Empanadas for breakfast? Why not?

We’ve already done pizza, a 30-second breakfast, and an 80-cent breakfast sandwich. These portable breakfast empanadas are the logical next step.

Traditional South American empanadas are filled with meat, hard-boiled eggs, olives, chicken, and other ingredients. These breakfast empanadas are filled with yummy, budget-friendly breakfast ingredients:

• Roasted potatoes
• Scrambled eggs
• Homemade sausage
• Cheese

I purchased empanada wrappers at a local Mexican grocery store. One package of 10 wrappers cost $2.89. All in all, each empanada cost about 85 cents. Not bad for a hearty, on-the-go breakfast!

Speaking of on-the-go breakfast, these empanadas can be frozen and reheated in the microwave for a quick breakfast. Once you’ve baked the empanadas, let them cool, package them individually, and place them in the freezer. To assemble the empanadas, place a scoop of filling (recipe below) in the middle of the empanada wrapper. Fold over and seal the edges with a fork. Brush with egg wash, bake, and enjoy with your favorite salsa on the side. Empanadas are fun and easy to make – and are completely customizable. They can be filled with all sorts of ingredients from ground beef to cheese to turkey to vegetables and everything in between.

Get the recipe: Leftover turkey empanadas with a roasted red pepper sauce

 

 

A photo posted by Haley @ Cheap Recipe Blog (@cheaprecipeblog) on May 10, 2015 at 6:44pm PDT

Breakfast Empanadas Recipe

Yield: 6 empanadas

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 43 minutes

Save money by using ingredients you already have on hand. Sub bacon for the sausage or skip meat altogether. Use another type of cheese instead of purchasing a whole package of cheddar. Use your imagination - these are hard to screw up!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 large Russet potato, peeled and cut into small cubes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 4 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons whole milk or cream
• 1/8 cup cooked breakfast sausage, crumbled
• 1/3 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Hot sauce or salsa, to taste
• 6 empanada wrappers  (5 inches across)
• 1 egg white, beaten

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Toss potato cubes with olive oil and spices. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until fork-tender and slightly browned on the outside. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Increase oven temperature to 400F.
2. Beat eggs with milk. Season with salt and pepper. Heat in a skillet and scramble the eggs (don't overcook!). Set aside to cool.
3. Combine potatoes, onions, eggs, sausage, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Add a bit of hot sauce or your favorite salsa, if desired.
4. Place empanada wrappers on clean kitchen countertop. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling in the center of each empanada wrapper. Fold the wrapper over and secure the edges by pressing down with a fork. Continue until all the empanadas are prepared. Brush the outside with egg white.
5. Bake empanadas for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with salsa on the side.