Venezuelan Empanadas Recipe: Crispy Shredded Chicken Classic 2026

Venezuelan empanadas are the country's most beloved street food: golden half-moon pockets of corn dough, crisp on the outside and filled with something warm and savory inside. This version stuffs them with shredded chicken simmered in a tomato sofrito with a gentle kick of spicy paprika.

The dough comes together in minutes from precooked corn flour, warm water, salt and a pinch of turmeric for that sunny color. The filling takes a little longer, but it is mostly hands-off poaching and a slow simmer, so you can get everything ready without much fuss.

Fry them in batches until lightly golden and crunchy, then serve them hot with mayonnaise or your favorite hot sauce. They are perfect for sharing, for a casual dinner, or as a hearty snack any time of day.

Ingredients for Venezuelan Empanadas

Makes 8 empanadas

• 800 g chicken breasts
• 10 black peppercorns
• 2 leeks
• Salt
• 30 ml olive oil
• 1 onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 200 g crushed tomato
• 1 teaspoon spicy paprika
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 250 g precooked corn flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• 400 ml warm water

How to Make Venezuelan Empanadas Step by Step

1. Poach the chicken breasts

To make the filling, start by placing 800 g of chicken breasts (about 2 breasts), 10 black peppercorns, 2 cleaned and chopped leeks and salt in a pot. Cover the breasts with water, set the pot over heat and poach the chicken for 25 minutes over medium-high heat.

2. Cool the chicken and reserve the broth

Remove the breasts from the pot and let them cool. Reserve the cooking broth, as you will use part of it a little later.

3. Shred the chicken

Once the chicken has cooled enough to handle, shred it with your hands or two forks until you have fine, even strands.

4. Sauté the onion and garlic

In a skillet, heat 30 ml of olive oil with 1 onion cut into julienne strips and 3 garlic cloves sliced thinly. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes.

5. Add the tomato and seasonings

When the vegetables are soft, add 200 g of crushed tomato, 1 teaspoon of spicy paprika and freshly ground black pepper. Cook the mixture over low heat until the tomato reduces and no liquid remains.

6. Add the shredded chicken and broth

Add the shredded chicken and 1 ladle of the reserved chicken broth. Stir and cook the filling for a couple of minutes until all the ingredients are well combined, then set aside.

7. Mix the dough ingredients

To make the empanada dough, put 250 g of precooked corn flour, half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of turmeric in a large bowl, then pour in 400 ml of warm water.

8. Form the dough

Mix these ingredients until you have a smooth, homogeneous dough.

9. Flatten and fill eight portions

So the dough doesn't stick to your work surface, dust it lightly with corn flour. Flatten portions of about 80 g of dough into circles, then place a large spoonful of filling in the center of each one.

10. Seal each portion

Close the empanadas and, using a bowl to help you, press and seal the edges. If needed, you can also use a fork to make sure the empanadas are well sealed.

11. Fry the empanadas in plenty of oil

Fry the empanadas in batches in plenty of oil until they are lightly golden and crispy.

12. Serve

Serve the chicken empanadas with a sauce of your choice, such as mayonnaise or a hot sauce.

Tips for the Best Venezuelan Empanadas

Choose your corn flour

The most traditional empanadas are made with ground corn dough, while more modern versions use precooked corn flour, which can be yellow or white. This recipe uses white precooked corn flour with a pinch of turmeric to color the dough and make it more attractive.

Vary the filling

There are many possible fillings for Venezuelan empanadas: cheese, beans, ham, shellfish, dogfish, shredded meats or plantain slices with cheese, to name a few. Here the filling is boiled, shredded chicken added to a tomato sofrito, which you can make spicy or not to your taste. This version uses spicy paprika, but chili or tabasco work too.

Serve with the right sauces

To accompany the empanadas, nothing beats a little mayonnaise and some hot sauce.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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