Description
These Easy Beef Empanadas are a flavorful and convenient snack or meal. Ground beef is cooked with peppers, onions, and spices, then wrapped in Goya empanada dough and fried until golden and crispy. Perfect for parties or a tasty dinner served with salads, salsas, or guacamole.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Dough
- 1 10-piece pack Goya Empanada dough
Additional
- Cooking oil for frying (enough to heat to 350°F)
- Cheese, 1 tablespoon per empanada (type not specified, use your favorite cheese)
Instructions
- Cook the filling: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, diced onions, and diced bell peppers together, stirring occasionally until the beef is fully cooked and the vegetables become tender. Drain any excess fat from the skillet to avoid greasiness.
- Season the filling: Add the cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to the cooked beef and vegetables. Stir well and let the mixture cook for an additional 2 minutes to allow the spices to blend. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Prepare the empanada dough: Lay an empanada dough disk flat on a piece of parchment paper. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of the beef filling onto the center of the disk. Top the filling with 1 tablespoon of cheese.
- Seal the empanadas: Fold the empanada dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Press the edges firmly with the tines of a fork to seal them completely. Repeat this process for all the remaining dough disks and filling.
- Heat oil for frying: In a deep skillet or frying pan, heat cooking oil to 350°F (175°C) to ensure proper frying temperature.
- Fry the empanadas: Carefully place 2 empanadas at a time into the hot oil. Fry each side for 1 to 2 minutes or until the exterior is a beautiful golden brown color and crispy. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to turn and remove the empanadas, then place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Serve and enjoy: Once all empanadas are fried, serve them hot with your favorite sides such as salads, salsas, or guacamole for a delicious and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of cheese to your preference or omit if desired.
- For a healthier option, bake the empanadas at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until golden brown instead of frying.
- Ensure the oil is at the proper temperature (350°F) for crispy, non-greasy empanadas.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner alternative.
- Store leftover empanadas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat by frying or baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Latin American
Keywords: Beef empanadas, fried empanadas, Latin American snack, empanada recipe, ground beef empanadas
