How many empanadas does this recipe make?

The recipe serves eight people empanadas․ Use this number as the estimate for planning purposes‚ as recommended in the article․ When making empanadas for a party‚ the article suggests doubling or tripling the recipe․ You might need additional cookie sheets to allow extra space between empanadas on the cookie sheet․ Work to make filling portions uniform to ensure even cooking and presentation at the party․

Can I serve these to picky eaters?

Yes‚ by providing other dishes alongside empanadas rather than varieties of empanada fillings․ Filling ingredients for the empanadas are ground beef‚ bell peppers‚ onions‚ Mexican cheese blend‚ and other mild spices․ Offer salsa‚ guacamole‚ and salad as side dishes to give consumers choices about how to eat an empanada․ Consumers can try one empanada before committing to a full plate․

Can I freeze beef empanadas?

Freeze the empanadas before baking‚ following a make-ahead tip from this article․ Prepare the dough and filling for empanadas according to the directions in the article and freeze empanadas placed on a cookie sheet․ Store the frozen empanadas in a freezer container or other freezer storage container for later use․ The article advises thawing empanadas before baking; otherwise‚ baked empanadas will be soggy․

What dough should I use for empanadas?

Prepared pie crust is the dough used in this recipe․ The ingredients list indicates a two-roll package of prepared pie crust․ Homemade and store-bought pie crusts can be used as outlined in the article․ Empanada dough will not work as outlined in the article because it is not as flaky․ The article suggests rolling out and cutting pie crust circles․ Repurpose leftover dough pieces by rolling them out to make more circles until the dough is gone․

Do I need an empanada press?

You don't need any special equipment to make empanadas․ Other equipment needed to prepare these empanadas includes a large skillet‚ prebaked cookie sheet‚ cereal-sized bowl‚ fork‚ and small bowl cover․ The cereal-sized bowl can be used to trace circles for the empanadas‚ and the fork can be used to crimp the edges of the empanadas․ Prebake or grease‚ line‚ or spray the cookie sheet to prepare it for baking the empanadas․

Easy Beef Empanadas with Flaky Pie Crust and Mexican Cheese

By Mason BrooksSep 26, 2026

Prep

15 min

Cook

15 min

Total

30 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

For a quick weeknight dinner‚ these beef empanadas are made with ground beef‚ peppers‚ onions‚ and Mexican cheese blend in store-bought pie dough․ These half-moon empanadas take about 30 minutes to bake and feed eight․

Easy Beef Empanadas with Flaky Pie Crust and Mexican Cheese

Pre-made pie crust can save time and effort in preparing a flaky crust․ Lean ground beef and chopped yellow onion and green pepper are filling ingredients․ Other filling ingredients include minced garlic‚ cumin‚ salt‚ pepper‚ and chili powder added to the ground beef․ A shredded Mexican cheese blend is added as another filling layer in pre-made pie crusts․ Top crusts with beaten egg for browning․ Use all pre-made pie crust to produce the listed yield․

Drain the excess fat from the vegetables and meat to prevent a fatty pie filling․ Techniques to use when shaping the topping include placing the filling in the center of each topping circle and using a fork to crimp the edges of the topping circle to keep the filling from leaking out․ One frequent issue is using too much filling; follow recipe instructions regarding the quantities of filling and cheese to use when shaping and sealing each circle․ You can use a smaller bowl to shape more circles‚ which will be smaller․

Serve baked pastries with dinner or other dishes‚ such as salads‚ and dips‚ including guacamole‚ as suggested‚ or at other meals․ Unbaked pastries can be made ahead‚ frozen on a cookie sheet‚ and stored in a freezer container to be served at other meals․ Making pastries ahead can help with meal planning․

Why you'll love this recipe

Weeknights can be a convenient time for home cooking‚ as meat pies can be prepared in about 30 minutes with a pre-made crust and meat pie filling cooked in one pan․
Families can make eight empanadas using this recipe, You can cut the empanadas into individual servings to feed eight adults and children․
Freezer planners can prepare extra batches to use at another time instead of preparing pie fillings at other times․
The filling is popular with consumers because it includes common dinner ingredients‚ such as ground beef‚ onion‚ bell pepper‚ Mexican cheeses‚ and other nonperishable spices․
Guests can eat the dishes by hand‚ without utensils, Side dishes and dips‚ including salsa and guacamole‚ can complement the meal․
Cleanup is very little since the meat and vegetables are cooked together in one skillet‚ and the pies are baked on a cookie sheet․

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Prepare a cookie sheet with a baking mat, non-stick foil, parchment paper, or oil.

Cook the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in a large skillet until the beef is cooked through, the onion is translucent, and the pepper is soft.

Drain any excess fat from the skillet.

Add the cumin, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and chili powder to the beef mixture and cook for 2 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the hot burner.

Roll out the pie crusts.

Use a bowl similar in size to a cereal bowl to trace circles onto each pie crust.

Gather the leftover pie crust, roll it out again, and continue cutting circles until all the dough is used.

Place one pie crust circle on the prepared cookie sheet.

Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling to the middle of the circle.

Top the filling with 1 tablespoon of Mexican blended cheese.

Fold the pie crust circle in half over the filling and press the edges closed with a fork.

Repeat the filling, cheese, folding, and sealing steps for all empanadas.

Arrange the empanadas on the cookie sheet.

Beat the egg in a small bowl.

Brush the beaten egg over the top of each empanada.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the tops are golden.

Remove from the oven and serve with salads, salsas, or guacamole.

FAQ

Serve salsa or guacamole and other salads alongside these pastries‚ as‌ suggested in the recipe․ The‌ beef‚ pepper‚ onion‚ and cheese filling is rich and filling enough to serve as a main course․ Choose one or two other side dishes to serve with the pastries based on whether they are being served as a main course or side‌ dish․ Serve dips on the side‌ to prevent the pastry crusts from getting soggy when eaten․

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Dinner Beef Mexican Quick Meals Baking

Easy Beef Empanadas with Flaky Pie Crust and Mexican Cheese

Name: Easy Beef Empanadas with Flaky Pie Crust and Mexican Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8 empanadas
Ingredients: 1 package pre-made pie crust (2 rolls); 1 lb lean ground beef (90% lean recommended; drain excess fat if using 80% lean or less); 1/4 cup yellow onion (diced); 1/2 medium bell pepper (diced, any color); 1 tsp cumin; 1 tsp garlic (minced); 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1 tsp chili powder; 1 cup Mexican blended cheese; 1 egg

By Mason BrooksSep 26, 2026

Prep

15 min

Cook

15 min

Total

30 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

Weeknights can be a convenient time for home cooking‚ as meat pies can be prepared in about 30 minutes with a pre-made crust and meat pie filling cooked in one pan․
Families can make eight empanadas using this recipe, You can cut the empanadas into individual servings to feed eight adults and children․
Freezer planners can prepare extra batches to use at another time instead of preparing pie fillings at other times․
The filling is popular with consumers because it includes common dinner ingredients‚ such as ground beef‚ onion‚ bell pepper‚ Mexican cheeses‚ and other nonperishable spices․
Guests can eat the dishes by hand‚ without utensils, Side dishes and dips‚ including salsa and guacamole‚ can complement the meal․
Cleanup is very little since the meat and vegetables are cooked together in one skillet‚ and the pies are baked on a cookie sheet․

Ingredients

Servings8

•1 package pre-made pie crust (2 rolls)
•1 lb lean ground beef (90% lean recommended; drain excess fat if using 80% lean or less)
•¼ cup yellow onion (diced)
•½ medium bell pepper (diced, any color)
•1 tsp cumin
•1 tsp garlic (minced)
•¼ tsp salt
•¼ tsp pepper
•1 tsp chili powder
•1 cup Mexican blended cheese
•1 egg

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2
Prepare a cookie sheet with a baking mat, non-stick foil, parchment paper, or oil.
3
Cook the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in a large skillet until the beef is cooked through, the onion is translucent, and the pepper is soft.
4
Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
5
Add the cumin, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and chili powder to the beef mixture and cook for 2 minutes.
6
Remove the skillet from the hot burner.
7
Roll out the pie crusts.
8
Use a bowl similar in size to a cereal bowl to trace circles onto each pie crust.
9
Gather the leftover pie crust, roll it out again, and continue cutting circles until all the dough is used.
10
Place one pie crust circle on the prepared cookie sheet.
11
Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling to the middle of the circle.
12
Top the filling with 1 tablespoon of Mexican blended cheese.
13
Fold the pie crust circle in half over the filling and press the edges closed with a fork.
14
Repeat the filling, cheese, folding, and sealing steps for all empanadas.
15
Arrange the empanadas on the cookie sheet.
16
Beat the egg in a small bowl.
17
Brush the beaten egg over the top of each empanada.
18
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the tops are golden.
19
Remove from the oven and serve with salads, salsas, or guacamole.