Easy Cheesy Beef Empanada Bake Recipe : Quick 30-Minute Dinner Idea

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Are you tired of the same old ground beef recipes? Looking for quick dinner ideas that don’t involve another boring casserole? This Cheesy Beef Empanada Bake is about to become your new weeknight hero! Imagine golden, flaky empanada wrappers filled with perfectly seasoned ground beef and gooey melted cheese, all baked to crispy perfection in your oven. It’s one of those easy hamburger meat recipes that looks impressive but comes together in just 30 minutes.

Whether you’re planning lazy dinners after a long day or need healthy dinner recipes that actually satisfy hungry appetites, this empanada bake checks all the boxes. The combination of cumin, oregano, and fresh jalapeño creates an explosion of flavor that transforms simple ground meat into something truly special. Plus, it’s completely customizable – swap the beef for ground chicken if you’re exploring ground chicken recipes, or add extra veggies for a nutritional boost.

Why This Is One of the Best Easy Meals With Ground Beef

Ground beef is a kitchen staple for good reason – it’s affordable, versatile, and cooks quickly. This recipe takes all those advantages and elevates them with restaurant-quality presentation. Unlike traditional hamburger meat recipes that can feel repetitive, these empanada bakes offer individual portions that make serving and portion control effortless. Each golden pocket is perfectly portioned, making them ideal for meal prep, freezing for later, or serving at parties.

The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity. You don’t need fancy equipment or complicated techniques. Just a good frying pan for browning the meat, some basic kitchen utensils, and baking sheets for finishing them in the oven. This is the kind of dinner idea with ground beef that makes you look like a culinary genius without breaking a sweat.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s everything you need to make this incredible ground meat recipe for dinner. Most of these ingredients are probably already in your pantry!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Empanada Bake

Preparing Your Workspace

Before you begin, preheat your oven to 375°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Having everything ready makes the assembly process smooth and efficient. Grab a good cutting board and sharp chef’s knife for prepping your vegetables.

Making the Beef Filling

1. Sauté the aromatics: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in your frying pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring frequently with your kitchen utensils, until it becomes translucent (about 3-4 minutes).

2. Add jalapeño and garlic: Toss in the diced jalapeño and continue cooking for 3 more minutes. The jalapeño should soften but still have a bit of texture. Add the minced garlic and cook for just 1 minute until fragrant. Don’t let the garlic burn!

3. Brown the beef: Add the ground beef to the pan and break it up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Sprinkle in the salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano. Stir everything together thoroughly to ensure the spices coat every bit of meat.

4. Cook through: Continue cooking, breaking up the meat into small crumbles and stirring often, until the beef turns a rich dark brown and is completely cooked through (about 8-10 minutes). The beef should have no pink remaining.

5. Drain and cool: Drain off any excess rendered fat using a colander strainer basket. Set the pan aside and let the mixture cool for 10 minutes. This cooling step is crucial – hot filling will make your empanada wrappers soggy!

Assembling the Empanadas

6. Fill the wrappers: Place an empanada wrapper on your work surface. Add a heaping spoonful of the cooled beef mixture to the center, then top with about 1 tablespoon of freshly grated Colby jack cheese. Don’t overfill or they’ll be difficult to seal!

7. Seal the edges: Fold the wrapper in half to create a half-moon shape. Pinch the edges firmly around the entire border. You can either twist the edges into a classic empanada rope border, or simply press with a fork to create a sealed, decorative edge.

8. Arrange on baking sheets: Place each sealed empanada on your prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each one for even browning.

9. Apply egg wash: In a small mixing bowl, beat together the egg and 2 tablespoons of water using a fork or small whisk. Brush this mixture generously over the top of each empanada. This creates that beautiful golden color!

Baking to Perfection

10. Bake: Transfer the baking sheets to your preheated oven and bake for 25-27 minutes, or until the empanadas are light golden brown on top. The cheese inside should be melted and bubbly.

11. Cool and serve: Remove from the oven and let them rest for 10 minutes before serving. This resting time allows the cheese to set slightly so it doesn’t all spill out when you bite in.

Pro Tips for the Best Results

• Don’t skip the cooling step: Hot filling = soggy wrappers. Always let your beef mixture cool before assembling.
• Use freshly grated cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Grate your own using a food processor or box grater for the best results.
• Seal properly: Make sure there are no gaps in your seal. Any openings will leak cheese and create a mess in your oven.
• Rotate halfway: For even browning, rotate your baking sheets halfway through cooking.
• Freeze for later: Assemble empanadas, place on baking sheets, freeze until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. Bake from frozen, adding 5-7 minutes to cooking time.
• Customize the filling: Try ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a vegetarian bean filling. The possibilities are endless!

Serving Suggestions

These empanada bakes are incredibly versatile. Serve them as a main course with a fresh garden salad, Mexican rice, or refried beans on the side. They also make fantastic appetizers for game day or parties. Set up a topping bar with sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, and hot sauce so everyone can customize their empanadas.

For a complete meal, pair them with cilantro lime rice and a crisp coleslaw. The cool, crunchy vegetables balance the rich, cheesy filling perfectly. You can also serve them with your favorite salsa or chimichurri sauce for dipping.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover empanadas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place them in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes until heated through and crispy again. Avoid microwaving as this makes them soggy – the oven is key to maintaining that crispy exterior.

For longer storage, freeze assembled unbaked empanadas for up to 3 months. You can also freeze fully cooked empanadas and reheat them directly from frozen in a 375°F oven for 20-25 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use store-bought empanada dough?

Absolutely! Store-bought empanada wrappers save time and work beautifully. Look for them in the freezer section of Latin markets or larger grocery stores. Goya brand is widely available and excellent quality.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes! Assemble the empanadas completely, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if cooking from frozen.

What’s the best ground beef to use?

An 80/20 blend (80% lean, 20% fat) provides the best flavor and moisture. Leaner beef can result in a drier filling. If you prefer leaner meat, consider adding a tablespoon of olive oil to the filling for moisture.

Can I use different cheese?

Definitely! Monterey Jack, cheddar, pepper jack, or even a Mexican cheese blend all work wonderfully. Choose cheese that melts well for the best results.

Are these spicy?

With the jalapeño included, they have a mild kick. For a spicier version, leave the seeds in the jalapeño or add cayenne pepper. For a milder version, simply omit the jalapeño.

Can I air fry these instead?

Yes! Preheat your air fryer to 370°F, brush empanadas with egg wash, and cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.

What sides pair well with empanada bakes?

Spanish rice, black beans, corn salad, guacamole, sour cream, and fresh salsa all make excellent accompaniments. A simple green salad with lime vinaigrette is also perfect.

Nutritional Benefits

While these empanadas are definitely indulgent, they also pack nutritional value. Ground beef provides high-quality protein, iron, and B vitamins. The onions and garlic offer immune-boosting properties, while the spices like cumin contain antioxidants. You can boost the nutrition even further by adding diced bell peppers, corn, or black beans to the filling.

Variations to Try

Once you master the basic recipe, experiment with these delicious variations:

• Breakfast Empanadas: Use scrambled eggs, crumbled bacon, and cheese for a morning treat
• Taco Style: Add taco seasoning instead of individual spices and top with lettuce and tomato after baking
• Pizza Empanadas: Fill with seasoned ground beef, pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni
• BBQ Beef: Mix the cooked beef with your favorite BBQ sauce and add cheddar cheese
• Greek Style: Use ground lamb, feta cheese, and add fresh spinach and dill

Why This Recipe Works for Busy Families

This Cheesy Beef Empanada Bake is the epitome of easy meals with ground beef. It requires minimal prep work, uses simple equipment you already own, and delivers maximum flavor. The individual portions make serving easy and cleanup is a breeze. Plus, kids absolutely love these handheld pockets of deliciousness – no fighting over who got more cheese!

The recipe is also budget-friendly. Ground beef is one of the most economical proteins, and the other ingredients are pantry staples. You can easily double the recipe to feed a crowd or meal prep for the week ahead. With quick dinner ideas like this in your arsenal, those stressful weeknight dinner decisions become a thing of the past.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re searching for hamburger meat recipes for a family dinner, planning lazy dinners for busy weeknights, or need healthy dinner recipes that don’t compromise on taste, this Cheesy Beef Empanada Bake delivers on all fronts. The golden, flaky exterior gives way to a juicy, perfectly seasoned beef and cheese filling that will have everyone asking for seconds.

The best part? This recipe proves that quick and easy dinner recipes don’t have to be boring. With just 30 minutes and a few basic ingredients, you can create a restaurant-quality meal that looks as impressive as it tastes. So grab your frying pan, preheat that oven, and get ready to make dinner time delicious again!

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Easy Cheesy Beef Empanada Bake Recipe : Quick 30-Minute Dinner Idea

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Golden, flaky empanadas filled with perfectly seasoned ground beef, melted Colby jack cheese, and aromatic spices. This easy 30-minute bake transforms simple ingredients into restaurant-quality handheld delights perfect for weeknight dinners or party appetizers.

• Author: Sara
• Prep Time: 15
• Cook Time: 27
• Total Time: 42
• Yield: 12-15 empanadas
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Latin American

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small white onion, diced

1 jalapeño, deseeded and diced (optional)

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lb ground beef

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1 teaspoon ground dried oregano

12–15 (6-inch) round empanada wrappers

8 oz Colby jack cheese, freshly grated

1 egg

2 tablespoons water

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper, a silicone baking mat or spray with non-stick spray.

2. Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat and add the onion once hot. Cook, stirring often, until the onion becomes translucent. Then add the jalapeño and cook for another three minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, or until it becomes fragrant.

3. Add the beef and sprinkle in the salt, pepper, cumin and oregano and stir to combine.

4. Cook, breaking up the beef and stirring often, until the beef turns a dark brown color and has cooked through. Drain off the rendered fat, set the pan aside and let it cool for 10 minutes.

5. Once cooled, add a spoonful of beef mixture to the center of an empanada wrapper and add a tablespoon of cheese on top.

6. Fold it in half, pinch the edges around the border and twist the edges into a classic empanada border or use a fork to press in the edges to seal.

7. Add empanadas to the two baking trays, leaving room for spreading. Beat the egg and water together in a small bowl and brush it over the empanadas.

8. Bake empanadas for 25 to 27 minutes or until light and golden on the top. Remove them from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for best results.

Freeze assembled unbaked empanadas for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 5-7 extra minutes to cooking time.

For a spicier version, leave the seeds in the jalapeño or add cayenne pepper to the beef mixture.

Swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat for variations.

Use freshly grated cheese for the best melting quality.