Walnut Free Easy Empanadas
Golden, flaky, and packed with a boldly spiced beef filling, these baked empanadas are the kind of hand-held meal that disappears fast at any table. The homemade dough comes together with butter, egg, and a splash of white vinegar — that little trick keeps the crust tender and just flaky enough without any fuss. Inside, ground beef gets layered with sautéed onion, red bell pepper, garlic, smoked paprika, and cumin, then finished with briny green olives and chopped hard-boiled eggs for a filling that's deeply savory and satisfying. Tree nut concerns are completely off the table here — every ingredient is straightforward pantry staple territory, so there's no need to scrutinize labels or worry about hidden nut-based additions sneaking into the dough or filling. Baking at 400°F gives the empanadas a gorgeous deep-golden crust that holds together beautifully when you pick one up. These are equally at home as a weeknight dinner, a party appetizer, or a meal-prep win you can reheat throughout the week.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
For the filling
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ cup green olives, pitted and roughly chopped
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and roughly chopped
For assembly
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and use your fingertips to work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining. In a small bowl, stir together the cold water, beaten egg, and white vinegar, then pour over the flour mixture. Stir with a fork until the dough just comes together — it should be shaggy but hold when pressed. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface, knead 3–4 times until smooth, then flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- 2
While the dough chills, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned throughout with no pink remaining, about 6–8 minutes. Drain off excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
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