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Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving

Empanadas ~ Turkey Leftover Recipe

Published: November 22, 2020 | Last Updated: December 26, 2022 | Lisa 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links.

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Last Updated December 26th, 2022 at 01:29 pm by Lisa

A recipe ad for empanadas showing how to make an empanada with a press using pie crust.

Grab a box of pie crust from the store, and make some empanadas with your holiday leftovers. You can use up roast turkey, ham, roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, stuffing, and more!

Empanadas are also known as hand pies in America and are super easy, delicious, and freeze beautifully. Cute pie crust cutouts on top are optional but super fun. Empanadas are worldwide comfort food for a good reason...

Golden brown baked empanadas decorated with pie crust leaves on a Fall tray.

You Will Love This Turkey Leftover Recipe!

  • Empanadas (hand pies) are easy to make. After the big day, simply fill the empanadas, fold them, and bake.
  • This Thanksgiving leftovers recipe is versatile. Want a savory empanada? A sweet empanada? A savory-and-sweet empanada? You can do all three... there are no empanada rules.
  • Mix n' match your leftovers as you like, and try combinations.
  • These will take care of your Thanksgiving leftovers.
  • You can dress them up with cute pastry leaf cut-outs.
  • They're freezable, making them perfect for meal prep.
  • You can also freeze these in airtight containers, and then bake for fast weeknight dinner meals or lunches.
  • Imagine digging into the flavors of Thanksgiving in January!

What Leftovers Can I Use?

PRO TIP: You can fit about 2-3 tablespoons of filling per 6 " round pie crust circle. Be careful to not overfill or the edges are hard to seal closed. Have fun mixing savory and sweet.

  • 1 tablespoon turkey or ham - cut into 1 " pieces
  • 1 tablespoon dressing
  • 1 tablespoon mashed potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon sweet potato casserole
  • 1 tablespoon cranberry sauce
  • 1 tablespoon roasted veggies
  • 1 tablespoon gravy

Do I Need An Empanada Press?

You really don't need an empanada press, but it does the job really fast and they are inexpensive.

PRO TIP: If making your empanadas by hand, simply cut the pie dough into a 6-inch circle, place your filling, fold over the pie crust over your filling, and use a fork to seal the edges closed. 

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  • 2 whole pie crusts
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter

How to Make Leftover Empanadas...

Ready to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers? Let's get started!

Step 1: On a floured board, roll out pie dough a little thinner than the average crust.

Step 2: Cut dough into 6" circles: use the other side of the empanada cutter or a small upside-down bowl to cut the dough into circles.

PRO TIP: The pie crusts will make 6 empanadas.

Step 3: Place 2-3 tablespoons of filling (use my suggested filling or create your own based on your Thanksgiving leftovers) on one side of the pie dough.

PRO TIP: Do not overfill your hand pies. If they are overfilled, the press won't close and seal.

Step 4: Close the empanada maker, and seal the edges. Or, fold the dough in half with filling, and press the edges closed with the tips of a fork.

Pie Crust Leaf Decorations...

Using small scraps of pie crust you can cut out small leaves and place them on top of each empanada. It just takes seconds but makes them so stunning...

Step 5: Place empanadas on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Optional: Cut out leaf pie crust decorations, place them on top of empanadas.

Step 6: Brush with melted butter.

Step 7: Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes pie crust until edges are golden brown and baked.

What are Empanadas?


Empanadas are small folded pastries with a filling and are either baked or fried. They look like a turnover or a small hand pie and are common in Southern European, Latin American, and the Philippines cultures. Their name comes from the Spanish verb empanar, and translates as "enbreaded", meaning wrapped or coated in bread.


Almost all cultures and countries around the world have some version of a pastry or dough with sweet or savory fillings. Some of these you will know as dumplings, pierogis, samosas, turnovers, British or Cornish pasties, Brazilian pastel, Cuban pastelitos, bolanis, pastechis, and empanadillas.

What Are Empanadas Filled With?


They are made by folding dough over a filling and can be savory made from meat, cheese, tomato, cheese, corn, chiles, or other ingredients. They can also be a sweet dessert, and made from fruit, chocolate, sweet preserves, sugar, cinnamon, etc.

What are Hand Pies?

A hand pie is simply the Southern U.S. term for an empanada. A hand pie is a piece of dough that is filled with a savory (savory hand pie) or sweet (sweet hand pie) filling and folded over and sealed shut... in other words, an empanada!

What Else Can You Make With Turkey Leftovers?

  • Casseroles
  • Sandwiches
  • Chilis or Soups
  • Frittatas
  • Shepherd's Pies
  • Pot Pies

Another Turkey Leftover Recipe

And if you have a lot of leftovers, this Shepherd's Pie Casserole is so easy and delicious...

Turkey Leftover Recipe: Shepherd's Pie
A leftover turkey recipe for shepherd's pie to use turkey leftovers, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and more from Thanksgiving dinner.
GET THE RECIPE PIN IT
A white dish filled with golden bubbly turkey shepherd's pie baked and ready to eat.
Golden brown baked empanadas decorated with pie crust leaves on a Fall tray.
Print Pin Recipe

Empanadas - Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe

Empanadas made with Thanksgiving leftovers: Use Thanksgiving leftover turkey, ham, mashed potatoes or stuffing, gravy etc baked into homemade or store-bought pie crust. Freeze empanadas for easy weeknight meals!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 82kcal
Author Lisa Hatfield

Equipment

Empanada Press
Leaf Cookie Cutters For Thanksgiving

Ingredients

  • 2 pie crusts
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter

Thanksgiving Leftover Filling Ideas:

  • 1 tablespoon turkey or ham - cut into 1 " pieces
  • 1 tablespoon dressing
  • 1 tablespoon mashed potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon sweet potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon cranberry sauce
  • 1 tablespoon roast veggies
  • 1 tablespoon gravy

Instructions

  • On a floured board, roll out pie dough thinner than the average crust.
  • Cut dough into 6" circles: use the other side of empanada cutter or a small upside down bowl to cut the dough into circles.
  • One pie crusts will make 6 empanadas.
  • Place 2-3 tablespoons of filling on one side of the pie dough. If they are overfilled, the press won't close and seal.
  • Close the empanada maker, and seal the edges. Or, fold dough in half with filling, and press the edges closed with the tips of a fork.
  • Place empanadas on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Brush with melted butter.
  • Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes pie crust until edges are golden brown and baked.

Notes

empanada press:

You don't NEED an empanada press, but it does the job really fast and they are inexpensive. If making your empanadas by hand, simply fold over the pie crust over your filling, and use a fork to seal the edges. 
TIP: Do not overfill your savory hand pies, if they are overfilled, the press won't close and seal.

pie crusts:

One pie crust will make 6 empanadas.

leaf decorations:

Use your extra pie crust to make pretty leaf decorations.

freezable:

Empanadas are freezable, making them perfect for meal prep. You can also freeze these in airtight containers, and then bake for fast weeknight dinner meals or lunches. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 82kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 650IU | Vitamin C: 2.2mg | Calcium: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stefanie says

    November 25, 2018 at 10:33 am

    5 stars
    The best ever! Make them every year.... all sorts of ways. Turkey, ham, and all leftovers. Best part of the holidays!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      November 25, 2018 at 10:36 am

      I do love a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich, but empanadas are awesome! I always freeze a couple too...thanks so much for stopping by and rating the recipe with a great comment. Wishing you the very best this holiday season!

      Reply
  2. Helen says

    March 09, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    5 stars
    My family and I do several turkey dinners each year, not just on holidays. I ran across this recipe recently and it is just a unique leftover idea! It is usch a simple idea and it was honestly better than our original turkey dinner! My family loved these and we will be making them again and having fun with the different combos.

    Reply

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