Ground Turkey Fajita Cheater "Empanadas"
A perfect little pocket of fajita flavored meat, cheese, and veggies, these Ground Turkey Fajita Cheater “Empanadas” make an awesome appetizer for a Mexican themed dinner party or a great meal prep option for the week.
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Servings: 40 Empanadas
Ingredients
- 1 Bell Pepper Diced
- ½ Large Red Onion Diced
- 12 ounces Mushrooms Diced. I used White Button Mushrooms, but Baby Bellas would be fine.
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 2 - 3 tablespoons Avocado Oil or Olive Oil
- 2 pounds Ground Turkey
- ½ tablespoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 3 tablespoons Fajita Seasoning Divided: 2 tablespoons with the ground turkey, 1 tablespoon in the final mixture
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese 1 (8 ounce package)
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese Shredded
- 40 Street Style Low-Carb Tortilla Shells 5 inch diameter
- ½ cup Water
- 1 Egg Beaten. I use jumbo eggs.
Instructions
- Dice 1 Bell Pepper and ½ Large Red Onion. Combine and set aside.1 Bell Pepper, ½ Large Red Onion
- Dice 12 ounces Mushrooms12 ounces Mushrooms
- Melt 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter over medium high heat. Sauté mushrooms until they release their juices. About 8 - 10 minutes. Set aside.2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, 12 ounces Mushrooms
- In the same pan, add ~1.5 - 2 tablespoons of oil over. Add the 2 pounds Ground Turkey, ½ tablespoon Kosher Salt, 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the fajita seasoning. Once the turkey is cooked through, remove it to a paper towel lined bowl or large plate.2 - 3 tablespoons Avocado Oil or Olive Oil, 2 pounds Ground Turkey, ½ tablespoon Kosher Salt, 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper, 3 tablespoons Fajita Seasoning
- In the same pan again, add more oil if needed. Sauté the diced bell pepper and red onion until softened. About 6 - 8 minutes.1 Bell Pepper, ½ Large Red Onion, 2 - 3 tablespoons Avocado Oil or Olive Oil
- Add the ground turkey and mushrooms back into the pan and stir to combine.
- Add 8 ounces Cream Cheese in cubes followed by 1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded. Stir until melted and completely combined. Remove this filling mixture from the heat and set aside.8 ounces Cream Cheese, 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, 3 tablespoons Fajita Seasoning
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (if you are going to be baking these immediately). If not, save this step for later.
- Lay the street style low carb tortilla shells on a lined flat surface, such as a foil lined rimmed baking sheet. Work in batches of 10 so that the shells don’t get dried out.40 Street Style Low-Carb Tortilla Shells
- Place 1.5 tablespoons of the turkey filling mixture in the center of each shell.
- Put about 1/2 cup Water into a small bowl. Using either a pastry brush or your finger, wet the entire edge of the tortilla shell with water. Wet it inward about ¾ of an inch in from the edge.1/2 cup Water
- Fold each tortilla shell in half and press or squeeze the edges firmly to seal them. You can use the tines of a fork to press the edges, but this is not necessary. (NOTE: If you are making these in advance, you can stop at this point and store them in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.)
- When you are ready to bake, line 2 rimmed baking sheets with heavy duty aluminum foil and wire rack inserts (if you have them). Whether using the wire racks or not, spray with cooking spray and then lay the empanadas on the rack / sheet pan.
- Beat 1 Egg to make an egg wash. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat the tops of the pies with the egg wash.1 Egg
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
- Serve warm. Garnish with sour cream, salsa, or Chipotle Crema if desired.
Equipment
- Small Bowl
- Medium Bowl or Large Plate
- Paper Towels
- Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil
- Cooking Spray
- Airtight Container (If prepping in advance and storing in fridge overnight)
Notes
- Fajita Seasoning Mix
- You can make your own using the following ingredients. This recipe makes 9 tablespoons which is more than you need for this specific recipe. However, when I make this dish, I usually have some other main, side, or appetizer that will use up the extra fajita seasoning.
- 0.5 tablespoons Chipotle Powder
- 3 tablespoons Cumin
- 1.5 tablespoons Garlic Powder
- 1 tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1.5 tablespoons Paprika
- 0.5 tablespoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt
- You can make your own using the following ingredients. This recipe makes 9 tablespoons which is more than you need for this specific recipe. However, when I make this dish, I usually have some other main, side, or appetizer that will use up the extra fajita seasoning.
Your Own Recipe Notes
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