Air fryer empanadas are the answer to 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!
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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 left over so I can make these again without having to remake all the meat.
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 with this empanada air fryer recipe?
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.
Ingredients
These air-fried empanadas have-
- Pre-made pie crust. Makes for golden and flaky empanada dough.
- Cooked ground beef with seasonings like garlic and chili powder, black pepper, and cumin. The simplest filling with the perfect amount of spice.
- Shredded cheddar jack cheese.
- Spray olive oil for making the pie crust extra crispy and browned on top.
- Chunky salsa and sour cream for serving.
Visit YouTube for a video of how to make these Air Fryer Empanadas
How to make empanadas in the air fryer step-by-step
Start by browning the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. 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.
The key to making this empanada recipe is to KEEP IT COOL.
Make sure that the ground beef has cooled completely before using it to stuff the pie crust circles. Roll out one sheet of pie crust at a time, keep the other one in the refrigerator, and only remove it when you are ready to cut the circles out.
When the beef has cooled, remove one of the pie crusts from the refrigerator to start cutting out the circles.
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.
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 olive 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).
*Be sure to check your manufacturer guide for your type of air fryer to make sure that you can use spray oils on the coating.
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 air fry for 1 more minute.
Remove the empanadas from the basket and continue the process until they are all made, which should take about 3-4 times.
Keep the already-made ones warm in the oven or eat them as you make them!
FAQs
Can you use homemade pie crust in this recipe?
Of course! Try this pie crust recipe from Live Well Bake Often.
I didn’t use all of the ground beef, what should I do?
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.
Tips & Variations
- Replace the ground beef with shredded chicken.
- Meatless Monday? Replace the meat with refried beans.
- Make sure to cool the ground beef completely before using it in this recipe. If you don’t the dough will stretch and cause holes.
- Keep one roll of dough in the refrigerator while you make the first batch. It’s important to keep the dough cold so it is easier to work with.
- If there is leftover ground beef, check the notes in the post to see how to freeze it for later.
- Before using spray olive oil in the air fryer, make sure to check your manufacturer’s directions to see if you can use it. Don’t want to damage your air fryer.
Storage
Add the remaining empanadas to a covered container and refrigerate. Eat within 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 3 minutes at 375 degrees.
Frozen empanadas in the air fryer
To freeze, cook and then add to a Ziploc bag in a single layer and freeze. Air fry from frozen at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Flip and brush the tops with butter or egg wash, then cook for 6 minutes more. Check the center as times may vary depending on how full they are.
More air fryer recipes
Serve these with sour cream and salsa. And here you are……
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
Air Fryer Empanadas
Equipment
- glass or biscuit cutter
- air fryer
- tongs
Ingredients
- 1 pounds ground beef I used 80/20
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powders
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 2 9-inch pie crusts
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
- olive oil spray
- chunky salsa for serving
- sour cream for serving
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.1 pounds ground beef, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon chili powders, 1/4 teaspoon 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 and start cutting out the circles.
- On a piece of wax or parchment paper, roll the pie crust out onto it.2 9-inch pie crusts
- 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.1/2 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
- Pinch the edges then fold the edges over. Crimp the folded edges with a fork.
- Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with spray olive oil. Add the prepared empanadas to the basket. Spray the tops with additional oil or brush with melted butter.olive oil spray
- 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 2 more minutes
- Remove the empanadas from the basket and continue the process until they are all made, which should take about 3-4 times. Keep the pre-made ones warm in the oven or eat them as you make them!
- Serve these with sour cream and salsa. Enjoy!chunky salsa, sour cream
Video
Notes
Tips for making this recipe:
- Make sure to cool the ground beef completely before using it in this recipe.
- Keep one roll of dough in the refrigerator while you make the first batch.
- Check your manufacturer's directions to see if you can use the olive oil spray, you don't want to damage your air fryer.
- To store: add to a covered container and refrigerate. Reheat in the oven or air fryer. See instructions for freezing in the post.
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Last Updated on March 24, 2023 by Erin@BottomLeftoftheMitten
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!
I was only able to put a spoonful of filling in them. And I can’t seem to get them to seal. So they were ugly but still tasted really good. Lol
Hi Angela! I’m really glad you guys enjoyed them, regardless of the final presentation. I know that I had the most luck with the dough when I completely cooled the beef before filling them.