Chicken Empanadas: Easy Game Day Snacks

Chicken empanadas are easy game day snacks that you can either bake or fry. This chicken empanadas recipe is filled with a creamy, spicy chicken and cheese mixture that’s sure to be a hit with your favorite football fans!  Of course, no game day snack is complete without a great dip and, for this easy empanadas recipe, I’ve chosen Heluva Good! Cheddar and Jalapeno Dip for  a little extra cheesy goodness. This post was sponsored by Heluva Good! as part of an Ambassador Program and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

For this recipe you’ll need: Cooked chicken breast, Cream of chicken soup, cheddar cheese, chicken broth, onion, poblano, cilantro, cumin, butter,  Cheddar cheese biscuit dough or your favorite unbaked biscuits, Heluva Good! Cheddar and Jalapeno Dip

Let’s face it – no great Game Day party (or Tailgating party for that matter) ever got called great without a fantastic dip. Let the other party goers serve plain old chips with their dips (the plebians!) but we’re going to step it up with these snack sized chicken empanadas and spicy Heluva Good! Cheddar and Jalapeno Dip. It’s spicy, cheesy, Tex-Mex overload – exactly the kind of football party food that disappears first.

Heluva Good! Dip is available in the dairy section at your local store – it’s easy to find pretty much anywhere. It comes in an assortment of flavors, each made with real sour cream and flavorful spices, including French Onion, Buttermilk Ranch, White Cheddar & Bacon, and Bodacious Onion. Any of those dips would work well with these easy chicken empanadas, too.

What Is an Empanada?

So, you may be wondering what in the world I am going on about when I say empanadas, especially if you aren’t from Texas or one of the Southwestern areas of the United States.

Popular in Latin American countries, the empanada comes from Spain. The name is derived from a Spanish word, empanar, which means to wrap in bread. Empanadas of all kinds have been around since Medieval  times.

Simply put, empanadas are pastry pockets filled with a spicy mixture and then usually deep fried. The filling can be any meat, cheese, bean, or vegetable and really is only limited by your imagination. They are super easy and you can even put them together, flash freeze them unbaked, and then bake them fresh right before your party!

How Do You Make Chicken Empanadas?

Wondering how to make authentic empanadas?

Ok – here’s the thing. Everyone makes empanadas differently. Remember I said that the fillings could be any one of a variety of ingredients?

Well, same with the dough. Empanadas can be made with:

• Puff pastry
• Pie dough
• Biscuit dough
• Crescent roll dough
• Yeast dough

It’s really up to you. For this chicken empanada recipe I’ve decided on my favorite cheese biscuit dough (link in the recipe) to add an extra layer of cheesy flavor.

Once you’ve decided on your dough you’ll cut it in your desired size and place a  little filling in the center. Fold the dough over to encase the filling and pinch to seal. That’s really all there is to it!

See, I told you these were easy!

Can Empanadas Be Baked in an Oven?

Although the traditional empanada is deep fried I prefer to bake mine. It’s quicker, easier, and less messy. Plus it saves a few calories, right?

To Bake Empanadas in an Oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 425F.
2. Brush empanadas with melted butter.
3. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes depending on the size of the empanadas.
4. Brush with melted butter and bake 5 minutes more, until golden.
5. Serve hot.

To Fry Empanadas

1. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375.
2. Gently drop empanadas into the oil, a few at a time.
3. Fry until crispy and golden.
4. Drain on absorbent paper.

Game’s Over – What to Do with the Leftover Chicken Empanadas?

If you have leftover chicken empanadas (unlikely) just cover them and refrigerate them. I have a shelf in the fridge dedicated to the stuff my kids can eat for snacks — all the leftover bits and pieces. Chicken empanadas microwave just fine and my kids eat them for breakfast on the way out the door if they’re available.

But the dip? Argh! If you are like me you hate, hate, hate wasting food and leftover dip seems to always get pushed back to the dark recesses of the fridge, am I right? No problem. Here are some great ways to use up your leftover Heluva Good! Cheddar and Jalapeno Dip.

• Tiny red potatoes can be steamed and put on toothpicks to be dipped with your chicken empanadas.
• Leftover Heluva Good! Cheddar and Jalapeno Dip is great as a sauce for boiled potatoes for a quick side dish.
• Warm is gently and spoon over cooked broccoli or cauliflower.
• Stir leftover dip into creamy soups for added flavor.
• Use as a spread on roast beef or ham sandwiches.
• Spoon into an omelet.
• Here’s a novel idea – use it as a chip dip!
• Use as a dip for pretzels.

Easy Chicken Empanadas Recipe

I like to add leftover empanadas to school lunches as a fun finger food. It’s a nice change from peanut butter and jelly! If you’re looking for more football party recipes give the fajita steak skewers a try. They go really well with this easy chicken empanadas recipe!

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Print

Easy Chicken Empanadas

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

40 mins

 

Tiny pockets of dough bursting with great Tex-Mex flavor! Easy Chicken Empanadas are perfect football party food or any time you need a yummy snack. A creamy, spicy chicken mixture is folded into dough and then baked to create this easy South of the Border appetizer.

: Appetizer

: Mexican, Tex-Mex

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 339 kcal

Author: Marye Audet

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter , melted - divided use
• 1/4 cup poblano pepper , diced
• 1/2 cup onion , diced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
• 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar , or Pepper Jack Cheese
• 1-1/2 pounds chicken breast , cooked and shredded
• 1 recipe Cheddar Cheese Biscuits , unbaked

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Add a little of the butter to a pan and heat until sizzling.

2. Saute the poblano peppers and onion in the butter until tender and onion is translucent. Add the remaining ingredients, except the biscuit dough, and simmer until well blended and the cheese is melted.

3. Pulse in a food processor until chicken is cut small.

4. Set aside.

5. Roll the biscuit dough out about 1/4-inch thick.

6. Cut with a small biscuit cutter.

7. Add a teaspoon or so of the filling to the middle of the biscuit.

8. Fold half the dough over the filling and pinch edges to seal.

To Bake

1. You may flash freeze at this point then store in a freezer container. When ready to bake continue as directed.

2. Preheat the oven to 425F.

3. Brush with melted butter.

4. Bake for 10 minutes.

5. Brush with more melted butter.

6. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes more, or until golden.

7. Serve hot.

To Fry

1. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375F.

2. Gently drop in a few chicken empanadas at a time being careful not to overcrowd.

3. Fry until golden.

4. Drain on paper towel.

5. Serve hot.

Recipe Notes

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Nutrition Facts

Easy Chicken Empanadas

Amount Per Serving

Calories 339 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 19g 29%

Saturated Fat 8g 40%

Cholesterol 87mg 29%

Sodium 759mg 32%

Potassium 420mg 12%

Total Carbohydrates 16g 5%

Sugars 1g

Protein 24g 48%

Vitamin A 9.3%

Vitamin C 5.9%

Calcium 12.9%

Iron 10.4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

If you liked these easy chicken empanadas you may also  like…

From left to right: Chicken Crescents, Italian Meatballs in Naan, Candied Jalapenos

A big thank you to Heluva Good! for partnering with Restless Chipotle to bring you this easy recipe.

Included in Meal Plan Monday#84 Link up… Check out all the cool recipes!