Cheeseburger Empanadas

Ingredients

• 0.5 lb ground beef
• 0.333 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp brown sugar (packed)
• 1 tbsp hamburger relish (optional)
• 0.25 tsp kosher salt
• 0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
• 11.6 oz frozen dough for turnovers pastries (thawed, Goya brand recommended)
• 1 egg (lightly beaten)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

2. 2

   Brown the ground beef in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat drippings from the pan.

3. 3

   Stir in the ketchup, packed brown sugar, hamburger relish (if using), and kosher salt. Heat the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved, which should take about 1 minute.

4. 4

   Remove the skillet from the heat and let the beef mixture cool slightly.

5. 5

   Stir 1/4 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese into the beef mixture.

6. 6

   Place one piece of the thawed turnover dough on a lightly floured surface.

7. 7

   Arrange about 1 Tablespoon of the beef mixture in the center of the bottom half of the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border from the edges. Top the beef with 1 teaspoon of the remaining shredded cheddar cheese.

8. 8

   Brush the edges of the dough with cold water. Fold the top half of the dough over the filling and press the edges to seal. Arrange the finished empanada on a baking sheet.

9. 9

   Repeat the assembly process with the remaining dough, beef filling, and cheese.

10. 10

    Brush the tops and sides of the empanadas with the lightly beaten egg.

11. 11

    Bake for 20 minutes, or until the empanadas are golden brown.

Notes

The author recommends using Goya brand empanada dough (discos) found in the frozen ethnic section rather than puff pastry for the correct texture. If freezing, the author suggests baking them fully first, letting them cool, and then freezing for easy reheating.

Nutrition per serving

• appetizer
• main course
• snack
• kid-friendly
• baked
• ground beef
• cheeseburger