What Are Empanadas?
Empanadas are stuffed pastries found across Latin America, Spain, and the Philippines — each country with its own dough, filling, and cooking method. The name comes from the Spanish empanar (to bread or coat). At their core: a pastry shell folded around a savory or sweet filling, then baked or fried. They're portable, filling, and endlessly variable.
Empanadas by Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentinian — baked, flaky wheat dough; filled with spiced ground beef, hard-boiled egg, olives, or ham and cheese. The crimped edge pattern identifies the filling.
- 🇨🇴 Colombian — fried, small, made with corn dough; filled with potato, beef, and seasoned with achiote. Served with ají dipping sauce.
- 🇨🇱 Chilean — large baked empanadas stuffed with pino (spiced beef, onion, olive, hard-boiled egg, raisins). A national staple on Independence Day.
- 🇻🇪 Venezuelan — fried corn dough, often filled with black beans and cheese, shredded beef, or shark (cazón) in coastal regions.
- 🇲🇽 Mexican — often more like turnovers; sweet versions filled with cajeta or fruit are common alongside savory tuna or chicken fillings.
Where to Find Empanadas Near You
Empanadas show up in three main venue types:
- Dedicated empanada shops — best for variety, freshness, and multiple regional styles
- Latin American bakeries (panaderías) — often carry baked empanadas alongside breads and pastries
- Food trucks — especially common in cities with large Argentine or Colombian communities
Popular Fillings to Order
- 🥩 Carne — spiced ground or shredded beef
- 🧀 Queso — melted cheese, sometimes with jalapeño
- 🍗 Pollo — shredded chicken with peppers and onions
- 🌿 Espinaca — spinach and ricotta, popular in Argentinian bakeries
- 🐟 Atún — tuna with tomato and olive, common in Spain-influenced spots
- 🍌 Dulce de guayaba — sweet guava paste for dessert empanadas