These hot and flaky empanadas are sure to delight your taste buds! Made with seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, and blended cheese, they’re the perfect alternative to traditional tacos.
Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a tasty snack for game day, these hand pies are sure to satisfy. Serve them up with a side of sour cream, rice, salsa, or any other garnish you like for a deliciously different take on a family favorite.
And the best part? You can whip up a batch in just 30 minutes! If you’re a taco lover (who isn’t, right?), be sure to check out our other taco-inspired recipes, including Crockpot Citrus Pork Street Tacos, Easy Slow Cooker Korean BBQ Beef Tacos, and Tacos Chinese Chicken. So why wait? Get cooking and start enjoying these tasty treats today!
Recipe Notes:
- If you have any leftover taco meat, store it in your fridge and use the leftovers for the next few days to make a couple of soft tacos for lunch or as an easy weeknight dinner.
- For frozen pre-baked tarts: Brush your tarts with beaten egg after thawing, then bake in the oven.
- Have leftover chicken or turkey? You can substitute ground beef for leftover poultry. If you do, consider adding some cream cheese to the taco mix to keep it from drying out.
- This recipe can easily be doubled if you plan to make a batch ahead of time and store in the freezer.
How should I store my leftover hand cakes?
Once baked and then completely cooled, these hand pies can be stored at room temperature or in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
Can I freeze hand pies?
If you can! These taco empanadas freeze very well. You can assemble your taco hand pies and store them in the freezer before baking or store them in your freezer once they are baked and completely cool.
Place your hand pies on an uncovered baking sheet and store in the freezer or 2-3 hours or until set. Once hardened, transfer them to a freezer bag for up to 4 months. To thaw, place your frozen pies on your counter overnight.
To reheat, place your cakes in the oven until heated through.
WHAT CAN I SERVE THESE TACO HAND PIES WITH?
These Taco Hand Pies pair very well with the following accompaniments:
taco patties
- Preheat your oven to 400. Brown the meat and add the taco seasoning and ⅔ cup water (per package directions) and bring to a simmer.
- Add your cheese and stir well. Fold in your corn and black beans.
- Using a 4-inch-diameter cookie cutter, cut circles in the pie crust and place a heaping tablespoon of meat in the center of half of the circular pieces.
- Beat the egg and then brush the edges of the circles with meat on them with egg. Then top with the remaining pie crust circles. Then, using a fork or crusty sandwich maker, notch around the edges so the filling doesn’t escape.
- Then brush a beaten egg over the top of the taco hand cake. Place them on a lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
Taco patties
These deliciously hot, flaky empanadas are filled with seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, and blended cheese, making them a fantastic alternative and twist on the classic taco!
- Preparation time: fifteen minutes
- Time to cook: fifteen minutes
- Total time: 30 minutes
- It serves:6 (about 12 empanadas)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 oz taco seasoning
- 1 cup taco/Mexican mixed cheese
- ½ cup corn exhausted
- ½ cup drained and rinsed black beans
- 1 egg
- 2 pack refrigerated pie crust
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Brown the meat and add the taco seasoning and ⅔ cup water (per package directions) and bring to a simmer.
- Add your cheese and stir well.
- Fold in your corn and black beans.
- Using a 4-inch-diameter cookie cutter, cut circles in the pie crust and place a heaping tablespoon of meat in the center of half of the circular pieces.
- Beat the egg and then brush the edges of the circles with meat on them with egg. Then top with the remaining pie crust circles. Then, using a fork or crusty sandwich maker, notch around the edges so the filling doesn’t escape.
- Then brush a beaten egg over the top of the taco hand cake. Place them on a lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
