Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Empanadas
Crispy buffalo chicken empanadas are made entirely in the air fryer in MINUTES and stuffed with a spicy buffalo chicken filling. Serve these flaky empanadas with plenty of blue cheese dressing and celery sticks!
Servings 6 empanadas
Calories 369kcal
Ingredients
Empanada Dough (alternatively you can use pre-made pie dough*)
- 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted cold butter, shredded on box grater and frozen
- 1 large egg yolk
- 4-5 tablespoons ice water
Buffalo Chicken Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup hot sauce (such as Frank's)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1-1/2 cups cooked chicken, finely chopped or shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 large egg white, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
- Canola or vegetable oil pan spray
- Blue cheese dressing and celery sticks for serving, optional
Instructions
Empanada Dough
- Place flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work butter into flour until butter is in pea-sized clumps. Drizzle egg yolk and 4 tablespoons ice water over flour and gently toss until dough comes together into a shaggy mass. (if dough seems too dry, drizzle in extra tablespoon)
- Turn dough onto a surface and very gently knead several times until smooth. Divide dough into 6 portions, form into smooth discs, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill dough 30 minutes while you prepare the filling.
Buffalo Chicken Filling
- In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, mozzarella, hot sauce, garlic powder, and chicken. Season filling with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove dough from fridge and turn onto a lightly-floured surface. Roll each disc out into a 6-inch circle and place 3-4 tablespoons filling in center. Fold dough over to create a half-moon shape and use a fork to seal and crimp edges.
- Spray the grate of air fryer with pan spray and preheat to 400F. Working in batches, brush both sides of empanadas with egg wash and spray well with pan spray.
- Air fry empanadas 2-3 at at time in a single layer (we typically cook 2 at time in our 4-qt air fryer) for 10 minutes, flipping empanadas to opposite side halfway through cooking. Repeat cooking process with remaining empanadas.*
- Serve empanadas hot with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
*If using premade pie dough, you will need enough pie dough to make one (9 in) pie. Chill, roll, and cut out dough per recipe instructions.
*If oven-baking empanadas, brush them with egg wash + lightly spray with pan spray and place them 2 inches apart on a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake in preheated 400F oven 30-35 minutes until pastry is golden brown.
Empanadas may be store in fridge up to a week or in the freezer up to 2 months. To reheat, lay empanadas in a single layer in air fryer and air fry at 400F 5 minutes.
Nutrition
Serving: 1empanada | Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 21.5g | Protein: 15.9g | Fat: 24.3g | Saturated Fat: 14.6g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 741mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg