Yesss—empanadas are pure comfort with a passport 🥟
Here’s a classic, reliable empanada recipe with a savory beef filling, plus easy swaps so you can make it yours.
Classic Beef Empanadas
Dough Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup cold butter, cubed (or lard for traditional flavor)
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup cold water (approx.)
Filling Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- ¼ cup olives, chopped (optional)
- 2 tbsp raisins (optional, very traditional in some regions)
- 2 tbsp oil
For Assembly
- 1 egg, beaten (egg wash)
Instructions
1. Make the dough
- Mix flour and salt.
- Cut in butter until crumbly.
- Add egg and cold water a little at a time.
- Knead just until smooth.
- Wrap and chill 30 minutes.
2. Make the filling
- Heat oil in a skillet.
- Sauté onion until soft, add garlic.
- Add beef and cook until browned.
- Stir in spices, salt, pepper.
- Let cool completely (important!).
3. Assemble
- Roll dough thin (⅛ inch).
- Cut circles (4–5 inches).
- Add 2–3 tbsp filling to center.
- Fold, seal edges with fork or crimp.
4. Cook
- Bake: 400°F (205°C) for 20–25 min, brush with egg wash
or - Fry: 350°F oil, 2–3 min per side until golden
Popular Variations
- 🧀 Cheese empanadas (mozzarella, queso fresco)
- 🍗 Chicken (shredded + paprika + onion)
- 🌽 Corn & cheese
- 🍄 Mushroom & spinach
- 🍎 Sweet dessert empanadas (apple, guava)
Pro Tips
- Cool filling = no soggy dough
- Don’t overfill (tempting, I know)
- Freeze unbaked empanadas for later
If you want, I can tailor this to a specific country style (Argentinian, Colombian, Mexican, Puerto Rican) or make a shortcut version using store-bought dough 😄
