Air Fryer Empanadas
Air fryer empanadas bake up flaky and golden in about 12 minutes, with a seasoned filling that stays juicy inside. This recipe uses store-bought dough rounds and a simple spiced beef filling, so you can fold eight empanadas in half an hour. It also gives times for frozen, chicken and mini empanadas, and the fixes for leaks and pale crust.
- Temperature
- 370°F190 °C
- Total time
- 54min
- Prep time
- 30min
- Servings
- 4
- Internal temp
- 160°F71 °C
- Per serving
- 500kcal
Why the air fryer works for empanadas
An empanada is a filled pastry, and the pastry is the part that decides whether it is good or not. In the oven, empanadas can bake slowly and end up pale and tough, and frying in oil makes them greasy. The air fryer sits in between. Hot air circulates around the pastry from every direction, so the egg wash browns, the dough turns flaky and the sealed edge crisps without a pot of oil.
The filling in this recipe is cooked before it goes into the dough, which keeps the cooking time short and the dough dry on the inside. The dough then only needs enough time to bake and the filling to come back up to a safe temperature, 160 °F for ground beef.
How to make empanadas in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Cook the filling Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, add the onion and cook for . Add the garlic and ground beef and cook for , breaking up the meat, until no pink remains. Stir in the cumin, paprika, salt, olives and raisins, then cool for at least . A warm filling softens the dough.
- Fill Place about 2 tbsp of filling and 2 tbsp of cheese on one half of each dough round. Do not overfill. Brush the edge with egg wash, fold the dough over and press the edges together.
- Seal Crimp the edge with the tines of a fork, pressing firmly so the seam is sealed. Brush the tops with egg wash and cut two tiny slits so steam can escape.
- Preheat and cook Preheat the air fryer to 370 °F for . Place 4 empanadas in the basket in a single layer and cook for , flipping carefully after , until deep golden. Repeat with the second batch.
- Check and cool The filling should be hot, at least 160 °F in the center for beef. Let the empanadas rest for before serving, because the filling is very hot.
Times and temperatures
| Air Fryer Empanadas | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade beef empanadasFlip after 6 min | 370 °F (190 °C) | 12 min |
| Mini empanadas | 370 °F (190 °C) | 8–9 min |
| Frozen, store-boughtNo thawing, flip once | 360 °F (180 °C) | 14–16 min |
| Pie crust rounds | 360 °F (180 °C) | 12–14 min |
| Reheat | 350 °F (180 °C) | 4–5 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size and wattage of your air fryer. Done at 160 °F (71 °C) in the center. See also air fryer cooking times for all foods.
Tips
- Cool the filling. Warm filling melts the dough and makes folding messy. Ten minutes on the counter is enough.
- Keep the filling dry. Drain any extra fat from the beef and avoid watery ingredients. Wet fillings steam the dough from the inside.
- Use a fork, not just your fingers. Pressing the tines along the edge seals it much better, and the fork pattern holds up in the hot air.
What to serve with empanadas
Serve empanadas as a main with a green salad, rice and black beans, or as a snack with salsa, guacamole and a squeeze of lime. For a larger spread, add nachos or corn on the cob and something cold such as coleslaw or pico de gallo.
Storing and reheating
Cooked empanadas keep for 3 to 4 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Unbaked, folded empanadas freeze on a tray and then in a bag for up to 2 months; cook them straight from the freezer for 14–16 minutes at 360 °F. Reheat cooked empanadas in the air fryer at 350 °F for 4–5 minutes until crisp and 165 °F in the center.
Variations
- Chicken empanadas: Use cooked, shredded chicken with onion, cumin and a little shredded cheese. The center must be 165 °F.
- Cheese empanadas: Fill with shredded mozzarella and a little cooked spinach or ham, and cook for 10–11 minutes.
- Sweet empanadas: Fill with apple pie filling and cinnamon, brush with butter and dust with powdered sugar after cooking.
- Mini empanadas: Cut smaller rounds with a cookie cutter and use 2 teaspoons of filling. Cook for 8–9 minutes.
If it does not turn out right
- The empanadas leak in the basket
- The seam was wet or the filling too full. Use no more than 2 tbsp filling, keep the edge clean and press it with a fork twice.
- The crust is pale
- Skipping the egg wash gives a dull color. Brush on the beaten egg and make sure the empanadas are not touching.
- The dough cracks while folding
- Thaw store-bought rounds fully in the refrigerator and keep unused ones covered, so the edges stay soft.
Questions and answers
How long do you cook empanadas in the air fryer?
Fresh homemade empanadas take 12 minutes at 370 °F, flipped halfway. Mini empanadas need 8–9 minutes, and thick or double-filled ones need 14–15 minutes.
How do you cook frozen empanadas in the air fryer?
Cook store-bought frozen empanadas at 360 °F for 14–16 minutes without thawing, flipping once. They should be golden and hot, with a center of 165 °F.
Can I use puff pastry or pie crust?
Yes. Cut pie crust into 5-inch rounds and cook at 360 °F for 12–14 minutes. Puff pastry cooks at 375 °F for 10–12 minutes and puffs higher than the dough rounds.
How do I reheat empanadas in the air fryer?
Heat at 350 °F for 4–5 minutes, until crisp and hot throughout.
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