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air fryer empanadas

Air Fryer Beef Empanadas Recipe

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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 560
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • ¼ cup water or beef broth
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, diced (optional)
  • ¼ cup pitted green olives, chopped (optional)
  • 1 package (14 oz) frozen empanada dough discs, thawed
  • 1 egg, beaten

Method
 

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, breaking it up, then drain any excess fat.
  2. Stir in the onion, garlic, bell pepper, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 4 minutes until vegetables soften and spices are fragrant.
  3. Fold in the hard-boiled eggs, olives, tomato paste, and water if using. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. Let the filling cool for at least 10 minutes.
  4. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of filling onto each dough disc, leaving a ½-inch border. Fold over, press the edges, and crimp with a fork to seal tightly.
  5. Arrange empanadas in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Brush tops with beaten egg and air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway, until deep golden and crisp. Serve hot.

Notes

Let the filling cool completely if you have time—a quick 20-minute chill in the fridge makes sealing nearly foolproof and prevents the dough from getting tacky. If your dough tears while folding, patch it with a scrap of dough from an extra disc and press well.