BUFFALO CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Buffalo Chicken Empanadas image

These Buffalo chicken empanadas are a great appetizer for football games or entertaining! Serve with your dip of choice--sour cream, guacamole, ranch, or blue cheese all work great. Enjoy!

Provided by Natalie Perry

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Pastries

Time 6h5m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into strips
1 cup Buffalo wing sauce (such as Frank's RedHot®)
½ (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cubed and softened
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup fine cornmeal
2 teaspoons white sugar
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
¾ cup water
2 large egg yolks
1 quart oil for frying

Steps:

Cook chicken and Buffalo sauce in a slow cooker on Low for 5 hours. Remove chicken and shred with 2 forks. Place in a bowl with cream cheese; stir until cheese cubes have melted and mixture is thick and smooth. Stir in celery and set filling aside.
Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until blended. Add shortening and process until combined, about 5 seconds. Add water and egg yolks; process until dough is very soft, about 5 minutes. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead dough until smooth. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
Divide dough into 24 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten into a 1/4-inch thick circle. Fill each circle with 1 to 2 tablespoons of chicken filling, fold in half, and press the edges together to firmly seal.
Heat 2 inches of oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place 4 to 5 empanadas into the hot oil and deep fry, flipping as necessary for even cooking, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with remaining empanadas.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 152.1 calories, Carbohydrate 13.6 g, Cholesterol 32 mg, Fat 8.2 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 6 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 351 mg, Sugar 0.5 g