Southwest Chicken Empanadas Recipe

If you're a fan of flaky snacks with hidden treats, this southwest chicken empanadas recipe should be high on your list. These handheld bites pack plenty of flavor with the perfect crunch, making them an all-around winner whether you're looking for an appetizer for your next dinner party or an easy weeknight dinner. Mashed recipe developer Kate Shungu from the food blog Gift of Hospitality shares this mouthwatering dish with us. 

If you're about to dismiss it because you have no intention of making puff pastry from scratch, you'll be glad to know that her recipe calls for the frozen stuff. In this instance, it will save you tons of time and still offer all the flaky buttery crunch factor you're seeking. Shungu comments, "I love how easy it is to create an impressive appetizer using puff pastry." She describes the final result by saying, "It puffs up big in the oven and creates lots of flaky layers to hold the southwest chicken filling." She even outlines a super easy sour cream dip to serve alongside. Read on for the scoop. 

For the southwest chicken filling you'll need to dice a piece of cooked chicken, shred some Colby Jack cheese, chop a bell pepper and cilantro, thinly slice a couple of green onions, and juice a lime. Keep some salt handy to season the mixture. 

Next, you'll need to defrost two puff pastry sheets, though Shungu advises, "Make sure that the puff pastry stays cold," and recommends to "keep it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it." She explains that this will "create maximum flakiness in the oven." 

To seal the pastry and ensure a nice golden crust, use a beaten egg mixture. Finally, the dip consists of sour cream mixed with chopped cilantro and lime juice.

Start by turning on your oven to preheat to 425 F. Then, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lay down a silicone baking mat. 

Set out a medium-sized mixing bowl and toss in the chicken, cheese, bell pepper, and green onions. Add in half of the chopped cilantro and 1 tablespoon of lime juice. Season the mixture with salt and stir everything together until it's properly combined.

Starting with one puff pastry sheet, place it on a flat surface and roll it out into an 11x11-inch square with a rolling pin. Then, use a 3 ½-inch biscuit cutter (or a glass if you don't have one) and cut eight or nine pieces into the dough. Do the same thing with the second piece of puff pastry — you should have about 16 to 18 dough rounds.

Dip a pastry brush into the beaten egg mixture and brush the perimeter of the pastry rounds. 

One by one, scoop about 1 tablespoon of chicken filling into the center of the pastry rounds. Fold the dough over itself to make a half moon shape. Then, use a fork to crimp the edges to keep the empanadas nicely sealed while they bake.

‌Place the empanadas on the lined baking sheet and brush the tops with the rest of the beaten egg mixture for a golden finish.

Once the oven is preheated, place the baking sheet on a rack and bake the empanadas for 20 to 24 minutes until they are a nice golden brown color.

‌As they are in the oven, mix the sour cream with the rest of the cilantro and lime juice in a small bowl.

Once the empanadas are ready, transfer them to a serving dish with the sour cream dip and enjoy them warm. Shungu shares, "I like these as an appetizer or light dinner (I would add a leafy green salad.)"

While we're sure these will go down fast, she adds that "Leftovers can be refrigerated and then reheated in a 350 F oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until warmed through."