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Recipe: Easy empanadas

These are fantastic for a easy quick dinner at home or for an appetizer for a party!

Posted Updated

By
Susan Caldwell of Lil' Chef

What’s an empanada? Empanadas are baked or fried turnovers that are made with pastry dough and stuffed with endless combinations of meat and/or vegetables or fruit.

They’re named after the Spanish verb empanar, which means to coat or wrap in bread. Typically, empanadas are usually shaped like half-moons and range in size from bite-sized to family-sized. Have your children help you in the kitchen stuff these and cut them out with various cookie cutters!

These are fantastic for a easy quick dinner at home or for an appetizer for a party!

Easy empanadas
Ingredients
  • 3 cups chopped, cooked chicken
  • 1 (8-ounce) package shredded cheese blend
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
  • Water
Directions
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Lightly grease a baking sheet. In a large bowl, combine the chicken and next 7 ingredients. Unroll 1 pie crust onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 15-inch circle. Cut out rounds, using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Re-roll dough as needed. Repeat procedure with remaining pie crusts, making 12 to 15 circles total.
  • Arrange 1 round on a clean, flat surface. Lightly brush the edges of crust with water. Place 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken mixture in the center of the round. Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining rounds and chicken mixture. (Up to this point, the recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 1 month).
  • Arrange empanadas on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
Susan is a Raleigh mom of two and owner of Lil' Chef, a cooking studio for kids and teens in Raleigh's North Hills. She regularly offers recipes on Go Ask Mom. Find recipes here every Friday.

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