Every year, National Empanada Day is celebrated on April 8. But can we be totally honest with you? We don't need a special day to celebrate empanadas, because we are fans of these delicious stuffed pastries all year long. Still, it's not like we're going to pass up an opportunity to sing the praises of one of our favorite dishes! So let us be clear on where we stand: Long live empanadas! And to make sure that their legacy prevails, we've put together some incredible recipes for you to try. You are welcome.
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Before we get to all the recipes, though, let's talk about these edible gems known as empanadas for a second. First off, the name comes from em pamar, a verb in Galician, Portuguese, and Spanish that means to cover in bread, which is pretty much the definition of an empanada. It's a filling covered in bread. There are so many different versions of empanadas throughout the world. Think Venezuelan, Chilean, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and so on. We've even included a Senegalese recipe for you to check out. Now, go on—take a look at these recipes, and make some empanadas!
These Venezuelan empanadas with mozzarella are a cheese lover's dream.
Since these particular empanadas are all about the cheese, you really want to use great cheese. You want the kind of mozzarella that melts into stringy goodness when pulled apart. Get the recipe here.
Empanadas made out of plantains instead of traditional dough.
What makes these empanadas special is that the dough part is made using plátano maduro. It's pretty clever, actually. They also aren't fried, which adds to the appeal if you are trying to stay away from fried foods. Get the recipe here.
Say hello to potato corn empanadas with a parsley dip.
They've got some cheese up in them, too, and you know that the combo of cheese, corn, and potatoes is some kind of wonderful. Add the dip, and it's like bonus flavor! Get the recipe here.
Try Senegalese fataya.
In Senegal, these lovelies are called fataya. Let's say they are empanada-like in many ways because there's dough that's been filled with something yummy, and they end up looking like little hand pies. This particular version is made with beef.
Get the full recipe here.
These chorizo empanadas are served with a habanero dipping sauce.
We wouldn't turn down an empanada for not having a dipping sauce, but we certainly appreciate when there is one. The habanero dipping sauce in this recipe uses ranch as the base. Get the recipe here.
Piloncillo and pecan empanadas are a sweet treat.
Piloncillo is used in Mexican cooking and is basically unrefined sugar. It's made out of reduced sugar cane juice that gets made into the shape of cones, hence the name. It’s delicious, and combining it with pecans to make sweet empanadas is genius. Get the recipe here.
Have bacon, egg, and cheddar empanadas for breakfast.
You could make a bunch of these and freeze them so that they are always available for breakfast—or lunch or dinner. It's not like they are only good at breakfast time. Get the recipe here.
Indulge in potato, ground beef, and pea empanadas dipped in a creamy sauce.
What we love about this recipe is that it reminds you that you can really make empanadas out of just about anything. If you've got leftovers, use them. If you have frozen veggies, use them. Use whatever you have on hand. Get the recipe here.
Good ol' chicken empanadas.
This is a great recipe for chicken empanadas. It uses premade empanada shells that are sold in packs of 10. If you want to make things even easier on yourself, you could use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to make the filling. Get the recipe here.
Or you could be extra and make shredded chicken empanadas from scratch.
There are times when you want to make something from scratch, and if you're feeling that way, then it might be the perfect time to make these shredded chicken empanadas. That way, when everyone is talking about how yummy they are, you can say, "I made them from scratch!" Get the recipe here.
Give these Ecuadorian empanadas a try!
OK, these empanadas have a cheese filling and are sprinkled with sugar, but there's more! The dough has orange juice in it. Tell us you're not intrigued. Get the recipe here.
Got an air fryer? Try these beef empanadas.
Do you love your air fryer and want more recipes you can use with it? We got ya! These air-fried beef empanadas are going to be a hit at your home, so make A LOT of them. Get the recipe here.
Make these mouthwatering avocado, black bean, and queso fresco empanadas.
Empanadas are nothing if not versatile, which means you can most certainly make vegetarian versions. This version uses black beans, queso fresco, and avocado to create a delicacy that even staunch meat eaters will appreciate. Get the recipe here.
You will love these sausage empanadas with a secret ingredient.
What's the secret ingredient? It's grated apple! Yup, the recipe calls for grated apple, and you'll be grateful once you take a bite. There's so much flavor in these that you'll want to make them time and time again. Get the recipe here.
Take a break from chicken or beef and try minced pork empanadas.
You can make these as a starter, or they can be the main dish. The seasonings include smoked paprika, cumin, cinnamon, chili flakes, and nutmeg. Think of the scents that will fill your home. YUM! Get the recipe here.
