AI generated image of a recipe card.

Beef and Cheese Empanadas

Healthy Fact of the Day

Beef and Cheese Empanadas are a delicious comfort food, but you can make them lighter with a few simple swaps. Use lean ground beef or ground turkey to reduce saturated fat, and opt for whole wheat or homemade dough for added fiber. Baking instead of frying lowers calorie content while keeping them crispy. Adding bell peppers, spinach, or black beans to the filling boosts fiber, vitamins, and protein. Enjoy them with a side of fresh salsa or a light avocado dip for extra nutrients!
Beef and Cheese Empanadas

Beef and Cheese Empanadas

Recipe by Daily Disher



Savory and satisfying, Beef and Cheese Empanadas—flaky, golden pastry filled with seasoned ground beef and melty cheddar cheese for the perfect handheld comfort food.

Course: AppetizersCuisine: Latin AmericanDifficulty: Medium
1.7 from 47 votes
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

25

minutes
Calories

450

kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground beef

    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

    • 1 pack empanada dough discs

    • 1 small onion

    • 1 teaspoon olive oil

    • 1 teaspoon salt

    • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

    • 1 teaspoon paprika

    • 1 piece egg

    Directions

    • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for the empanadas.
    • In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sautĂ© the chopped onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
    • Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up as it cooks, until browned and fully cooked, around 7 minutes.
    • Stir in salt, pepper, cumin, and paprika into the beef mixture and cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
    • Remove the skillet from heat and let the beef mixture cool slightly before mixing in the shredded cheddar cheese.
    • Spoon a scant 2 tablespoons of the beef and cheese filling onto each empanada dough disc, then fold and seal edges.
    • Whisk the egg in a small bowl and brush over the empanada tops for a golden finish after baking.
    • Place the empanadas on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

    Nutrition Facts

    • Total number of serves: 4
    • Calories: 250kcal
    • Cholesterol: 0mg
    • Sodium: 620mg
    • Potassium: 400mg
    • Sugar: 8g
    • Protein: 6g
    • Calcium: 60mg
    • Iron: 2mg

    Golden and crispy, Beef and Cheese Empanadas are the perfect blend of savory flavors wrapped in a flaky pastry. Filled with seasoned ground beef, melty cheddar cheese, and warm spices, these handheld delights offer a satisfying bite. Whether baked or fried, they make a delicious appetizer, snack, or meal.

    1.7 from 47 votes

    Recent Recipes

    Your Rice Cooker Does Way More Than

    • June 13, 2026
    • 3 min read

    The Stories Food Tells About Who We

    • June 13, 2026
    • 9 min read

    Grilled Salmon with Orange Maple Glaze

    • June 13, 2026
    • 9 min read

    Chick-fil-A Just Added Mac & Cheese to

    • June 12, 2026
    • 3 min read

    The Produce You’re Storing Wrong

    • June 12, 2026
    • 9 min read

    Chicken Diablo

    • June 12, 2026
    • 9 min read

    Subway Just Launched a Disney Moana Meal

    • June 11, 2026
    • 3 min read

    Lavender Lemon Drop Martini

    • June 11, 2026
    • 11 min read

    The Meal That Exists Only Once

    • June 11, 2026
    • 9 min read

    Crispy Crab and Shrimp Queso Taquitos

    • June 11, 2026
    • 8 min read

    Tip of the Day

    “Always let your meat rest before slicing.”

    Whether you're roasting a chicken, grilling steak, or baking pork tenderloin, letting cooked meat rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing allows the juices to redistribute evenly. This simple step keeps your meat juicy and tender, ensuring every bite is flavorful and moist. Bonus: It gives you a moment to plate your sides or garnish for a perfect presentation!

    Our Latest Recipes

    Blog
    Daily Disher

    Your Rice Cooker Does Way More Than Rice — Here’s What You’re Missing

    The rice cooker’s steam function is one of the most underrated healthy cooking tools in your kitchen. Steaming preserves more nutrients than boiling or roasting — particularly water-soluble vitamins like B and C that break down with heat and water exposure. If your rice cooker came with a steam tray, use it to cook vegetables or fish while your grains cook below. One appliance, one button, a complete and balanced meal with almost no effort.

    Read More »
    Blog
    Daily Disher

    The Stories Food Tells About Who We Are

    Research on cultural identity and dietary health consistently finds that people with strong connections to their cultural food traditions — who cook and eat the foods of their heritage regularly — tend to have better dietary diversity, stronger social bonds around mealtimes, and greater overall meal satisfaction than those who have lost connection with their food heritage. The cultural dimension of food is not separate from its nutritional dimension — the context, meaning, and community that traditional food provides are themselves health-supportive in ways that the nutritional content alone does not capture.

    Read More »
    Entrees
    Benjamin Brown

    Grilled Salmon with Orange Maple Glaze

    Salmon is one of the richest dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart and brain health, as well as high-quality protein and vitamin D. Using maple syrup rather than refined sugar in the glaze provides trace minerals including manganese and zinc alongside its sweetness, and grilling rather than pan-frying keeps the added fat minimal while delivering maximum caramelized flavor.

    Read More »

    Get your daily dose of delicious!

    Skip to content