Description
This Air Fryer Empanadas recipe features a delicious savory filling of seasoned ground beef, potatoes, and vegetables wrapped in flaky premade pie crusts. Cooked quickly in the air fryer, these empanadas have a crispy exterior and flavorful inside, perfect for a snack, appetizer, or main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 4 ounces diced potato
- ½ pound lean ground beef
- ⅓ cup yellow onion, minced
- ½ red bell pepper, finely diced
- ⅓ cup frozen peas
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup beef broth
Dough and Egg Wash
- 2 premade pie crusts
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: Boil 4 ounces diced potato until they are fork-tender. Drain and set aside.
- Cook Filling: In a large frying pan, sauté ½ pound lean ground beef and ⅓ cup yellow onion until the beef is evenly browned. Add ½ red bell pepper and ⅓ cup frozen peas, sautéing another 7 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon chili powder, cooked potatoes, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, and ¼ cup beef broth. Cook and stir until liquid reduces. Remove from heat.
- Prepare Dough Circles: Roll out the 2 premade pie crusts. Using a 4-inch cookie cutter or cup, cut out at least 10 circles from the dough, rerolling scraps as needed.
- Make Egg Wash: Whisk together 2 egg whites and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl.
- Assemble Empanadas: Place a dough circle on a work surface, add about 2 tablespoons of filling in the center, then brush the edge of one side with egg wash. Fold the dough over to form a half-circle and crimp edges with a fork. Repeat for remaining dough and filling.
- Air Fry Empanadas: Brush each empanada with egg wash. Arrange empanadas in the air fryer basket with space between them. Air fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook in batches as needed.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef for a lighter option.
- If you don't have premade pie crusts, refrigerated puff pastry can be used as an alternative.
- Make sure not to overfill the empanadas to prevent leaking during cooking.
- Use a silicone brush for even application of egg wash.
- Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce such as chimichurri or salsa.
- Leftover empanadas can be refrigerated and reheated in the air fryer for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 empanada
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
