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How to Make Homemade Empanadas – Easy Recipes, Dough, Fillings & Pie-Making Tools
How to Make Homemade Empanadas
Easy empanada dough, flavorful fillings, baking and frying instructions, plus tips for making consistent turnovers with a manual empanada maker.
Empanadas are delicious handheld pastries filled with seasoned meats, cheese, vegetables, or sweet fruit. Popular throughout Latin America and beyond, these turnovers can be baked or fried. Whether you're cooking for family or making larger batches, this guide explains how to make empanadas from scratch and how an empanada maker machine can simplify preparation.
Key Takeaways
- Start with flexible flour dough and a fully cooked, cooled filling.
- Bake empanadas for a golden crust or fry them for a crisp finish.
- Proper dough thickness, modest filling portions, and firm sealing prevent leaks.
- A hand-crank empanada maker can fold, trim, crimp, and seal pastries consistently.
- Interchangeable dies provide different sizes for home and small-business use.
What Are Empanadas?
Empanadas are stuffed pastries made by enclosing savory or sweet ingredients in dough. Recipes vary by region: Argentine versions often include seasoned beef, onions, and olives, while other versions use chicken, potatoes, cheese, or fruit. They are popular for dinners, snacks, parties, and food-service menus.
Easy Homemade Empanada Dough Recipe
Preparation: 20 minutes · Rest: 30 minutes · Yield: about 12–16 medium empanadas, depending on size.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (optional)
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter or shortening
- 1 large egg
- ½–¾ cup cold water, added gradually
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar (optional)
Step-by-Step Dough Instructions
- Combine flour, salt, and optional baking powder in a bowl.
- Cut in the cold butter or shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Beat the egg with ½ cup cold water and optional vinegar.
- Mix the liquid into the flour, adding more water a little at a time until a workable dough forms.
- Knead gently just until smooth; avoid overworking.
- Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
- Roll the dough to approximately â…›-inch thickness for assembling or using the Little Pie Maker.
Tip: Flexible, lightly chilled dough is easier to shape and seal than dough that is too dry or sticky.
Traditional Ground Beef Empanada Filling
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup chopped green olives (optional)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2–3 tablespoons water or beef broth
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
Filling Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat and soften the onion for 4–5 minutes.
- Add garlic briefly, then ground beef; cook thoroughly to an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Stir in cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and tomato paste.
- Add water or broth and simmer until moist but not watery.
- Mix in olives and chopped hard-boiled eggs if desired.
- Cool the filling completely before assembling empanadas.
Important: Hot or overly wet filling can soften dough and prevent a reliable seal.
How to Assemble and Seal Empanadas
- Roll dough to approximately â…›-inch thickness.
- For hand assembly, cut circles about 5–6 inches across.
- Add a modest portion of cooled filling to the center.
- Lightly moisten the edges with water if needed.
- Fold into a half-moon shape and press the edges firmly together.
- Crimp with a fork or decorative fold, then place on a parchment-lined tray.
Keep the edges free of filling. Overstuffed empanadas are more likely to burst while cooking.
How to Bake Empanadas
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Arrange empanadas on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Brush with beaten egg for a golden finish.
- Bake about 20–30 minutes, depending on size and dough thickness, until the crust is golden and fully cooked.
How to Fry Empanadas
- Use dough suitable for frying and heat neutral oil to about 350°F.
- Carefully lower sealed empanadas into the oil without overcrowding.
- Fry approximately 3–5 minutes, turning as needed, until golden.
- Drain on a rack or paper towels and cool slightly before serving.
Use fully cooked meat fillings. Keep water away from hot oil and handle hot oil carefully.
Make Empanadas Faster With a Hand-Crank Empanada Maker
The Little Pie Maker – USA-Made Empanada & Turnover Machine
Making empanadas by hand can take time, especially for bakeries, restaurants, fundraisers, and large gatherings. The Amish-made Little Pie Maker uses a manual hand-crank mechanism to help fold, crimp, trim, and seal pastries consistently, without electricity.
It can also be used for fried pies, fruit turnovers, meat pies, and other compatible filled pastries. For best results, use flexible flour dough rolled to about â…› inch. Dough and filling compatibility affect results.
Shop the Little Pie MakerChoosing the Right Empanada Maker Die Size
Interchangeable dies let you prepare different pastry sizes. Approximate capacities depend on dough and filling consistency.
| Die Size | Approx. Filling Capacity | Suggested Use |
|---|---|---|
| 2½″ Ă— 4½″ | 2 oz | Small empanadas and snacks |
| 3″ Ă— 5″ | 3 oz | Standard empanadas and fried pies |
| 3″ Ă— 6″ | 3.25 oz | Larger rectangular turnovers |
Interchangeable Pie Maker Die Sets
Change pastry sizes with compatible die sets designed for the Little Pie Maker. Check the product listing for current configurations and specifications.
Shop Interchangeable DiesPopular Empanada Filling Ideas
Chicken & Cheese
Shredded cooked chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, onion, and mild seasoning.
Spinach & Cheese
Cooked, well-drained spinach, ricotta or feta, and garlic.
Apple Cinnamon
Cooked apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, and a little butter.
Potato & Cheese
Seasoned mashed potatoes, cheddar, and sautéed onion.
Common Empanada-Making Mistakes
| Problem | How to Fix It |
|---|---|
| Empanadas burst open | Reduce filling and seal edges firmly. |
| Dough cracks | Adjust moisture and allow chilled dough to become pliable. |
| Soggy bottoms | Drain and cool filling before assembling. |
| Tough pastry | Avoid overworking the dough. |
| Uneven browning | Roll evenly and rotate the baking sheet as needed. |
| Machine-sealed edges leak | Use less filling and keep sealing edges clean. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Empanadas
1. How do you make empanadas from scratch?
Make a flexible flour dough, cook and cool the filling, roll and portion the dough, fill and seal the pastries, then bake or fry until the crust is fully cooked and golden.
2. What is the best dough for homemade empanadas?
A flexible all-purpose flour dough made with butter or shortening is versatile. For the Little Pie Maker, roll to about â…›-inch thickness.
3. Is it better to bake or fry empanadas?
Both methods work. Baking produces a golden pastry with less added oil, while frying gives a crisp exterior. Choose a dough suited to your cooking method.
4. How do you keep empanadas from opening while cooking?
Avoid overfilling, keep sealing edges clean, and crimp firmly. Briefly chilling assembled empanadas may also help.
5. Can you make empanadas ahead of time and freeze them?
Yes. Freeze assembled pastries on a tray until firm, then store in freezer-safe containers. Cook from frozen with additional time as needed.
6. What temperature should empanadas be baked at?
Many flour-dough empanadas bake at 375°F for approximately 20–30 minutes, depending on size, dough, and filling.
7. Can you make empanadas without an electric machine?
Yes. Fold and crimp by hand or use a manual hand-crank empanada maker.
8. What is the best empanada maker for small businesses?
Consider production volume, dough compatibility, cleaning, and pastry sizes. A manual machine with interchangeable dies can be useful for small bakeries, food trucks, and caterers.
9. Can the Little Pie Maker make other pastries?
Yes. It is intended for compatible filled pastries such as fruit turnovers, fried pies, meat pies, and more.
10. What sizes can the Little Pie Maker produce?
Compatible die sizes include 2½″ Ă— 4½″, 3″ Ă— 5″, and 3″ Ă— 6″.
11. Can you use store-bought empanada dough in the machine?
Some flexible prepared flour dough may work. Typical frozen empanada discs may be too rubbery for reliable sealing.
12. Can I use corn masa dough in an empanada maker?
Traditional corn masa may crack in a roller-style machine. The Little Pie Maker is designed primarily for flexible flour dough.
13. How much filling should go inside an empanada?
Use enough to fill the center while leaving clean dough around the edges. Little Pie Maker dies have approximate capacities of 2–3.25 ounces.
14. How do you reheat leftover empanadas?
Reheat in an oven or air fryer to restore crispness. Reheat perishable leftovers to 165°F internally.
15. Where can I buy an Amish-made empanada maker in the USA?
Cottage Craft Works offers the USA-made Little Pie Maker and compatible interchangeable die sets.
Homemade Empanadas Made Easier
Homemade empanadas combine traditional cooking, flavorful fillings, and the satisfaction of preparing food from scratch. With flexible dough, cooled filling, and careful sealing, you can prepare delicious baked or fried pastries. For larger batches, a manual pie maker can help produce more consistent results without electricity.
