  1. Finely chop the beef.
  2. Mix the beef, shredded cheese, shredded potato, refried beans, chopped onion, and seasonings in a bowl.
  3. Lay the dough on a lightly floured flat surface.
  4. Cut rounds of dough with a 2-3 inch round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter. You should have about 30 discs.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Preheat the air fryer to 375-F.
  8. 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.
  9. 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

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Air fryer beef empanadas on a plate.
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4.73 from 51 votes

Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

Light, flaky, and filled with a beefy and cheesy filling, these air fryer Beef Empanadas are made with pre-made pastry to cut prep time!
Course Appetizers
Cuisine American, Mexican, Tex-Mex
Keyword air fryer, air fryer beef empanadas, beef, beef empanadas, empanadas
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 36 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 203kcal
Author Chef Jenn

Equipment

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

Serving: 4empanadas | Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 384mg | Potassium: 419mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 2mg

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.

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7 thoughts on “Air Fryer Beef Empanadas”

  1. 5 stars
    Empanadas are so yummy! This was my first time making them at home, and the pie crust made them fast and easy to make. We substituted black beans for the shredded beef (due to a food allergy) and they were perfect!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    One of my all time favorite dishes-empanadas! It was a nice surprise that you can make them in an air-fryer. The filling was good and it turned out flaky as well.

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    I pre-made these for a party and froze them. On the day, we just stuck them in the air fryer like you suggested and they came out perfect. THank you for this tip!

    Reply
  4. 5 stars
    This is a great savory use for pie crust. Thanks for the tips on how to freeze them, made a big batch and did just that for an easy dinner down the road.

    Reply
4.73 from 51 votes (45 ratings without comment)

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