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close up view of a plate filled with air fryer empanadas
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Air Fryer Empanadas

Course Appetizer, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 385kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 bell pepper deseeded and finely diced
  • 1 white onion peeled and diced
  • 1 pound (453g) ground beef
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • salt to taste
  • 4 pitted green olives finely chopped
  • 2-3 sheets pie crust dough
  • 1 egg beaten

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion and pepper until it becomes translucent and begins to soften.
  • Add ground beef and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes until beef is brown. Drain any excess fat.
  • Stir in the oregano, paprika, cinnamon, salt and olives and cook for a couple of minutes before letting the mixture cool.
  • Roll out pie crust and use a cookie or biscuit cutter to make 5-inch discs of dough.
  • Place 2 tablespoons of empanada mix into each disk of pie crust dough, being careful not to overfill.
  • Wet the edges of the pie crust with water, fold over to seal and crimp with a fork.
  • Brush the empanadas with egg wash.
  • Preheat an air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
  • Spray empanadas with olive oil or cooking spray and place them in a single layer inside the air fryer basket.
  • Air fry for 8-10 minutes until golden, turning halfway through.

Video

Notes

  • After browning the meat, drain fat with a spoon or using a paper towel.
  • Premade pie crust is a great shortcut. You can also use premade empanada discs or make your own empanada dough. 
  • Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut with a biscuit or cookie cutter to make dough rounds.  
  • In addition to the seasonings listed, I also like to use freshly ground black pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder. 
  • When adding the meat mixture to the empanada disks, fill empanadas conservatively, or the meat mixture may ooze out during cooking. 
  • Carefully wet the edges and fold the dough in half. Crimp with a fork to seal. 
  • Add a light egg wash with a pastry brush to give the air fryer empanadas a golden brown color. 
  • Place empanadas in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook in batches if necessary. 
  • Place the air fryer empanadas on a baking sheet pan in a warm oven to keep warm while cooking the remaining empanadas. 
  • Serve empanadas with sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or your favorite dip. 
  • Air fryer temperatures can vary, so use the cooking times listed as an estimate.
  • Storage - keep leftovers wrapped or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • There are 5 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 253mg | Potassium: 268mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 573IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 3mg