Looking for a tasty mini appetizer that can be made from frozen? Frozen mini empanadas in the air fryer are a sure-fire bet!
Crispy and flakey on the outside and loaded with a deliciously flavorful filling, these mini empanadas are ready in minutes and gone even quicker!

Recipe Tips
Before you make air fryer frozen mini empanadas, have a read through these recipe tips so that you achieve great results!
- There’s usually no need to add any additional oil to the outside of the mini empanadas since they typically already contain oil.
- You don’t have to defrost the frozen empanadas first. Just add them to the preheated air fryer.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Only put as many frozen empanadas as you can fit in one even layer.
- Since every air fryer cooks slightly differently and there are various different brands/types of frozen empanadas, you exact cooking time might vary slightly.
- You can also make regular sized frozen empanadas in the air fryer. Keep in mind that they will need slightly longer until they are fully heated/cooked!
- Take note of whether your filling is pre-cooked and just needs to be heated through OR whether if needs to be cooked (especially if there is meat involved). Our instructions are for pre-cooked empanadas, so if yours are raw they will likely need slightly longer!
We use this air fryer for our recipes and it has been great.

Step by Step Instructions
If you want to know how to cook frozen empanadas in an air fryer, you can have a look at the recipe process photos in this section.
To just get started making air-fried mini empanadas from frozen, you can scroll to the bottom of this post for the recipe card without visuals!

First, preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once hot, add the frozen mini empanadas into the air fryer in one even layer. How many you can fit will depend on your air fryer and the size of the empanadas.

Cook the frozen mini empanadas at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-10 minutes until fully heated through and slightly browned on the outside.
Flip the empanadas halfway through.
The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit but check the packaging direction since it can vary by empanada filling.
The exact cooking time can also vary by air fryer and type/size of empanada.

When done air frying, remove the mini empanadas and let them sit for 2 minutes. Then enjoy (careful, they are hot)!
Storage Tips
Once you make frozen empanadas in the air fryer, they taste best when eaten hot and fresh. If you have any leftovers, you can store them in a sealed container in the fridge.
They’ll last for around 2-3 days – but eat them sooner rather than later for the best taste.
To reheat mini empanadas, we’d suggest the air fryer to help draw out some of the moisture and help the outer pastry get crispy again.
Related Recipes
For more tasty frozen air fryer appetizers, you can check out these creations and see which ones tickle your fancy!
- Frozen Breaded Calamari in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Mini Quiche
- Frozen Samosas in the Air Fryer
- Air Fried Frozen Veggie Tots

Air Fryer Frozen Mini Empanadas
Ingredients
- 8-12 frozen mini empanadas
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once hot, add the frozen mini empanadas into the air fryer in one even layer. How many you can fit will depend on your air fryer and the size of the empanadas.
- Cook the frozen mini empanadas at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-10 minutes until fully heated through and slightly browned on the outside. Flip the empanadas halfway through. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit but check the packaging direction since it can vary by empanada filling. The exact cooking time can also vary by air fryer and type/size of empanada.
- When done air frying, remove the mini empanadas and let them sit for 2 minutes. Then enjoy (careful, they are hot)!
Notes
- The internal temperature is especially important if the empanada filling contains meat and is not pre-cooked. Read the packaging of your empanadas for clarification of whether your filling is pre-cooked or not.
- The recipe instructions are for pre-cooked frozen empanadas. If your frozen empanadas are raw, they will likely take a little longer until they are fully cooked.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.