Cheesiest Fried Chicken Empanadas with Chili Con Queso Dip

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Show: Paula's PartyEpisode: Cheese Glorious Cheese

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (61)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
12 to 15 servings

Times:

Prep: 40 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 1 hr 0 min

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Ingredients

3 cups chopped, cooked chicken, about 4 to 5 chicken breasts
1 (8-ounce) package shredded colby and Monterey Jack cheese blend
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 chopped red bell pepper
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
Water

Directions

Preheat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl using a rubber spatula, combine the chicken, colby and Monterey cheese, cream cheese, red pepper, jalapeno, cumin, salt, and pepper. Remove 1 pie crust from pie tin onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 15-inch circle. Cut out rounds, using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Re-roll dough as needed. Repeat procedure with remaining pie crusts, making 12 to 15 circles total. Arrange 1 round on a clean, flat surface. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges of crust with water. Place 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken mixture in the center of the round. Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining rounds and chicken mixture. Place empanadas in deep-fryer for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Top with con queso dip.

Note: Up to this point, the recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 1 month

Chili Con Queso Dip
1 pound package Cheddar (recommended: Velveeta)
1 (16-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
2 teaspoons hot sauce

In a medium sauce pot, slowly melt Cheddar over medium/low heat. When cheese is fully melted add tomatoes, chiles, and hot sauce, stirring with spoon until combined well.

Pour cheese dip into a small casserole dish and serve as a dip for the cheesy empanadas or pour on top for a real cheesy effect.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Cheesiest Fried Chicken Empanadas with Chili Con Queso Dip
anthony flanders, NJ 02-08-2010
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Incredible but . . .
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

These were a HUGE hit at our Super Bowl party. But I used an empanada dough recipe from Tyler Florence and that put them over... the top. Got as many compliments on the flaky delicious dough as I did the filling!Read more
recipe Cheesiest Fried Chicken Empanadas with Chili Con Queso Dip
Wendy Warner Robins, GA 01-17-2010
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very good
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

This is a great recipe! Only problem is that it makes too much of the chicken mixture. I cut the recipe in half and it still... used two refrigerated pie crusts and I have a whole bowl of mix left! I'm going to buy some other grocery items like biscuits and puffed pastry to see how they work. An experiment in progress. They are great little sandwiches that can be easily served to a crowd. I purchased the queso in a jar. I am planning on adding a little more heat to the meat mix next time...and there WILL be a next time.Read more
recipe Cheesiest Fried Chicken Empanadas with Chili Con Queso Dip
Robin Daytona Beach, FL 12-10-2009
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Flour Tortilla Dough( Empanadas)
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

If you find the pie dough is to hard to use in this recipe try using flour tortilla masa to make your Empandas. it's a little... thicker dough and will withstand deep frying but you want to make sure the edges are sealed good to prevent splattering from the filling. Sometimes you have to go just that extra mile to make something work for you.Read more
recipe Cheesiest Fried Chicken Empanadas with Chili Con Queso Dip
Marcela Austin, TX 11-10-2009
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Empanadas dough to make it easier yet!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Here is an advice for empanadas dough. If you are near a latin grocery store ask if they carry "La Salte?a" argentinian dough... products. If they do you'll find that they have empanadas "discos" for either oven or frying, so select the ones you want. I prefer the ones for oven. The dough is delicious and flaky, for around $2.00 you'll have enough for 20 and they can be frozen. So I usually buy about 10 packages of their dough products at a time and use it as needed. They are great for any type of filling so if you have left overs with this recipe, freeze it and then re-use it with this dough. Raised in a country where empanadas are on every meal, this is the best dough you can buy at the grocery store and because people know I love to cook they even think I made the dough too! Read more
recipe Cheesiest Fried Chicken Empanadas with Chili Con Queso Dip
Kennetra Randallstown, MD 10-28-2009
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Use Biscuit Dough Instead
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I made a batch using cresent rolls which were good but not what I was expecting and I baked them....then I tried them with... canned buttermilk biscuits and deep fried them and they were great...I had so much left over I had to try something...oh and I just bought con queso dip which we really didnt need.Read more
recipe Cheesiest Fried Chicken Empanadas with Chili Con Queso Dip
Darren Bossier City, LA 10-23-2009
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Good for the game
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

These empanadas are good but Paula forgot one important thing. Use a fork to poke holes in the empanadas before frying. This... will pevent the empanadas from falling apart. This recipe is good baked also. The recipes makes twice the amount of filling necassary. Read more