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Home » Appetizers

Ground Beef Empanadas

Published: Apr 4, 2023 · Modified: May 18, 2023 by Amira · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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Baked Beef Empanadas, semi-homemade with a juicy filling. Comes together in no time and the first to go in any party. This is how to make empanada filling with a Middle Eastern touch.
Total time 30 minutes
Jump to Recipe

Ground beef empanadas are irresistible little pastry pockets filled with a delicious mixture of meat and seasonings. This succulent ground beef mixture comes together quickly on your stove top. Savory hand held tasty treats that are the perfect appetizer, midday snack or perfect for a potluck as they feed a crowd.

Next time try these delicious Lebanese fatayer.

A top view of a green platter with beef empanadas.

Traditional empanadas use a homemade empanada dough and are fried, but I'm going to show you an easy short cut method of using pie crusts that will result in a flaky and undeniably satisfying homemade empanada that you will want to make again and again.

Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why You'll Love It
  • 📝 Ingredients
  • 🥄 Instructions
  • 💡 Expert Tips
  • ⌛ Make Ahead
  • 🍽️ Serve With
  • 👩‍🍳 Variations
  • 🧺 Storage
  • 💬 FAQs
  • 📣 Related Recipes
  • 🌮 Mexican Style Recipes
  • 🍲 More Ground Beef Recipes
  • Ground Beef empanadas

❤️ Why You'll Love It

  • Easy beef empanadas appetizer.
  • Fun finger food perfect for a game day snack.
  • Super versatile recipe with variation ideas.
  • A perfect picnic lunch idea.
  • Can feed a crowd with these delicious hand held treats.

Ground beef empanadas are just plain good! Each bite provides a delicious taste of comfort and flavor. Homemade empanadas are easy to make and able to stuff with all your favorite fillings for a different treat every time you make them.

📝 Ingredients

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  • Ground beef: You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey. Use your favorite.
  • Onion and garlic : flavor base.
  • Olive oil.
  • Green onions and parsley for some greens.
  • Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is best for flavor, but if it's not your favorite you can leave it out.
  • Smoked paprika, cumin, salt & pepper and tomato sauce for flavoring.
  • Refrigerated pie crusts
  • Egg: Used for an egg wash before baking. This gives the empanadas a nice golden brown color.

🥄 Instructions

A collage of two images showing how to make ground beef filling for the empanada.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in oil. Add beef and cook until no longer pink.
  • Add spices, green onion, parsley, cilantro and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and cook for about 5 minutes.
A collage of four images showing how to fill and bake the beef empanadas.
  • On a lightly floured work surface, unroll one pie crust. Using a cookie cutter, cut out rounds of the crust.
  • Put about 1 Tablespoon of the meat mixture in the center of each circle.
  • Brush the outer edge of the circle with water and then fold over the filling. Seal edges by pressing with a fork.
  • Place on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet and sprayed with oil. Brush top lightly with a beaten egg and bake.

💡 Expert Tips

  • The number of rounds you will get, depends on the size of the cookie cutter you are using. You can make empanadas bite sized like I do or you can make them fit perfectly in the palm of your hand.
  • You can use any meat you want such as ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken.
  • If you don't like cilantro, you can leave it out of the recipe.
  • If the pie crusts are frozen, they should be thawed according to the package directions.

⌛ Make Ahead

  • Homemade empanadas' meat mixture can be made ahead of time. Then wrap and keep in the fridge for up to one day until you are ready to make the empanadas.
  • Fill empanadas and freeze in a single layer until hard then place in freezer bags for up to 3 months.

🍽️ Serve With

  • Serve empanadas with your favorite sides like rice, salad, corn on the cob or roasted veggies.
  • They can be also served with a number of dips and sauces like Chipotle sauce, sour cream sauce, salsa and chimichurri sauce.

👩‍🍳 Variations

  • There are so many ideas for making meat filled empanadas. Really the sky is the limit. You can use traditional fillings or get a little creative by adding beans, cheese or a variety of spices.
  • Add diced sweet bell peppers, mushrooms, corn or potatoes
  • Add diced olives, nuts or raisins.
  • Use a variety of fresh herbs or your favorite spices.

🧺 Storage

  • Leftover empanadas can be wrapped tightly with plastic wrap, place in an airtight container and then refrigerate for up to 3 or 4 days.

💬 FAQs

What is usually in an Empanada?

Traditionally, empanadas are flaky and crusty turnovers with a flavorful filling made with ground meat which is browned with seasonings added. Then you can add your favorite toppings like cheese or favorite herbs as well. The meat mixture is folded into dough and then fried or baked until golden brown.

What kind of dough is used for Empanadas?

I like to take a shortcut and use packaged pie dough. It is easy to roll out and results in a flaky crust. You can also use pastry dough, puff pastry, biscuit or pizza dough or even bread dough. It is worth noting that this is not an authentic empanadas recipe as empanada dough is not as flaky as pie crust. Not traditional but still perfectly tasty.

Can I freeze empanadas?

Yes, unbaked empanadas can be frozen. Lay the empanadas on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid and then they can be put into freezer bag and sealed shut for up to 3 months.

A hand holding a piece of beef empanadan cut in half.

📣 Related Recipes

  • Try these easy cheese fatayer soft and very tasty.
  • If you're looking for a delightful and colorful appetizer to impress your guests, check out this stuffed mini peppers recipe that will surely be a crowd-pleaser!
  • These classic Lebanese spinach pies are tangy with a crunch.
  • Spanakopita puffs.
  • Tossed in bbq sauce and baked up sticky. Delicious and juicy baked bbq chicken wings with crisp skin and a sticky sweet sauce are a classic party snack.
  • This meat pie is flaky and buttery using phyllo crust and a delicious ground beef filling seasoned with a variety of herbs and spices. Very easy to make and a crowd pleaser.

🌮 Mexican Style Recipes

  • Pillsbury crescent rolls taco bake is as easy and delicious as it sounds. Flavored taco meat stuffed between two layers of delicious butter crescent rolls and topped with your favorite taco topping for an epic taco night.
  • Here is another family favorite tater tot taco casserole made in a cast iron skillet.
  • Taco stuffed bell peppers is a delicious twist on the classic taco recipe to make your taco night more exciting.

🍲 More Ground Beef Recipes

  • Baked ziti with meat is a delicious and satisfying comfort food that is easy to make at home. This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated for an easy weeknight dinner option.
  • Ground beef doritos casserole is a super delicious, savory mix of seasoned ground beef, cheese and Doritos. A kid friendly meal for busy parents.
  • This moist meatloaf with bread crumbs is tender, old fashioned with a delicious glaze. Sticky sweet and super delicious! You can eat the whole thing in one sitting – I won't tell.

I hope you'll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for the FREE Amira's Pantry newsletter delivered to your inbox with lots of tips and surprises! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest updates.

If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.

A green platter with empanadas and a small bowl of guacamole.

Ground Beef empanadas

Baked Beef Empanadas, semi-homemade with a juicy filling. Comes together in no time and the first to go in any party. This is how to make empanada filling with a Middle Eastern touch.
4.91 from 11 votes
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Course: Appetizer, baking
Cuisine: latin american, Mediterranean, Middle East
Diet: Halal
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 140.6kcal
Author: Amira

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ¾ cup chopped green onion from 4 medium ones
  • ¼ cup  chopped parsley
  • ¼ cup  chopped cilantro
  • 2  Tablespoon  smoked paprika
  • ½ Tablespoon ground cumin
  • ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 box refrigerated pie crusts
  • 1 egg beaten

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in oil. Add beef and cook until no longer pink.
  • Drain the fat then return to stove top.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Add spices, green onion, parsley, cilantro and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and cook for about 5 minutes.
  • On a lightly floured surface, unroll one pie crust.
  • Using a cookie cutter, cut out rounds of the crust.
  • Re-roll dough and cut rounds, you'll be able to get about 12 circles.
  • Put about 1 Tablespoon of the meat mixture in the center of each circle.
  • Brush the edges of the circle with water then fold over the filling.
  • Seal edges by pressing with a fork.
  • Repeat with the other pie crust.
  • Place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper and sprayed with oil.
  • Beat an egg with a dash of ground black pepper.Brush top lightly with the beaten egg.
  • Bake for 11-14 minutes until nicely browned on top.
  • Let it cool down before serving.

Video

Notes

  • The number of rounds you will get, depends on the size of the cookie cutter you are using. You can make empanadas bite sized like I do or you can make them fit perfectly in the palm of your hand.
  • You can use any meat you want such as ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken.
  • If you don't like cilantro, you can leave it out of the recipe.
  • If the pie crusts are frozen, they should be thawed according to the package directions.
  • Storage
    • Leftover beef empanadas can be wrapped tightly and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.
Serve With
  • Serve empanadas with your favorite side like rice, salad, corn on the cob or roasted veggies.
  • They can be also served with a number of dips and sauces like Chipotle sauce, avocado sauce, salsa and chimichurri sauce.
Variations
  • There are so many ideas for making meat filled empanadas. Really the sky is the limit. You can use traditional fillings or get a little creative by adding beans, cheese or a variety of spices.
  • Add diced sweet bell peppers, mushrooms, corn or potatoes
  • Add diced olives, nuts or raisins.
  • Use a variety of fresh herbs or your favorite spices.
Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy.

Nutrition

Calories: 140.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.7g | Protein: 3.7g | Fat: 9.8g | Saturated Fat: 3.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5g | Cholesterol: 16.2mg | Sodium: 172.5mg | Potassium: 106.2mg | Fiber: 0.6g | Sugar: 0.6g
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First published April, 2018 . Last updated April 4, 2023 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.

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About Amira

I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! My hope is to introduce you to new flavors, creative ways and fresh takes on favorites. To help you create food with style that will bring everyone around your kitchen table. From weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Annette

    May 01, 2022 at 3:37 pm

    5 stars
    My husband and I really loved this recipe. We made it together and had lots of fun. I'm going to fill them with spinach and feta next. Thanks a bunch!

    Reply
  2. Adeline Martin

    April 08, 2021 at 5:26 pm

    The empanada came out very well I used to make them a long time ago am happy that am able to try it again using your recipe which was a success

    Reply
    • Amira

      April 11, 2021 at 9:28 pm

      Glad you liked it Adeline. Thanks for the feedback.

      Reply
  3. Dalia

    March 19, 2020 at 6:49 pm

    5 stars
    This has been my go to recipe for this week. I've made a big batch over the weekend and now we are consuming them as lunch and dinner. Thank you.

    Reply
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I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by!
I send warm greetings from sunny Colorado. This blog combines weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean.
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