Air Fryer Empanadas are the answer snack time or anytime! Made with flaky pie crust, savory beef filling, and cheese you will find yourself making batch after batch.
There’s nothing better than a great recipe to have in the back of your pocket for nights when you just want some comfort snack foods that don’t take too much effort. Good thing I’ve got this ground beef empanada recipe for just those kinds of nights!
The great thing about this air fryer beef empanada recipe is that you don’t use all of the ground beef for the initial preparation. What I do is freeze the additional beef that’s leftover so I can make these again without having to remake all the meat.
Bonus, you can freeze storebought pie crust. Grab them when they are on sale so when you want to whip these up, the beef and the crust are already in my freezer. I just put both items in the refrigerator to thaw the night before and it’s HELLO snack time the next night!
What movie pairs well with air fryer empanadas?
For this Mitten Movie Night, we are watching The Great Outdoors in honor of the late, great John Candy who passed away 26 years ago this week.
What beer pairs well with flaky pie crust stuffed with ground beef and cheese then dipped in lots of sour cream and salsa?
The beer: Dirty Blonde from Atwater Brewery.
You will see this beer in many of my posts because it just happens to be 1) my favorite, 2) a perfect example of blonde ales because it can literally be paired with any dish.
Do you own an air fryer? If so, check out these other air fryer recipes on the site:
How to make Empanadas in the Air Fryer:
The key to making this empanadas recipe is to KEEP IT COOL.
- Make sure the ground beef has cooled completely before using it.
- Roll out one sheet of pie crust at a time, keep the other one in the refrigerator and only remove when ready to cut the circles out.
Start by browning the ground beef. Cook over medium/high heat on top of the stove. When the beef is halfway cooked, add the garlic powder, black pepper, chili powder, and cumin.
Once the ground beef is cooked all the way through and no longer pink drain the grease from it and add to a bowl. LET IT COOL COMPLETELY.
When the beef has cooled, remove one of the pie crusts from the refrigerator to start cutting out the circles.
On a piece of wax or parchment paper add a small amount of flour and roll the pie crust out onto it.
Using a glass or biscuit cutter cut out 7-8 circles.
There will be remaining dough. Pick it up and roll it together into a ball.
Using the same glass, roll the dough out into a circle again and cut additional circles. I can usually get 11-12 circles of dough out of each crust.
Add the cooled ground beef and shredded cheese onto one half of the pie crust circle. *Any additional ground beef that is leftover put into a freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to a month. To thaw, put in the refrigerator 24 hours before use.
The best way to make sure that they seal and you don’t make a mess of the air fryer basket, pinch the edges then fold the edges over. Crimp the folded edge with a fork.
Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with spray vegetable oil. Add the prepared empanadas to the basket. Spray the tops with additional oil or brush with melted butter (this is my favorite way to make them but spray works well too).
Set the air fryer to 350 degrees and fry for 8 minutes. With a fork, gently flip each one. Spray again with oil or brush with butter and fry for 1 more minute.
Remove the empanadas from the basket and continue the process until they are all made, should take about 3-4 times. Keep the already made ones warm in the oven or eat as you make them!
Serve these with sour cream and salsa. And here you are……
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
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Air Fryer Empanadas
Ingredients
- 1 pounds ground beef I used 80/20
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp chili powders
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 2 9-inch pie crusts
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
- 1 Tbs flour
- chunky salsa for serving
- sour cream for serving
- vegetable oil spray
Instructions
- Start by browning the ground beef. Cook over medium/high heat on top of the stove. When the beef is halfway cooked, add the garlic powder, black pepper, chili powder, and cumin.
- Once the ground beef is cooked all the way through and no longer pink drain the grease from it and add to a bowl. LET IT COOL COMPLETELY.
- When the beef has cooled, remove one of the pie crusts from the refrigerator to start cutting out the circles.
- On a piece of wax or parchment paper add a small amount of flour and roll the pie crust out onto it.
- Using a glass or biscuit cutter cut out 7-8 circles. There will be remaining dough. Pick it up and roll it together into a ball.
- Using the same glass, roll the dough out into a circle again and cut additional circles. I can usually get 11-12 circles of dough out of each crust.
- Add the cooled ground beef and shredded cheese onto one half of the pie crust circle. *Any additional ground beef that is leftover put into a freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to a month. To thaw, put in the refrigerator 24 hours before use.
- The best way to make sure that they seal and you don't make a mess of the air fryer basket, pinch the edges then fold the edges over. Crimp the folded edge with a fork.
- Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with spray vegetable oil. Add the prepared empanadas to the basket. Spray the tops with additional oil or brush with melted butter.
- Set the air fryer to 350 degrees and fry for 8 minutes. With a fork, gently flip each one. Spray again with oil or brush with butter and fry for 1 more minute.
- Remove the empanadas from the basket and continue the process until they are all made, should take about 3-4 times. Keep the already made ones warm in the oven or eat as you make them!
- Serve these with sour cream and salsa. Enjoy!
Empanadas are one of my absolute favorite things to eat! Can’t wait to try this!
I hope you like them, Kacey!
I am totally missing out! I still do not have an air fryer! I need to get one ASAP and try these bc they look SO delish!
Yes you should get an air fryer ASAP, they are so useful in the kitchen!
These are one of my favorite bites, and I have not tried to make them in my air fryer, but your technique looks easy and the steps are perfect for me to follow. I can’t wait to give this a try this weekend!
Thank you, I hope you like them!
I have never crimped crust for anything but pie in my life. But these were so easy and flavorful, I’m ready to experiment with more! I used ground chicken instead of beef because that’s what I had. Absolutely amazing with salsa and sour cream! Thank you
Thank you so much, Thandi! I’m so happy you enjoyed them.
Can I use empanada dough in the air fryer?
Yes! I would just reduce the heat to 325 degrees and check at 6 minutes. Thank you!