Description
These Air Fryer Empanadas are a delicious and easy-to-make snack or appetizer featuring a flavorful ground beef and vegetable filling enclosed in flaky pie crusts, cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer. Perfect for a quick meal or party treat.
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 & Finishing
- 2 premade pie crusts
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: Boil 4 ounces diced potatoes until they are fork-tender. Drain and set aside to allow cooling slightly.
- Cook Filling: In a large frying pan over medium heat, sauté ½ pound lean ground beef with ⅓ cup minced yellow onion until the beef is evenly browned. Add ½ red bell pepper and ⅓ cup frozen peas; sauté for another 7 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
- Season Filling: Add 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon chili powder, the cooked potatoes, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, and ¼ cup beef broth to the pan. Stir well to combine and continue to sauté until the liquid has mostly reduced. Remove the mixture from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare Dough Circles: Roll out the 2 premade pie crusts. Using a 4-inch cookie cutter or a similarly sized rimmed cup, cut out circles from the dough. Gather scraps, reroll and cut out additional circles until you have at least 10.
- Make Egg Wash: Whisk together 2 egg whites and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl to create the egg wash.
- Assemble Empanadas: Place one dough circle on your work surface. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the filling into the center. Brush the edge of one side of the dough circle with egg wash. Fold the dough over to form a half-circle and press the edges together, then crimp the edges with a fork for a tight seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
- Air Fry Empanadas: Brush each empanada with the egg wash. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place empanadas in the basket without overcrowding and air fry for 10 minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning. Work in batches if needed, leaving enough space between empanadas.
Notes
- Use premade pie crusts for convenience, but homemade dough can be used for a more authentic texture.
- Ensure the filling is not too wet, as excess moisture can make the dough soggy; cook until liquid reduces adequately.
- If you want a richer crust color, you can brush empanadas with whole beaten egg instead of egg whites before air frying.
- You can customize the filling by adding different vegetables or spices according to taste.
- Let empanadas cool for a few minutes after air frying as the filling can be very hot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 empanada
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
