A pound of ground beef, a sheet of refrigerated pie crust, and a hot air fryer — that’s really all it takes to pull off a tray of golden, flaky empanadas without a pot of oil or a preheated oven. I’ve been making handheld pastries in my air fryer long enough to know that it does something the oven just can’t: it gets that crust shatteringly crisp all the way around, every single time, in under twenty minutes. Whether I’m stuffing them with thinly sliced ribeye and provolone for a weeknight dinner, sautéed spinach and ricotta for a vegetarian party tray, or jammy blueberries and goat cheese for something that feels genuinely fancy, the formula stays the same — fill, fold, crimp, air fry. No deep fryer, no mess, no babysitting a pot of hot oil. I’ve pulled together eight of my favorite recipes below, from classic savory beef to sweet Nutella turnovers. Once you see how fast these come together, your oven is going to start feeling very neglected.
1. Air Fryer Beef Empanadas
A pound of ground beef, refrigerated pie crust, and a cup of sharp cheddar get you a dozen crispy, golden empanadas in about twenty minutes. The air fryer does all the crisping without a drop of hot oil, and the filling stays juicy inside that flaky shell. These are the ones that disappear off the tray before I even set it down.
2. Air Fryer Spinach and Cheese Empanadas
Buttery sautéed spinach, creamy ricotta, and sharp Parmesan tucked inside a crust that the air fryer gets crisper than the oven ever will — these are the vegetarian option that even the meat-eaters in my house fight over. Thirty minutes start to finish, and they work just as well on a party tray as they do on a weeknight dinner plate with a simple salad.
3. Air Fryer Breakfast Empanadas
Scrambled eggs, melty cheese, and whatever breakfast meat you have on hand, all sealed inside a crispy golden pocket. The air fryer gets them done so fast they’re genuinely grab-and-go, which is exactly what busy mornings call for. Make a batch on Sunday and you’re set for the whole week.
4. Air Fryer Cheesesteak Empanadas
Thinly sliced ribeye, sweet onions, green peppers, and melty provolone tucked inside flaky biscuit dough and air fried until deep golden brown — everything you love about a Philly cheesesteak, wrapped into a handheld pocket. They’re on the table in under twenty minutes with no deep fryer and no mess.
5. Air Fryer Blueberry Goat Cheese Empanadas
Fresh blueberries burst into a jammy filling while the goat cheese melts into something tangy and custardy — nothing like the cloying fruit filling you get out of a can. These feel genuinely fancy, and they take under thirty minutes. The combination sounds unexpected until you taste it, and then it just makes sense.
6. Air Fryer Frozen Empanadas
Some days there’s no time to make dough from scratch, and that’s exactly why I keep a stash of frozen empanadas in my freezer. The air fryer takes them straight from frozen to perfectly golden brown in minutes, with a crisp exterior and a warm, flavorful filling — no thawing, no extra oil required.
7. Air Fryer Strawberry Nutella Turnovers
Warm pastry, melting Nutella, and sweet fresh strawberries — the smell alone coming out of the air fryer is enough to bring everyone to the kitchen. These come together in under ten minutes and look impressive enough to serve to guests. Rich chocolate hazelnut and bright berry is one of those flavor combinations that just works.
8. Air Fryer Blackberry Hand Pies
When blackberries are in season, this is where they go. The filling bursts with natural sweetness and just enough tartness to keep things interesting, all wrapped in a crispy, golden crust that the air fryer nails every time. Simple to make and perfect for packing up and taking to a summer picnic.
