Easy Beef Empanadas
These Easy Beef Empanadas use flaky pie crust and ground beef to create the perfect dinner. Ready in about 30 minutes, they make a great weeknight meal!
Ingredients
- 1 package of pre-made pie crust (2 rolls)
- 1 pound of lean ground beef - I use 90% lean, however 80% or less will work - just drain off the excess fat before continuing.
- 1/4 cup diced yellow onion
- 1/2 medium diced bell pepper, any color
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup Mexican blended cheese
- 1 egg
Directions
- 1
Preheat oven to 350*F
- 2
Prepare a cookie sheet with a baking mat, non-stick foil, parchment paper or oil. Set aside.
- 3
In a large skillet cook ground beef, onions and bell pepper until beef is cooked through, onions are translucent and peppers are soft.
- 4
Drain any excess fat.
- 5
Add cumin, garlic, salt, pepper, and chili powder to ground beef mixture and cook for 2 minutes.
- 6
Remove from hot burner.
- 7
Roll out pie crusts. Using a bowl similar to a cereal bowl, trace circles onto each pie crust. I can get 3 per crust. A smaller bowl will result in more circles.
- 8
With leftover pie crust, mix together and roll out and continue cutting circles, until all dough is used. I can get 8 total.
- 9
Lay a pie crust circle down. on prepared cookie sheet. Add 2 - 3 Tablespoons of filling to the middle of the circle. Top with 1 Tablespoon a cheese.
- 10
Fold pie crust circle in half, keeping the filling inside, and press edges down with a fork.
- 11
Repeat steps 9 and 10 for all empanadas.
- 12
Arrange empanadas on cookie sheet.
- 13
Beat egg in a small bowl and brush on top of each empanada.
- 14
Bake for 12 - 15 minutes or until tops are golden.
- 15
Remove from oven and serve with your favorite salads, salsas and guacamole.