These fried meat pies were a hit! I made them for my husband's birthday and he loved them. The dough is easy to make, but it takes some practice to get the right consistency for the empanadas. Once you do, they're perfect. I used ground beef instead of chicken because that was all we had in the fridge and it turned out great! I added a little more salt and pepper than the recipe called for, but overall they were great.

Puerto Rican's call this empanadilla not empanada nor pastelillo. Empanadilla is a fritura and pastelillo is a pastry made with a flaky dough and filled with different fillings sprinkled with powdered sugar.

I use the Goya dough it make it easier but I might venture out and use this dough recipe.

Made the filling tonight! Super delicious! Definitely a keeper!

Very good... Better with chorizo, though, the burger kind of takes over... So I added 1 tbsp. of curry powder to the meat mixture and it did the trick!! Good recipe, thank you!!

I made this gluten free, substituting cup4cup (2 cups) and Pillsbury GF flour (1 cup). Due to the substitution, it was dry, so I added 1 whole egg, then teaspoons of oil until it was pliable. I chilled it in refrigerator while I made the filling. My traditional filling is very similar to yours, omitting oil (I let the meat and onions sauté together) and I add very finely chopped chorizo. I rolled these out using rice flour so they would not stick. These fried up beautifully. Afterwards, I made some non GF for the family using Goya prepared Discos - I think they are going to have a taste-off, seeing which ones they enjoy better. Frankly, these were so good, I don't miss the gluten, and this may become my "go to" empanada dough recipe.

Thank you so much.

Thank you receipt, it was great. I made 24 empanadas and they came out great. Love the recipe, will continue using it.

Thank you Yasmin for a wonderful recipes of dough. You made our family dinner supper special. It was my daughters 39th birthday.

I've been searching for sometime now a recipe for the dough. Not only is this a simple recipe it was delicious! Thank you. My Husband thinks I'm nuts for wanting to do this from scrap when I can get the already made disc at my local supermarket (around the corner literally) for just 2bucks. Nothing beats the real thing. I made cheese pastelillos (no meat this time) I may have to add a little more salt next time as it was a little bland. I just don't know how much more. Maybe 2 tsp? Any suggestions? Again, thanks a million.

Thanks for the simple but delicious recipe. My Empanadillas were a hit! Everyone ate at least 3! And they were pretty big in size.

The only suggestion I would make, is that my Puerto Rican mother-in-law taught me to add potatoes to the recipe and I also made a batch with shrimp, just like on the island.
Thanks.

THANK YOU, thank you, thank you Yasmin... Though we are of Polish, German, Russian, Scottish descent, empanadas are on of my mom's favorite things. I made your empanada dough last night and tweaked the filling with things we love and they were AMAZING. Your dough recipe is the BOMB. I will use it over and over for many things, not just empanadas. My mom spoke to me numerous times on the phone filled with excitement because I promised her not only that she could come today and have empanadas, but that I would make them for her whenever she wanted them. Mom is 80 years young, and to make her this happy is a joy in my life. We were pretty excited about them and enjoyed them last night as well. I think next time I make them, I will make them a tad smaller and just make more of them, because they are SO filling. Again... and like the other comments boast... thank you for the dough recipe which will now become a permanent part of my recipe library.

I am also proud to say that I am a proud Puerto Rican and can throw down with making the meat part. I use all of the above ingredients but have a few extras that give it extra flavor. Thanks for sharing the dough recipe because I've always bought the Goya already made ones. Now I can try my hand at making it myself.

I'm proud to say I'm Puerto Rican and I know how to make these yummy lil suckers BUT I was never taught the dough recipe! I have bought Goya shells for MANY years! I'm so glad to have found this. Thank You Yasmin ^.^ My hubby also thanks you, lolz.

My friend used to buy these at a Puerto Rican bakery about 15 years ago. I've missed these so much. Thank you for the recipe. Came out just as I remember, delicious!