Homemade Beef Empanadas

Name: Homemade Beef Empanadas
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Latin American
Ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed; 1 egg; 1/4 cup cold water; 1 pound ground beef; 1 small onion, finely diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; Salt and pepper to taste

These tender beef empanadas feature a perfectly flaky crust and a warmly spiced ground beef filling that the whole family will love.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 Latin American· September 20, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

30 minutes

Cook

25 minutes

Total

55 minutes

Serves

There is something truly special about biting into a warm, homemade empanada. My family looks forward to these whenever I make them because the filling is so savory and the pastry is perfectly crisp.

This recipe is a wonderful one to keep in your back pocket. It is freezer friendly, so you can easily whip up a batch on a weekend and save them for a quick lunch or dinner later in the month.

🧺 Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
1 egg
1/4 cup cold water
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
To make the dough, whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
2
Mix in the egg and cold water until the dough just comes together. Form it into a disc, wrap it in plastic, and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
3
While the dough rests, brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, cooking until softened.
4
Stir in the cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Remove the filling from the heat and let it cool slightly.
5
Roll out your dough on a floured surface and cut into circles. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each circle.
6
Fold the dough over the filling and crimp the edges tightly with a fork to seal.
7
Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

💡 Tips

These empanadas taste best served warm with a side of chimichurri or your favorite salsa. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or keep them in the freezer for up to two months.

#beef #dinner #comfort food #freezer friendly #homemade

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