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Golden baked chicken empanadas on a parchment-lined baking sheet fresh from the oven

Shredded Chicken Empanadas

Golden baked chicken empanadas filled with juicy shredded chicken, bell peppers, and warm spices. Easy to make and perfect for weeknight dinners or make-ahead meals.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 10 empanadas
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Latin American
Calories: 200

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp neutral oil vegetable or canola oil
  • 0.5 yellow onion diced
  • 2 bell peppers, any color diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken rotisserie chicken recommended
  • 1 cup water
  • 10 frozen empanada dough rounds such as Goya, thawed
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten, for egg wash

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Fork for crimping
  • Pastry brush

Method
 

  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and stir for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Stir in the tomato paste, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes until the tomato paste darkens and the spices smell toasty. Do not rush this step as it builds the deep flavor base of the filling.
  3. Add the shredded chicken and water. Stir to combine and simmer until most of the liquid evaporates and the chicken is juicy and well-coated, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for best results.
  4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place thawed dough rounds on a clean work surface and spoon about 2 tablespoons of filling onto the center of each round. Do not overfill.
  5. Moisten the edges of each dough round with water. Fold one half over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Press edges firmly together then crimp all the way around with a fork to fully seal. A good seal prevents leaks during baking.
  6. Brush the tops with the beaten egg. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until deep golden brown and crispy. Let cool a few minutes before serving as the filling holds a lot of heat inside.

Notes

For the juiciest filling, use rotisserie chicken. Chilling the filling before assembling makes it much easier to work with and prevents leaks. To freeze after baking: wrap individually in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes.