Air Fryer Empanadas Recipe

A few years ago, I visited Puerto Rico with my best friend, and it didn’t take long for us to realize that food would be the highlight of our trip. From the perfectly crisp tostones to the creamy mofongo, every meal we had in San Juan was a celebration of flavor. But the dish that completely stole my heart? Empanadas. Golden pockets of flaky dough filled with seasoned meat, served hot and crispy. I remember biting into one and thinking, I need to learn how to make these when I get home.

Fast forward to today, and empandas have become a staple in my kitchen. I’ve experimented with different fillings and cooking methods over the years, but air frying empanadas has become my go-to method. It’s quicker than frying them or baking them in an oven, and results in empanadas that are crisp on the outside and juicy inside, without all the oil from deep frying and extra time spent pre-heating the oven.

Continue reading below to learn how to make empanadas in the air fryer from start to finish. If you prefer baking them, check out my baked beef empanada recipe instead! Either way, don’t forget to serve them with mayo-ketchup, a creamy, tangy sauce that’s perfect for these Puerto Rican inspired empanadas.

Why You’ll Love These Air Fried Empanadas

• Versatile – While the instructions below use ground beef picadillo as the filling for the empanadas, they can be filled with just about anything! Shredded chicken, pulled pork, and vegetables are some common substitutions.
• Resourceful – Have leftover taco meat, or even Thanksgiving turkey? Consider using your leftover protein into a flavorful filling for these empanadas.

Recommended Tools for This Flavorful Empanadas Recipe

• Rolling Pin – A rolling pin will help you spread the dough out, so you can add more filling.
• Air Fryer – I use the “Bake” setting on my Instant Vortex 6-quart, 4-in-1 air fryer, which I got for $50 many Black Fridays ago and allows me to cook large batches. If you’re using a smaller air fryer, you may have to cook the empanadas in batches to ensure they have enough space while air frying.

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Beef Empanada Ingredients

• Goya Empanada Dough – You can find frozen empanada discs in the freezer aisle of most supermarkets. I used the 5-inch Criolla Discs for Baking & Frying.
• Empanada Filling – While this recipe calls for ground beef, you can easily swap the filling for ground turkey, shredded chicken, or ground pork.
• Egg – Brush your empanadas with an egg wash before air frying, so they have a shiny, golden finish. Don’t have an egg? Use cooking spray to achieve a similar finish and keep the dough from sticking to your air fryer basket.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer Empanadas Recipe

Courses: Appetizer Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Entree Recipes

Difficulty: Intermediate Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 25 mins Total Time 40 mins

Servings: 12

Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Empanada Ingredients

Servings

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• Goya Dough for Baking & Frying
• 1 egg (large)
• 2 tbsp beef bouillon
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 3 oz olives (sliced)
• 1 tomato (diced)

How to Make Empanadas in the Air Fryer

1. Cook ground beef

   Add ground beef and seasoning to a large pan. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.

1. Drain beef

   Drain ground beef and return to heat.

1. Mix in vegetables

   Mix in tomatoes and olives. Cook beef for another 5 minutes or until browned.

1. Prepare egg wash

   While the empanada filling cools, crack an egg and whisk in a small bowl to create an egg wash. Pre-heat air fryer to 375F.

1. Roll empanada dough

   Roll out empanada dough using a rolling pin.

1. FIll empanadas

   Place 2 tbsp of filling in the center of the dough. Turn over to form a semi-circle.

1. Fold edges

   Fold the edges of the empanada dough with your fingers until fully sealed.

1. Brush empanadas with egg wash

   Brush empanadas with egg wash and place in the air fryer.

1. Air fry

   Air fry empanadas for 10 minutes, flipping half way.

1. Serve

   Serve with your preferred dipping sauce, and enjoy!