Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Cheesy baked chicken empanadas are absolutely delicious and surprisingly easy to make. These are the perfect party food, or a fun and easy dinner!

Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Cheesy Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe

Chicken empanadas are the perfect handheld size for parties, appetizers, and quick meals.

These easy baked chicken empanadas are filled with lots of cheese, chicken, scallions, and some spices for an amazing flavor.

Whether you serve these for a quick dinner, a Cinco de Mayo party food, or on game day, you’ll see them disappear in the blink of an eye!

Why you’ll love this Easy Chicken Empanadas recipe:

  • PERFECT SIZE: These are easy to hold and eat on the go, which makes them a great party food.
  • BAKED NOT FRIED: Baked empanadas are a little bit lighter, and a lot easier to make in big batches.
  • EASY RECIPE: This recipe couldn’t be simpler. The filling is easy to make, and pre-made dough means it’s hassle-free.
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Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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How to make Chicken Empanadas from Scratch

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Preheat oven to 375F and prepare baking sheets. Set the dough out on the counter for 15 minutes before assembling the empanadas.
  2. Make the chicken empanada filling by combining ingredients (cheese, scallions, and spices) in a large bowl. Then gently add in the chicken (shredded or cubed).
  3. Roll out the dough and cut into a total of 14 pastry rounds.
  4. Whisk together an egg with water to make the egg wash, then brush it over the edges of the dough.
  5. Place 1 tablespoon of chicken filling in each pastry round, fold them over in half, and gently press the filling down to bring edges together.
  6. Brush them with the egg wash, press edges together, and use a fork to crimp the edges.
  7. Sprinkle them with sea salt, arrange them on the baking sheets, and make slits in each empanada.
  8. Bake 20-22 minutes, switching tray placement halfway through.
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Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

Is it better to bake or fry empanadas?

While fried empanadas will give you the crispiest results, I prefer baked empanadas. They’re easier to make, especially in large batches.

They’re also a little bit healthier without all the oil. And they end up just as delicious (and still pretty crispy)!

What goes with chicken empanadas for dinner?

If you want to serve these for dinner, add a few side dishes to bulk up the meal. I recommend making some rice, beans, and maybe a veggie or salad for something fresh.

Try this cilantro lime rice or Mexican rice, refried beans, and confetti corn salad or Peruvian chopped salad.

Can you make these ahead of time?

Yes, these can easily be made ahead of time. Follow the instructions right up until bake time, then cover them (uncooked) on the baking sheets with plastic wrap.

Refrigerate until ready to bake, up to 48 hours ahead of time. When ready to bake, just add 5-7 minutes to the listed cooking time.

If you want to partially prepare things, you can also cook the chicken, or even make the entire chicken mixture, ahead of time, and store it in the refrigerator up to 2 days.

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Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

Tips!

  • You can make your own dough for this recipe if you want to make them fully from scratch, but using store-bought pastry dough really speeds things up.
  • Be sure to make small slits in the dough to allow steam to release while baking (otherwise you’ll end up with messy, exploding empanadas).
  • The egg wash gives them a nice color, helps hold the dough together, and leaves you with a crispier finish. So don’t skip it!
  • 1 tablespoon of filling is the perfect amount for this size of dough. Don’t overfill or the empanadas might leak filling.
  • To store leftovers: tightly wrap chicken empanadas in aluminum foil, or place them in resealable bags and remove as much air as you can. Keep them in the fridge up to 3 days.
Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

Make a batch of these cheesy baked chicken empanadas for your next quick dinner or party and be sure to serve them wit some delicious dipping options!

More Mexican Inspired Recipes we Love

  • Beef Folded Tortillas Quesadilla
  • Corn Tamales
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • Chicken Taquitos
  • Baked Chicken Tacos
  • Easy Chilaquiles
  • Homemade Mexican Pizzas
  • Sweet Potato Empanadas

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe

Baked Cheesy Chicken Empanadas Recipe

4.67 from 59 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Cook: 22 minutes minutes

Total: 37 minutes minutes

Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

Serves14 empanadas

Cheesy baked chicken empanadas are absolutely delicious and surprisingly easy to make. These are the perfect party food, or a fun and easy dinner!

Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (12)

Email This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 2 ounces Queso Fresco softened
  • 1 teaspoons chili powder I love Penzey’s Chili 9000
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup shredded Pepper Jack
  • 2 scallions thinly sliced
  • 1 cups shredded or cubed cooked chicken
  • 2 Pillsbury Pie Crusts or Homemade
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon water

Topping:

  • Flake Sea Salt optional
  • Serve with:
  • Apple Jicama Slaw with Honey-Chipotle Vinaigrette
  • Sliced avocadoes
  • Diced fresh tomatoes

Instructions

  • Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 375°F. Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil and spray lightly with nonstick spray.

  • If using store-bought pie dough, set it on the counter 15 minutes before using.

  • In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, Queso Fresco, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, Pepper Jack and scallions with an electric mixer on medium speed. Add chicken and mix until incorporated; set aside.

  • Unroll the dough and use a rolling pin to create a 12” round. With a 4” round cookie cutter, cut the dough into 7 (4-inch) rounds per pie crust.

  • Make an egg wash by whisking 1 egg with 1-teaspoon water.

To Make the Empanadas:

  • Brush the edges of the dough rounds with egg wash.

  • Place 1 rounded tablespoon of chicken filling in the middle of each pastry round and fold the dough over to form a half-moon empanada. Press the filling down a little to bring the dough together.

  • Brush each empanada with egg wash.

  • Press the edges of the dough together and then use a table fork, to crimp the edges to seal.

  • Lightly sprinkle the empanadas with flake sea salt, if desired.

  • Place the empanadas, 1-2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.

  • Make 3 tiny slits in the top of each empanada to release steam.

  • See *Note if making ahead.

  • Place a tray on the upper-middle oven rack and the lower-middle oven rack. Bake at 375°F for 20-22 minutes switching and rotating baking sheets halfway through baking. Cool a few minutes then serve with avocado slices and Apple-Jicama Slaw (or just the Honey-Chipotle Vinaigrette).

  • Enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

Note for making ahead: The empanadas may be made up to two days ahead. Cover the uncooked empanadas, on the baking sheets, with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Add 5-7 minutes cooking time when baking.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 180kcal (9%) Carbohydrates: 13g (4%) Protein: 5g (10%) Fat: 12g (18%) Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 30mg (10%) Sodium: 188mg (8%) Potassium: 64mg (2%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 266IU (5%) Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) Calcium: 70mg (7%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Baked Chicken Empanadas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

Should empanadas be baked or fried? ›

Both cooking methods produce delicious empanadas. If you want a healthier merienda, bake them in the oven. If you're working with less time, frying them is the way to go. Try both and ask your loved ones to vote on their favorite.

How long do baked empanadas last? ›

If empanadas have been baked, shelf-life up to 7 days refrigerated (we don't recommend freezing them after baking.)

Can you use baking powder to make empanada dough? ›

For the empanada dough: Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the lard with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and then whisk in the stock. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and knead until a dough forms.

Can you bake store bought empanada dough? ›

Our line of ready-to-use flour dough discs are the #1 ingredient for preparing a wide variety of empanadas, a favorite in Latin America and around the world. Discover our extensive line of products in the freezer section, which includes discs that can be baked or fried, and come in a variety of sizes and colors.

How do you keep empanadas crispy? ›

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

Is empanada dough the same as pie crust? ›

While pie dough is designed to be flaky, empanada dough is meant to be more tender. Pastry for empanadas has a higher flour-to-fat ratio, making it sturdy and perfect for wrapping around meaty fillings. Some recipes use lard or an additional egg as the fat source, but our recipe keeps it simple and easy with butter.

What are three types of empanadas? ›

Argentine empanadas with beef, cheese, or chicken. Chilean empanadas with beef, cheese, or seafood. Mexican empanadas with spicy beef, potato, or pumpkin.

What do you serve with empanadas? ›

Check our Mexican rice, Spanish rice, cilantro rice, yellow rice, salsa verde pinto beans, slow cooker black beans, refried beans, street corn salad (esquites from elote) and street corn skillet. Also, avocado salad and black bean and corn salad. We have fried plantains, too!

Are empanadas unhealthy? ›

While it's quite tasty, it isn't the healthiest meal you can consume. The great news is you can still get your empanada fix with all the flavor, but less calories, fat, and more nutrition with healthier versions.

Why put vinegar in empanada dough? ›

Adding a little vinegar to your dough will result in a tender, pliable, and flaky crust because it slightly inhibits gluten development, leading to a crust that is flakier and easier to work with. The great thing about vinegar is that you really only need a little bit of it to help your pie/empanada dough.

Which dough is best for empanadas? ›

Empanada dough is less flaky than pie crust (although you can substitute frozen pie crust dough in a pinch). It has a more tender texture that soaks up the filling without becoming soggy. This dough can be used for baked or fried empanadas, which are both great handheld dishes.

Why are my empanadas falling apart? ›

Always cool your filling before assembling your empanada. The steam from a hot or warm filling may cause your pastry to become soggy and it may cause this to fall apart.

Can goya empanada dough be baked? ›

Share this product using: Prepare flavorful homemade empanadas easily with convenient GOYA® Tapas Criollas – Dough for Turnover Pastries, which are perfect for baking or frying.

Should I freeze empanadas before baking? ›

Freeze the sheet of unbaked empanadas until solid, then transfer into a freezer bag. Frozen empanadas will keep for up to three months and can be baked straight from the freezer. Add a few extra minutes to the cooking time. Fully baked empanadas can also be frozen, though they lose a bit of their flaky texture.

Can you refrigerate baked empanadas? ›

Cooked empanadas can be kept in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, bake them at 400 F for about 8 minutes. Microwave ovens are not recommended, but you won't be the first one if you try it.

Can I bake goya empanadas instead of frying? ›

Famous for their flavorful filling, these Argentinean-style empanadas are made with ground beef perfectly seasoned with GOYA® Adobo All-Purpose Seasoning with Pepper, garlic, raisins, onions, eggs, and chopped olives. Wrap the mixture in GOYA® Empanada Dough-Puff Pastry for Baking and bake.

Is an empanada is a stuffed bread or pastry baked or fried in many countries of Latin America and the south of Europe? ›

An empanada is a stuffed bread or pastry baked or fried in many countries of Latin America and the south of Europe. The name comes from the verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread. Empanada is made by folding a dough or bread patty around the stuffing.

How do you make empanadas crispy again? ›

Preheat your toaster oven to 300°F and place the empanadas inside to warm through for 10 minutes. Whether you are using a skillet or a deep fryer, you need to preheat enough oil to completely cover the empanadas and fry them for about 5-7 minutes.

Should you thaw empanadas before frying? ›

Pro tip: after buying our Minnesota frozen empanadas, you don't even need to thaw them before cooking them! Our packaging offers instructions for cooking our empanadas, but here's a more in-depth look at how to create a perfectly crisped and golden snack.

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