Best Cheese Empanadas Recipes

EMPANADAS DE QUESO CON RAJAS (POBLANO CHILE AND CHEESE EMPANADAS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place poblano directly on the grates of a gas stove. Cook over medium heat, flipping with tongs occasionally, until blackened and charred, about 5 minutes. Place in a sealed plastic bag and allow to cool, 7 to 8 minutes. Peel off charred skins, remove seeds, and cut flesh into 1-inch squares.
• Place 1 1/2 tablespoons Manchego cheese onto each empanada disc. Top each with 1/2 tablespoon poblano peppers. Fold dough over on top of filling to close. Wet fingers with water and run them along the edges to help seal. Press edges together. Place empanadas on the prepared baking sheet and brush with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 24 to 26 minutes.

BUFFALO CHICKEN EMPANADAS WITH BLUE CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute onion and green pepper in oil until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., In a large bowl, combine the chicken, mozzarella cheese, wing sauce, salt and pepper. Stir in the onion mixture., On a lightly floured surface, unroll 1 pie crust. Roll out into a 12-in. circle. Cut with a floured 3-in. biscuit cutter. Remove excess crust and reroll scraps. Repeat with remaining pie crusts., Beat eggs and water; brush over edges of 3-in. pie crust circles. Place heaping teaspoonfuls of filling in the centers. Fold crust in half over filling. Press edges with a fork to seal., Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Brush with remaining egg mixture. Bake at 400° until golden brown, 9-12 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened, 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add blue cheese; cook and stir until cheese is melted and sauce thickens, 2 minutes longer. Serve with empanadas.

SPINACH AND CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In the bowl of a standing electric mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on high speed until very smooth, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl, as necessary. Reduce the mixer speed to low, add the flour, little by little, and the salt, and process until just combined. Turn the dough out onto a slightly floured surface and knead lightly. Form the dough into a disk, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
• Heat 1 teaspoon of the reserved bacon drippings in a medium nonstick skillet and, when hot, add the spinach. Cook, stirring frequently, until the spinach is wilted and has released its liquid, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the spinach to a colander to drain. When the spinach has cooled enough to handle, squeeze to release any excess water, then transfer to a cutting board and finely chop. Set aside.
• Add 2 more teaspoons of the bacon drippings to the same skillet, then add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the reserved spinach, crumbled bacon, cottage cheese, salt and pepper to taste and nutmeg and mix thoroughly. Transfer to a mixing bowl and allow to cool thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and, working on a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough to a thickness of about 1/8-inch thick. Using a small bowl or saucer as a guide, cut the dough into as many 5-inch circles as possible. Gather the scraps of dough together and knead lightly to reform the dough into a disk. Roll out as before and again cut as many rounds as you can. You should be able to get 10 to 12 rounds. Divide the spinach filling evenly among the dough circles. Using your fingers, lightly moisten the edges with some of the beaten egg, then fold 1 side over so that the edges meet, and press to seal. Crimp the edges using the tines of a fork and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all of the empanadas are assembled. Brush the tops of each empanada with some of the beaten egg and bake uncovered until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Serve either warm or at room temperature.

FLAKY CHORIZO POTATO AND CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Mix well. - Add the 2 tbsp. of cooking oil and vodka - Add water a little at a time and mix using your hands - Knead. Dough should be firm but not dry. Adjust water amounts accordingly. - Form into one large ball and cover. Let stand for 30 min. - After thirty minutes, stretch out dough with a roller as thin as possible
• 2. - Using a round cookie cutter or a cup, cut dough circles. The number of empanadas will depend on the size of you cup or cookie cutter. - Pass roller over circles a couple of more times then place about 1 to 1 1/2 tbsp. of stuffing on one side of circle. Fold one side over mixture forming a crescent. Pinch edges to keep stuffing from escaping. - Heat oil in pan. Once oil is hot, fry empanadas, turning them over every couple of minutes until both sides are golden brown.
• 3. Stuffing: In a pan, add chorizo and onion. Cook stirring until chorizo breaks apart. Add cubed potatoes and salt to taste. Cover and leave cooking until potatoes are soft. Uncover and cook for 5-10 more minutes until liquid evaporates. There shouldn't be any oil on the bottom of the pan. If the mixture is too moist, the juices will escape the dough making it difficult t fry. Before scooping mixture into empanadas, cube the cheese and add to mixture.

CHICKEN AND CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix chicken with Swiss cheese, red pepper, onion and pepper.
• In a 1 1/2-2 quart saucepan, mix broth with cornstarch; add cream cheese, whisk over high heat until mixture is boiling (it will be very thick), 2 to 3 minutes; scrape over chicken mixture and combine well, adding salt to taste.
• On a lightly floured board, unroll the pizza crust dough; cut each rectangle crosswise into thirds; on one end of each piece, mound about 5 tablespoons chicken mixture; fold the other end of dough over filling to form a rectangle, then fold edges together and pinch to seal.
• Gently place empanadas, slightly apart, on a greased 12 by 15-inch baking sheet; in a small bowl, beat egg to blend; brush generously over each pastry.
• Bake in a 375° oven until richly browned, about 22 to 25 minutes; transfer to a rack and let cool at least 10 minutes.
• Serve hot or warm.

GUAVA AND CREAM CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• For the empanada dough: Mix all empanada ingredients in a mixer. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
• For the filling: Put the guava paste and cream cheese in a bowl and use a potato masher to mash the two ingredients until they are incorporated.
• To form the empanadas, use half of dough (save remaining dough for another use). Knead the dough. Roll the dough out by hand or with a commercial sheeter. Cut out circles of dough 6- to 7-inches in diameter. Place a dough circle in an empanada mold if you have one, but it?s not necessary; fill empanadas with guava mixture. Wet the edges of the dough with your fingers. Close the mold to seal, or fold dough over filling and use the tines of a fork to seal the edges. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Use a pastry brush to paint empanadas with an even coat of egg wash, then sprinkle with sugar.
• Preheat convection oven to 450 degrees F, or regular oven to 400 degrees F. Place empanadas on greased baking sheets. Bake for 3 minutes in convection oven or 10 to 15 minutes in regular oven.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO GOAT CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until softened, 4-5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 30-40 minutes. Remove from heat. Let cool slightly. Gently stir in goat cheese and tomatoes., Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. round biscuit cutter. Place circles 2 in. apart on baking sheets. Place 1 heaping tsp. of filling on 1 side of each circle. Brush edges of pastry with water; fold circles in half. With a fork, press edges to seal. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes.

EMPANADAS DE JAMON, QUESO, Y HUEVO DURO (HAM, CHEESE, AND HARD-BOILED EGG EMPANADAS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
• Combine ham, Gouda cheese, and hard-boiled eggs in a bowl; mix well.
• Arrange pastry disks on a flat surface; dab a little water around the rims. Place a large tablespoonful of ham and cheese mixture in the center; fold pastry over and press edge with a fork to seal well.
• Place empanadas on the prepared baking sheets. Brush with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

EASY MUSHROOM-GOAT CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to center; heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, stirring until moisture evaporates, about 5 minutes. Stir in chilies, garlic, cilantro, salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in goat cheese until cheese melts. Cool to room temperature.
• Separate biscuits onto a cornmeal-coated work surface. Sprinkle with cornmeal as necessary, and roll each one into a 5 inch circle. Fill each one, using a scant 2 Tbs. filling and leaving a 1/2-inch border. Place on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. (At this point, can be frozen up to 2 weeks.)
• Brush tops with oil. Bake until golden, 16 to 20 minutes (longer if frozen). Makes 20.

CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Mixing by hand, combine 2 cups warm water, the shortening and salt in a medium bowl. Slowly add the flour, mixing quickly to avoid lumps. Knead until the ingredients are evenly combined. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then shape into small balls (about 3 ounces each).
• Using a hand tortilla press, place a piece of waxed paper on the bottom, center a dough ball on top and cover with another piece of waxed paper. Gently press down to flatten the ball into a thin circle (not too thin or it will crack). Alternatively, you can use a wooden board or large plate to press the dough.
• Remove the top paper and add 1 tablespoon of the cheese to the middle of the pressed dough. Carefully fold one edge of the circle over the cheese to the other edge, and press the edges together to close the empanada. Using a small bowl, place it over the empanada close to the edge and press down slightly to cut the edge and evenly seal it. Repeat with the remaining dough and cheese. Set the empanadas on a large platter and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, add enough vegetable oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. Gently remove the wax paper from each empanada and fry two to four at a time (depending on the pan size) until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Serve immediately.

LEEK, PROSCIUTTO AND CHEESE EMPAñADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• In a small heavy skillet cook leek and prosciutto in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until leek is softened. Add water and cook, covered, over low heat until leek is soft, about 10 minutes. Pour off any excess water. Remove skillet from heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Let filling cool completely and stir in cheese.
• Roll out puff pastry on lightly floured surface into a 12-inch square and with a 4-inch round cutter cut out 4 rounds.
• Divide filling among rounds, mounding it in the center, and brush edges of rounds with water. Fold rounds in half, pressing edges together firmly, and crimp edges with tines of fork to seal well.Empanadas may be prepared up to this point 1 day in advance and dept covered and chilled.
• Arrange empanadas on a dampened baking sheet and brush with egg wash. Prick top of each empanada several times with fork (for steam vents). Bake empanadas in upper third of oven until puffed and golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

FRIED MUSHROOM AND CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet. Add onion and sauté on medium until soft. Add mushrooms and sauté until ingredients start to brown. Add wine and cook, stirring, until it evaporates. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Roll dough as thin as possible. Cut 3-inch circles. Scraps can be re-rolled one time. Place some cheese on one half of each circle and top with mushroom mixture, leaving a 1/2 -inch border around filling. Brush egg on empty side of circle, fold dough over to make a half-circle and tightly crimp edges.
• Heat vegetable oil 2 inches deep in a deep-fryer, sauté pan or wok. When oil reaches 375 degrees, fry empanadas, six at a time, a few minutes on each side, until lightly browned. Drain on absorbent paper. Allow to cool briefly before serving.

CHORIZO, SPINACH AND CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in spinach and salsa. Stir in cheese.
• On ungreased large cookie sheet, unroll pie crusts. Cut each pie crust in half. Divide sausage mixture onto half of each crust half, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edge.
• Fold untopped portion of each crust over filling; press with fork, or roll and flute with fingers to seal. Prick tops of empanadas several times with fork. Brush with beaten egg.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with additional salsa, if desired.

HAM & CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375º F.
• Roll pie crust into 12-inch circle on lightly floured surface; cut into 8 wedges. Separate wedges, then roll each, 1 at a time, to make 1/2 inch wider on all sides.
• Combine ham and cheese; spoon onto centers of pastry wedges. Roll up each wedge, starting at wide end. Place, point sides down, on parchment-covered baking sheet; top with olives.
• Bake 16 min. or until golden brown.

CORN, CHEESE & CHILLI EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Make the filling by mixing the corn, coriander, spring onion, cheese and chilli with some seasoning.
• Unroll the pastry sheet, roll a little thinner with a rolling pin, then use a 10cm circle cutter to cut out circles of pastry. (You should get 6 circles, then re-roll the trimmings for 2 more.) Brush edges of the circles with a little of the beaten egg, then spoon a couple of teaspoonfuls of filling mixture onto each. Fold over one half of the pastry, and seal by pinching the edge with your fingers, until you have 8 small pastyshaped empanadas. Arrange on a baking parchment lined baking sheet, brush with the rest of the egg and scatter with sesame seeds. Cover and chill for at least 30 mins before baking.
• To serve, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6 and bake for 20 mins until golden and crisp.

HAM, POTATO, CHEESE EMPANADAS !

Steps:

• 1. Unroll the pre rolled pie crust onto floured board. Roll out thinner to about a 10 x 14 inch rectangle. Using a 4 inch round biscuit cutter, make 8 - 9 circles of dough from each sheet of dough. (pat dough scraps together and re-roll. Keep repeating until the dough is used up... (save any scraps to fry up). As you make the circles and scraps, place them on a wax paper lined baking sheet.
• 2. Chop up the ham, shred the mozzarella, and put into a bowl. Add the potatoes, ranch dressing, and spices.
• 3. Put about 1 heaping Tablespoon of the Ham mixture in your hand and form into a small log. Place onto a circle of crust, add 1 or 2 pieces of the American cheese. Dip your finger into water and dampen the outer area of the dough circle. Gently fold over the dough circle and seal (try not to poke any holes in the dough). Place on wax paper lined baking sheet. Repeat until all are done.
• 4. *** If you run out of filling and have more circles, you can either open up a can of pie filling, make a different filling by scrambling eggs and adding sausage and cheese. OR.. cut up the dough for frying.
• 5. Freeze on baking sheet. When solid, put in zipper bags and return to freezer. Or... cook them up... or both!
• 6. Heat the oil, fry one or two at a time until light golden brown. Put on paper towel lined dish to drain oil. Serve hot!
• 7. If cooking scraps up... Put them in oil, fry until golden brown, put on paper towels. Coat with sugar and cinnamon mixture.

CHICKEN & CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add 1/4 cup water, stirring until mixture forms ball. Knead dough on lightly floured surface 5 min. or until smooth and elastic. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate while preparing empanada filling.
• Cook chicken, onions and peppers in nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 5 min. or until chicken is no longer pink. Add salsa; cook and stir 2 min. Cool completely. Heat oven to 375ºF. Divide dough into 6 pieces; roll out each piece on lightly floured surface to 7-inch round. Place in single layer on parchment-covered baking sheet.
• Stir cheese into chicken mixture; spoon about 1/2 cup onto half of each dough round. Beat egg and remaining water until blended; brush onto edges of dough rounds.
• Fold dough rounds in half to enclose filling; press tops lightly to remove excess air. Seal edges with fork. Brush with remaining egg. Bake 18 to 20 min. or until golden brown.

HAM AND CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Melt butter in saucepan on medium-low heat.
• Whisk flour into butter, and increase heat to medium. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes.
• Whisk milk into flour/butter mixture and bring to boil, stirring. Sauce will thicken slightly.
• Whisk 2 eggs into mixture and cook, stirring, for 1 -2 minutes more or until sauce has thickened.
• Add grated cheese and parmesan and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add cayenne pepper and salt to taste.
• Roll out 1 sheet of puff pastry dough on a floured surface to 12 inches square. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough into 12 3 x 4 inch rectangles.
• .Mix egg yolk with water, and brush the edges of half of the rectangles with the egg yolk mixture.
• Place a piece of ham in the center of the rectangles brushed with egg yolk. There should be an edge of dough all around the ham. Top ham with 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture.
• Cover the ham and cheese with one of the plain rectangles, and firmly press down around the edges to seal.
• Repeat with other sheet of puff pastry. Pastries may be frozen at this point, or kept in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours before baking.
• Prick the top of the empanadas several times with a fork, and brush tops lightly with the egg yolk mixture.
• Bake 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

POBLANO CREAM CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese and poblanos until well incorporated. Season the filling with salt and pepper.
• Unfold 1 sheet puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Using a floured rolling pin, roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 5-inch diameter cutter, cut out 4 circles. Repeat with the remaining puff pastry sheet. Spoon 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture in the center of each round. Brush the edge of each circle with egg wash and fold each empanada into a half moon. Crimp the edges with a fork.
• Transfer the empanadas to the prepared baking sheet and brush them with the remaining egg wash. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve warm.

EMPANADAS WITH HAM, CHEESE AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 F and lightly grease two baking trays.
• Combine olives, ham and cheddar in a bowl. Cut about five 4-inch rounds from each pastry sheet. Spoon a tablespoon of the filling into the center of each round, fold the pastry over and crimp the edges to seal.
• Place the pastries on the trays about 2 cm apart. Brush with the egg yolk and bake in the center or top half of oven for 15 minutes, or until well browned and puffed. Swap the trays around and cook another 10 minutes, covering loosely with foil if the empanadas start to brown too much. Serve hot.