Description
Beef & Cheese Empanadas are golden, flaky pastries filled with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese. Perfect for snacks, appetizers, or a main course, these empanadas can be baked or fried for a crispy, flavorful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, chilled and diced
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
For the Filling:
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt.
- Add diced butter and mix until the texture resembles coarse crumbs.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, water, and vinegar.
- Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until the dough forms.
- Knead lightly, form into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Make the Filling:
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add onion and garlic, cooking until softened.
- Stir in cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Add tomato sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Mix in cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
- Assemble the Empanadas:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) or heat oil for frying.
- Roll out chilled dough on a floured surface to ⅛-inch thickness.
- Cut out 4-5 inch circles using a round cutter.
- Place 1-2 tablespoons of filling in each circle.
- Fold into a half-moon shape and seal edges with a fork.
- Brush with egg wash if baking.
- Cooking Methods:
- Baking: Place on a lined baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- Frying: Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry for 2-3 minutes per side until crispy and golden. Drain on paper towels.
Notes
- Variations: Add diced jalapeños, bell peppers, or corn for extra flavor.
- Storage: Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze uncooked empanadas for future use.
- Reheating: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 minutes or air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course
- Method: Baking, Frying
- Cuisine: latin american
Keywords: beef empanadas, cheese empanadas, Latin American cuisine, baked empanadas, crispy empanadas