Chicken Empanadas Recipe | Made In The Oven, Air Fryer, Or Stove Top

These chicken empanadas have a crispy and flaky outer crust with a savory chicken filling. And the best part is it only takes about 45 minutes to make these flavorful homemade empanadas! Plus, you can make them in the air fryer, oven, or stovetop!

THE BEST CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Empanadas have got to be one of my favorite savory appetizers. I mean, this rich and flaky-filled pastry is just so hard to resist!

And I think most people would agree with that sentiment - because whenever I make these chicken empanadas for a dinner or party, they're gone before I get a second serving.

This homemade chicken empanada recipe takes less than an hour to make and yields the most delicious results. The empanada dough is crispy yet tender, and the inside is filled with savory chicken goodness in each bite.

And I know I'm a little biased, but I think these chicken empanadas are better than anything you can get at a restaurant or the grocery store.

Why This Recipe Works

3 ways to cook. You can bake these empanadas in the oven, fry them on the stovetop, or make them in the air fryer!

Crowd favorite. Everyone always loves these juicy shredded chicken empanadas, and they'll be the talk of the night whenever you make them.

The empanada dough. This recipe uses homemade empanada dough that is so much better than anything you'd get from the grocery store. And making your own empanada dough is actually really easy with my recipe.

INGREDIENTS

Regarding ingredients, this empanada recipe is made with common ingredients that you can find anywhere.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you already have almost everything you need in your kitchen!

Here's what you'll need to make them:

• 24 Empanada Discs
• 2 Chicken Breasts
• 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 cup Onion, chopped
• ½ Red Pepper, chopped
• ½ Yellow Pepper, chopped
• 1 tsp. Cumin Powder
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon Powder
• 1 tsp. Ginger Powder
• ¼ cup Tomato Sauce
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 Egg, for the egg wash
• Sweet and Sour Sauce for dipping

The only thing you might not already have are the empanada discs. For that, you can make my quick and easy empanada dough ecipe. The homemade empanada dough only takes 5 basic ingredients to make, and the process is beyond easy!

And you can use it to make my beef empanadas for another savory meal and apple empanadas for a dessert treat.

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN EMPANADAS 

1. Cook the chicken: Fill out a pot with water and a dash of salt. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the cubed chicken breasts and cook for 20 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board, let it cool, and shred it with two forks.

2. Cook the veggies: Heat a non-stick skillet on medium-high heat and saute the onion, red pepper, yellow pepper, and spices in olive oil. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the veggies soften.

3. Combine: Add the shredded chicken and tomato sauce to the skillet and cook for 5 more minutes, stirring to ensure everything combines well.

4. Fill the empanadas: Put your empanada disks on a tray lined with parchment paper. Fill each empanada disc by adding a tablespoon of the chicken filling to the center and folding the empanada in half.

5. Seal the empanadas: Press the edges together with a fork to seal in the chicken filling for the empanadas. Arrange your filled empanadas on the tray and brush them with the egg wash - it'll give your final empanadas a crisp golden outer crust.

HOW TO BAKE CHICKEN EMPANADAS IN THE OVEN

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190ºC) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. After you give the empanadas the egg wash, arrange them on the prepared baking sheet and make sure they don't touch.

2. Bake the empanadas: Bake the empanadas for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

3. Serve the baked empanadas: Let them cool, then enjoy the baked empanadas with a side of sweet and sour sauce.

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN EMPANADAS IN AIR FRYER

1. Prep: Spray the air fryer basket with oil and preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180ºC).

2. Air fry empanadas: Lay the empanadas flat in the air fryer basket. Cook them in batches for about 10 minutes each. And don't forget to flip your empanadas halfway through the cooking time!

3. Serve: Transfer the air fryer chicken empanadas to a plate and cover to keep them warm while the others cook. Serve with a side of sweet and sour sauce. Enjoy!

HOW TO FRY CHICKEN EMPANADAS ON THE STOVETOP

1. Heat the oil: Add enough oil to cover the empanadas to a deep pot or frying pan and bring it to 365°F. If you don't have a deep-frying thermometer, you can also test the oil by sticking a wooden chopstick or the end of a wooden spoon into the oil. If bubbles form around the wood, your oil is ready. Just make sure it isn't bubbling too much since that would mean your oil is too hot.

2. Fry the empanadas: Add a few at a time to the hot oil and fry them for about 5 minutes or until golden brown, ensuring both sides are cooked evenly. Transfer them to a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil and cool.

3. Serve: Serve with the sweet & sour sauce and dig in!

HOW TO STORE CHICKEN EMPANADAS

In the fridge: Store the cooked empanadas in an airtight container, and you can keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

In the freezer: Individually wrap each chicken empanada in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container where they'll last for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Put the leftover empanadas in the air fryer or the oven at about 300°F (150°C) for a few minutes until they reach your desired temperature.

FAQS About This Chicken Empananda

Can I store uncooked empanadas in the fridge?

Yes. You can keep the uncooked empanadas in the fridge for up to 2 days. Put squares of parchment paper between each empanada to prevent them from sticking together in the container.

Can I freeze uncooked empanadas?

Absolutely! Put them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until they're completely frozen. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Just add a little more cooking time to your desired method.

What are empanadas traditionally served with?

Empanadas are usually served with dipping sauce like sour cream, guacamole, and sweet and sour sauce. If you're looking for what to serve with chicken empanadas, they're terrific with this Moes queso or Taco Bell nacho cheese and a side of Mexican street corn casserole.

 

MORE RECIPES

These chicken empanadas are such a tasty savory recipe, and if you like savory recipes, we have a ton on the blog I think you'll enjoy!

Give one of these a try next:

• Fried Spaghetti
• Instant Pot French Onion Soup
• Instant Pot Japanese Curry
• Instant Pot Clam Chowder
• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Crunchwraps

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