Air Fryer Empanadas

Preparing empanadas from scratch doesn't have to be difficult! In fact, if you have premade pie crust and an air fryer, you can whip up these savory treats in a matter of minutes! This quick recipe for air fryer empanadas is so simple, you'll want to make these delicious meat filled pies for dinner every week.

*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

What Do I Need to Make Air Fryer Empanadas?

The beauty of this easy recipe is that you can customize it to suit your family's taste preferences. We love taco flavored empanadas, which means the filling in this homemade recipe features all the flavors of a classic taco. To make these air fryer empanadas, you'll need:

• Onion
• Red bell pepper
• Ground beef
• Taco seasoning
• Beef broth
• Refrigerated pie crust
• Egg

How Do I Make Air Fryer Empanadas?

You won't believe how easy it is to make fresh empanadas at home with this quick recipe. Just follow these four simple steps to use your air fryer to make empanadas from scratch.

Step One: Prepare the Filling

Before cooking your homemade empanadas in the air fryer, you'll need to prepare the beef filling to put inside the premade pie crust. Start by heating a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the bell pepper and onion to the pan and sauté for three to five minutes, until the bell pepper pieces soften and the onion becomes translucent. Then, add the ground beef, taco seasoning, and beef broth to the pan. Stir the ingredients together and continue cooking until the meat is browned, then set the pan aside to cool slightly.

Step Two: Prepare the Pie Crust

Lightly flour your work surface and place your pie crust on top. Use a rolling pin to roll out the crust to thin it out slightly. Then, place a round bowl or cup on top of the crust and cut out four circles. To get the right sized empanadas, make sure your bowl is around 8 inches in diameter. Continue rolling and cutting until all the dough has been used.

Step Three: Fill the Empanadas

After allowing the filling to cool, scoop around two tablespoons of meat mixture onto one side of each of your pie crust circles. Dip your finger in water and wet the outer edge of the circle, then fold the circle in half over the top of the filling. Use a fork to pinch the sides of the crust together and brush the top of each empanada with beaten egg.

Step Four: Air Fry the Empanadas

Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees, the place the filled pie pieces in the basket of your air fryer. Cook the empanadas for around five minutes, until the crust is golden brown. Continue cooking the empanadas in batches until they've all been cooked.

Air Fryer Empanada Recipe Ideas

This basic empanada recipe is perfect for dinner or appetizers. But the best part about this recipe tutorial is how easy it is to customize. Try these different recipe ideas to change up the filling in your empanadas to create a new entrée every time you cook.

Use different meat. The taco filling inside my empanada recipe is perfect for families. But there are so many other delicious options you could use! For a lighter version, swap out the ground beef for ground turkey. Or mix in some shredded chicken or pork for even more variety.

Try more vegetables. The peppers and onions pair perfectly with the taco meat in this quick recipe, but there's no reason you can't add even more veggies to your empanadas! Try mixing in tomatoes, chilies, or jalapenos for even more flavor. Or create different flavors with the help of other veggies, like carrots, peas, zucchini, or potatoes.

Make your own crust. If you want your empanadas to be fully homemade, use your favorite pie crust recipe instead of purchasing premade dough. You can even use a pie crust mix to speed up the prep time of this quick dinner recipe.

Add some cheese. There's no reason you can't add a little bit of cheesiness to the inside of your empanadas. Before stuffing the meat filling in the pie crust, add a little bit of shredded cheese on top.

Serve with dipping sauces. Another quick way to give your empanadas even more flavor is to serve them with something to dip them in. Classic dips, like sour cream or queso, are great options for enhancing the flavor of your taco empanada recipe.

How Do You Heat Empanadas in the Air Fryer?

Whether you're making your empanadas from scratch or using frozen ones, cooking them in the air fryer is quick and easy! Start by preheating your air fryer to 350 degrees. Once the inside of the air fryer is hot, add the empanadas and start cooking. Homemade empanadas only take around 5 minutes to fully cook. But if you're cooking frozen empanadas, they will probably take a little bit longer to prepare. Check the package for heating instructions to ensure your empanadas are fully cooked before you take a bite.