In this post, I’ll be sharing a simple yet crowd-pleasing appetizer recipe for homemade beef empanadas with a spicy chipotle pepper kick.
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Today’s featured recipe is a simple and flavorful spicy beef empanada dish. They are packed full of nutritious veggies, ground beef, and a smokey chipotle flavor. You can quickly whip them up for a casual weeknight meal, serve them as appetizers during a dinner party, or make a large batch in advance for a party or event.
These empanadas are baked instead of fried, so you still get that crispy flaky crust without the need for messy stovetop frying. The convenience of using store-bought ready-to-bake pie crust only adds to the ease of preparation and is also one less mess you have to worry about.
The key ingredient in this recipe are the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, which add a delicious smokey flavor with a kick of spice. Although these aren’t the most authentic or traditional empanadas, so this recipe is meant to serve as a source of inspiration for making empanadas with whatever ingredients you have in your fridge.
The possibilities are endless. As long as you have a few ingredients and spices, this recipe is super versatile and can be easily customized to make it your own.
Want to make them vegetarian? Just swap the ground beef for your preferred mushrooms and add a little extra olive oil.
If you’re feeling creative, you could even try experimenting with different fillings like shredded chicken, black beans, or even a mix of your favorite cheeses. I personally love loading these with a ton of vegetables in every color of the rainbow.
To enhance the flavor profile even further, you can add fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley to the filling mixture. A squeeze of lime juice or a dollop of sour cream on top just before serving can also elevate the dish and add a refreshing contrast to the spicy kick of the empanadas.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting out in the kitchen, this recipe is so easy to make and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Spicy Chipotle Beef Empanadas
INGREDIENTS | makes approx. 25-30 empanadas
1 yellow onion
1 red onion
3 bell peppers (red, green, orange, or yellow)
1 jalapeno pepper
2 large carrots
5 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup of Spanish olives
2-4 tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (adjust depending on your desired spice level)
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp lime juice
2 lb ground beef
2 packages of premade pie crusts (4 crusts total)
1 egg
olive oil
1 cup vegetable or beef broth
SEASONING:
2 tbsp complete seasoning
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp dried oregano
2 tbsp smoked paprika
salt + pepper to taste
This recipe yields approximately 25-30 empanadas, depending on the size you wish to make them.
Step 1 – chop the vegetables
Start by grating the carrots and chopping the red onions, bell peppers, jalapeno, and olives. Add them to a large bowl and combine well to create a colorful vegetable medley.
Step 2 – cook the beef and vegetables
Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Add finely chopped yellow onion, and stir until slightly softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned but not fully cooked, breaking up with a spoon as it cooks. After about 10 minutes, drain and transfer to a bowl on the side.
Add the rest of the finely chopped vegetables to the pan over medium heat. Stir well and cook until slightly tender. Add 2 tbsp tomato paste, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and seasonings (all seasoning, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, oregano, paprika). Stir well to combine all the flavors while cooking for about 1-2 minutes. Add the ground beef back into the pan along with 1 cup of vegetable or beef broth and 2 tbsp of lime juice. Simmer for about 20-25 minutes until most of the liquid is evaporated. Add salt and pepper to taste. Then transfer to a bowl on the side and let cool.
Step 3 – prep the dough
Preheat the oven according to the premade pie crust instructions and set the boxes of dough out on the counter to temper for about 10 minutes. Then roll out the premade pie crust and cut out small circles using a cookie cutter, container lid, or anything you have on hand. You can also use a knife to trace around a small bowl. I like to cut all of the dough circles at once to create more of an assembly line. Set your dough circles to the side.
Step 4 – fill the empanadas
Add 2-3 tbsp of filling to the middle of the dough, slightly off-centered. Brush some water along the outer edge. Fold the dough over to create a half moon shape and use a fork to crimp the edges. Then place on a parchment paper lined baking tray.
Repeat with the remaining dough rounds.
Step 5 – bake the empanadas
If you’re making a large batch to freeze for later, this is where you’ll want to stop. Place the empanadas on the baking sheet directly in the freezer until frozen. Then transfer the empanadas to a freezer safe container or bag. They should keep frozen for around 2-3 months. Just be sure to thaw well before baking.
You can omit this step, but I like to add a bit of egg wash to the top before baking. Crack an egg into a small bowl and beat until smooth. Brush this egg mixture over the tops of the empanadas, and bake in the oven according to the instructions on the premade pie crust box until golden brown.
These empanadas are ideal for parties and gatherings as they are convenient to grab and enjoy. They can be served with sour cream, cheese dips, or paired with your favorite hot sauce for an extra kick.
This chile chipotle hot sauce from El Yucateco has a smokey flavor that really complements the beef filling recipe and is one of my all-time favorites.
Topping with a squeeze of lime juice and some fresh cilantro right before serving also adds a refreshing contrast to the spicy flavor of the empanadas.
I recently made these for a small get-together, along with crispy bean and cheese tacos and homemade salsa verde.
We also whipped up some chipotle sour cream as a dipping sauce and I tried my first attempt at some tequila lime jello shots. They were good but not perfect – I’ll definitely tweak the recipe and add it to the Happy Hour series soon!
Looking for more inspo!? Check out my Pinterest for tons of recipes and lifestyle content… updated daily!
This post was all about a delicious spicy beef empanadas recipe. If you like this content, check out these posts below!
– Easy Banana Loaf Recipe
– Cilantro Beef Stew | Easy Slow Cooker Recipe
– Mediterranean Veggie Platter | Mezze Board
Xx- Laura
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