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Four spicy beef and cheese empanadas with hot sauce on the side.
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5 from 1 vote

Spicy Beef and Cheese Empanadas

These spicy beef and cheese empanadas are stuffed with the most delicious filling, then fried to perfection. Enjoy these with your favorite hot sauce or on its own!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Cuban

Ingredients

  • 2.5 lbs ground beef
  • 2 packages Goya empanada discs Refrigerated
  • 16 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 small onion finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 2 tbsp sofrito
  • 2 tbsp dry white wine optional
  • 1 tsp sazon
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tbsp Calabrian chili peppers or to taste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 cups mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup olives
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • oil, for frying

Instructions

  • Start by preparing the filling. Begin by browning the beef completely.
  • Add all of the ingredients except for the goya empanada discs and mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
  • After 15 minutes check for seasoning and let it cool.
  • Place each empanada disk on a lightly floured surface. Put about 2 tbsp of the beef mixture and 1 tbsp of cheese in the center of each disc. Wrap the dough around to form the empanada and press the edges together. Use a fork to press down on the edges.
  • Fry the empanadas in oil for 2-3 minutes on each side. The oil should be at about 375 degrees F. Let the empanadas cool for a couple of minutes before enjoying.

Notes

  • If you don't want it spicy, omit the chili powder and Calabrian chili peppers.
  • Want to sweeten it up a bit? Add raisins to the beef mixture, it's so good!
  • Not a fan of olives? Simply omit them or use capers instead.
  • Feel free to omit the cooking wine if you don't have it on hand.
  • Make sure to let the beef cool before forming the empanadas otherwise the dough can fall apart.
  • Don't overfill these, otherwise, it will ooze out while it cooks.
  • Have fun making these! Don't get discouraged if they don't look perfect.