Chicken Cheese Empanada Filling Recipes

AUTHENTIC CHICKEN EMPANADAS (EMPANADAS DE POLLO)

Steps:

• Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add water and 1/4 cup vegetable oil; mix with an electric mixer until well combined and a dough begins to form, about 3 minutes. Remove dough and knead on a lightly floured surface for about 3 minutes. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shredded chicken and saute until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add onion, bell pepper, cilantro, olives, garlic, sazon seasoning, tomato paste, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Divide empanada dough into 12 pieces and form each one into a 4-inch circle. Place about 2 tablespoons filling in the center of each circle, fold in half, and press down on the edges with a fork to seal.
• Heat 1 cup oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add empanadas, working in batches, and fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

CHICKEN & CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add 1/4 cup water, stirring until mixture forms ball. Knead dough on lightly floured surface 5 min. or until smooth and elastic. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate while preparing empanada filling.
• Cook chicken, onions and peppers in nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 5 min. or until chicken is no longer pink. Add salsa; cook and stir 2 min. Cool completely. Heat oven to 375ºF. Divide dough into 6 pieces; roll out each piece on lightly floured surface to 7-inch round. Place in single layer on parchment-covered baking sheet.
• Stir cheese into chicken mixture; spoon about 1/2 cup onto half of each dough round. Beat egg and remaining water until blended; brush onto edges of dough rounds.
• Fold dough rounds in half to enclose filling; press tops lightly to remove excess air. Seal edges with fork. Brush with remaining egg. Bake 18 to 20 min. or until golden brown.

CHICKEN AND CHEESE EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix chicken with Swiss cheese, red pepper, onion and pepper.
• In a 1 1/2-2 quart saucepan, mix broth with cornstarch; add cream cheese, whisk over high heat until mixture is boiling (it will be very thick), 2 to 3 minutes; scrape over chicken mixture and combine well, adding salt to taste.
• On a lightly floured board, unroll the pizza crust dough; cut each rectangle crosswise into thirds; on one end of each piece, mound about 5 tablespoons chicken mixture; fold the other end of dough over filling to form a rectangle, then fold edges together and pinch to seal.
• Gently place empanadas, slightly apart, on a greased 12 by 15-inch baking sheet; in a small bowl, beat egg to blend; brush generously over each pastry.
• Bake in a 375° oven until richly browned, about 22 to 25 minutes; transfer to a rack and let cool at least 10 minutes.
• Serve hot or warm.

CHEESE & CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Mix flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add 1/4 cup water, stirring until mixture forms ball. Knead dough on lightly floured surface 5 min. or until smooth and elastic. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; refrigerate while preparing empanada filling.
• Cook chicken, onions and peppers in nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 5 min. or until chicken is no longer pink. Add salsa; cook and stir 2 min. Cool completely. Heat oven to 375ºF. Divide dough into 6 pieces. Roll out each piece on lightly floured surface to 7-inch round; place on parchment-covered baking sheet.
• Stir cheese into chicken mixture; spoon about 1/2 cup onto half of each dough round. Beat egg and remaining water; brush onto edges of dough rounds. Fold in half to enclose filling. Press tops lightly to remove excess air; seal edges with fork.
• Brush tops with remaining egg. Bake 18 to 20 min. or until golden brown.

SHREDDED CHICKEN EMPANADAS WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Combine first 4 ingredients. Whisk egg and water until blended.
• Unroll 1 pie crust on lightly floured surface; roll out to 12-inch diameter with rolling pin. Cut into 8 (4-inch) rounds with biscuit cutter, rerolling scraps as necessary; place in single layer on parchment-covered baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pie crust.
• Spoon 2 Tbsp. chicken mixture onto center of each dough round; brush edge with egg. Fold in half. Gently press tops to remove excess air; seal edges with fork. Brush with remaining egg. Sprinkle with chili powder.
• Bake 15 min. or until golden brown.

EASY CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Mix chicken with Mexican cheese blend, pimentos, green chiles, onion, mayonnaise, and jalapeno.
• Place about 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the center of each empanada disc. Run a wet finger around the rim of each disc. Fold into a half-moon shape and press edges together with a fork to seal well.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fry 1 to 2 empanadas at a time in the hot oil until brown, 1 to 2 minutes per batch.

BUFFALO CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper; set aside.
• In medium bowl, mix onion, green chiles, chicken, cheeses and Buffalo sauce.
• Unroll pie crusts. Using 3 1/2-inch round cutter, cut circles from crusts, rerolling dough to get 21 circles. Place level measuring tablespoon Buffalo chicken mixture on center of each circle. Fold dough in half over filling; pinch and press edges with fork to seal or roll edges to seal. Place on cookie sheets. Prick tops of empanadas with fork to allow steam to escape.
• Brush each with beaten egg. Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes on cooling racks. Serve warm with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing for dipping.