Air Fryer Empanadas

Ingredients

1 pounds ground beef I used 80/20
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp chili powders
1/4 tsp cumin
2 9-inch pie crusts
1/2 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
1 Tbs flour
chunky salsa for serving
sour cream for serving
vegetable oil spray

Directions

Start by browning the ground beef. Cook over medium/high heat on top of the stove. When the beef is halfway cooked, add the garlic powder, black pepper, chili powder, and cumin.

Once the ground beef is cooked all the way through and no longer pink drain the grease from it and add to a bowl. LET IT COOL COMPLETELY.

When the beef has cooled, remove one of the pie crusts from the refrigerator to start cutting out the circles. On a piece of wax or parchment paper add a small amount of flour and roll the pie crust out onto it.

Using a glass or biscuit cutter cut out 7-8 circles. There will be remaining dough. Pick it up and roll it together into a ball.

Using the same glass, roll the dough out into a circle again and cut additional circles. I can usually get 11-12 circles of dough out of each crust.

Add the cooled ground beef and shredded cheese onto one half of the pie crust circle. *Any additional ground beef that is leftover put into a freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to a month. To thaw, put in the refrigerator 24 hours before use.

The best way to make sure that they seal and you don’t make a mess of the air fryer basket, pinch the edges then fold the edges over. Crimp the folded edge with a fork.

Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with spray vegetable oil. Add the prepared empanadas to the basket. Spray the tops with additional oil or brush with melted butter.

Set the air fryer to 350 degrees and fry for 8 minutes. With a fork, gently flip each one. Spray again with oil or brush with butter and fry for 1 more minute.

Remove the empanadas from the basket and continue the process until they are all made, should take about 3-4 times.

Serve these with sour cream and salsa.