Description
Looking for a bold, satisfying, and easy recipe? These Easy Chipotle Chicken Empanadas are your answer. Packed with shredded rotisserie chicken, smoky chipotle peppers, cream cheese, and gooey Monterey Jack, all tucked inside golden puff pastry — they’re the ultimate snack, appetizer, or easy dinner idea. Whether you’re planning a quick weeknight meal, prepping for a party, or stocking the freezer, this is the kind of handheld treat that checks all the boxes: flavorful, fast, and crowd-pleasing. Add this to your list of must-try food ideas for entertaining or meal prep!
Ingredients
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
1 tablespoon adobo sauce from the can
0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
0.25 teaspoon smoked paprika
0.5 cup shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
0.25 cup cream cheese, softened
Salt and pepper to taste
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed or refrigerated pie dough
1 egg, beaten
Chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)
Lime wedges
Cilantro-lime crema or sour cream
Instructions
1. In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, shredded cheese, and cream cheese. Stir until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Roll out the puff pastry slightly on a floured surface. Cut into 4-inch circles using a round cutter or glass. Re-roll scraps to make more circles.
3. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filling into the center of each dough round. Fold into a half-moon, seal the edges, and crimp with a fork.
4. Place empanadas on a parchment-lined baking sheet and brush tops with beaten egg.
5. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 18–22 minutes or until golden brown and puffed.
6. Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges and dipping sauce of choice.
Notes
Don’t overfill the dough – a heaping tablespoon is plenty to keep the filling from leaking.
Seal tightly with a fork to prevent bursting in the oven.
To freeze: assemble empanadas and freeze unbaked. Bake straight from frozen, adding 5 extra minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack, Easy Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Latin-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 empanada
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 260 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg