Kid-Friendly Lunchbox Empanadas
Amanda Keefer
These lunchbox-friendly empanadas are packed with lean ground beef, veggies, and cheese for a meal kids can’t resist! Get the family in the kitchen, and make a batch on Sunday for easy lunchboxes all week.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course dinner, Lunch, Lunchbox Ideas
Cuisine Mexican, tex-mex
Servings 6
Calories 294 kcal
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 small sweet onion finely chopped
- 3 mini sweet peppers finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound whole wheat pizza dough you can also use frozen empanada discs found at the grocer in the freezer section
- 1/2 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons salsa
- 1 cup mixed frozen vegetables cooked
- 1 clementine as a side if desired
Preheat oven to 350F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, carrots, onion, peppers, cumin, salt and pepper, and cook 7-10 minutes, or until cooked through. Drain and set aside.
Dust counter lightly with flour and roll out dough to ¼-inch thick. Using a small to mid-size bowl (5-inches in diameter) to cut out circles of dough. Repeat process until all dough has been used.
Fill dough with ¼ cup beef and sprinkle with cheese. Fold dough over filling to create a pocket, pressing down on sides to seal.
Bake 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
Serve with salsa for dipping, veggies and Crispy Green for added fruit.
Calories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 17gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 651mgPotassium: 309mgFiber: 5gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2945IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 2mg
Keyword easy lunch, easy weeknight meals, weeknight dinner