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Air Fryer Empanadas

March 6, 2020 by [email protected] 12 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

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!

overhead shot of airfryer empanadas with sour cream and salsa for dipping.
Jump to:
  • What movie pairs well with air fryer empanadas?
  • What beer pairs with with this empanada air fryer recipe?
  • Ingredients
  • How to make empanadas in the air fryer
  • FAQ’s & Tips
  • Variations
  • More air fryer recipes
  • Air Fryer Empanadas
side shot of air fryer ground beef empanadas and a craft beer pairing.

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.

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.

overhead shot of a hand holding beef hand pies with dipping sauces.

What beer pairs with 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.

zoomed in side shot of ground beef air fryer empanadas on wax paper.

Ingredients

These air fried empanadas have-

  • Pre-made pie crust
  • Cooked ground beef with seasonings like garlic and chili powder, black pepper, and cumin
  • 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

How to make empanadas in the air fryer

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.

zoomed in shot of seasoned ground beef in a bowl.

The key to making this empanadas 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.

collage of images for making empanadas with pie crust with descriptive text overlay.

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.

collage of images for making ground beef meat pies with descriptive text overlay.

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.

An air fryer basket with empanadas in it.

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, should take about 3-4 times. Keep the already made ones warm in the oven or eat as you make them!

FAQ’s & Tips

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.

Variations

  • Replace the ground beef with shredded chicken
  • Meatless Monday? Replace the meat with refried beans

More air fryer recipes

  • Air Fryer Rosemary Cashews
  • Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes
  • Air Fryer Loaded Waffle Fries

Serve these with sour cream and salsa. And here you are……

collage of empanadas air fryer with descriptive text overlay.

From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!

overhead shot of airfryer empanadas with sour cream and salsa for dipping.

Air Fryer Empanadas

Air Fryer Empanadas are made with flaky pie crust, savory beef filling, and cheese. Make them right in the air fryer for snack time or anytime.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: air fryer recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 24 minutes
Total Time: 39 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

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, 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!
    chunky salsa, sour cream

Notes

Tips for making this recipe:

  • 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 notes in the post to see how to freeze 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.
Tried this recipe?Mention @mittenmommy or tag #mittenmovienight!

*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.

Last Updated on April 29, 2022 by [email protected]

Filed Under: Air Fryer Recipes, Blonde Ale Recipe Pairings, Mitten Meals Tagged With: blonde ale

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kacey Perez

    March 27, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    Empanadas are one of my absolute favorite things to eat! Can’t wait to try this!

    Reply
    • [email protected]

      March 28, 2020 at 2:09 pm

      I hope you like them, Kacey!

      Reply
  2. Leslie

    March 27, 2020 at 8:55 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • [email protected]

      March 28, 2020 at 2:10 pm

      Yes you should get an air fryer ASAP, they are so useful in the kitchen!

      Reply
  3. Cheese Curd In Paradise

    March 27, 2020 at 10:15 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • [email protected]

      March 28, 2020 at 2:10 pm

      Thank you, I hope you like them!

      Reply
  4. Thandi L

    November 12, 2020 at 6:19 pm

    5 stars
    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

    Reply
    • [email protected]

      November 18, 2020 at 1:08 pm

      Thank you so much, Thandi! I’m so happy you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  5. Johnny

    March 28, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    Can I use empanada dough in the air fryer?

    Reply
    • [email protected]

      March 28, 2021 at 7:57 pm

      Yes! I would just reduce the heat to 325 degrees and check at 6 minutes. Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Angela Smith

    September 24, 2021 at 12:50 am

    5 stars
    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

    Reply
    • [email protected]

      September 25, 2021 at 9:17 am

      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.

      Reply

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