Spiced Dominican-Style Beef Empanadas

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-10 · Updated 2026-07-10

Golden fried empanadas filled with seasoned ground beef, onions, and peppers, inspired by Dominican street food flavors. This Latin American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, cold water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 6 tbsp, cold and cubed unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup cold water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium, finely chopped onion
• 1 small, finely chopped green bell pepper
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground oregano
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• for frying, about 4 cups vegetable oil
• 1, beaten for egg wash egg

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 3 cups all-purpose flour and 1 tsp salt. Cut in 6 tbsp cold cubed unsalted butter with your fingers or a pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
2. Step 2: Gradually add 3/4 cup cold water and mix until dough forms a ball. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
3. Step 3: While dough chills, heat a skillet over medium heat and add 1 lb ground beef, 1 finely chopped onion, 1 finely chopped green bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Cook for 8-10 minutes until beef is browned and vegetables are softened.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground oregano, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Cook for 2 more minutes and remove from heat to cool.
5. Step 5: Roll out dough on a floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out 5-inch circles. Place 2 tbsp beef filling in center of each circle. Brush edges with beaten egg and fold dough over filling, pressing edges to seal.
6. Step 6: Heat about 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet to 350°F. Fry empanadas in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.