Empanadas de Chile Colorado (Mexican Red Pork Pasties)
Golden shortcrust pasties filled with tender pork, potato and red chilli sauce, perfect warm or cold in a lunchbox.
Made with Chile colorado sauce and Shortcrust pastry. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time2 hr 15
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.36 a head
- Oven200°C (180°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a pan and brown the pork for 6 minutes. Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes.
10 min - 2
Add the potato, your ready made chile colorado sauce (see the base recipe) and the water. Cover and simmer for 40 minutes until the pork is tender and the filling is very thick. Cool completely.
40 min - 3
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Roll out your ready made shortcrust pastry (see the base recipe) on a floured surface until 3 mm thick and cut out eight 14 cm circles, re-rolling the trimmings.
- 4
Put 2 tablespoons of cold filling on each circle. Brush the edges with egg, fold over to make half moons and press the edges down with a fork.
- 5
Place on a lined baking tray, brush with egg and cut a small steam hole in each.
- 6
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until deep golden. Cool for 5 minutes before eating.
27 min 30 s
Tips
- The filling must be cold and thick, or the pastry turns soggy and splits.
- Chill the filled empanadas for 15 minutes before baking for a crisper crust.
- Do not overfill. Press out any air before sealing.
Storing and freezing
Cool and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze baked empanadas for up to 2 months. Reheat at 180C for 15 minutes until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I freeze them before baking?
Yes. Freeze the unbaked empanadas on a tray, then bag them. Bake from frozen at 190C for 35 minutes.
Can I use chicken or beef?
Yes. Use diced chicken thigh or beef chuck, simmered in the sauce until tender before cooling and filling.
Can I fry them instead?
Yes. Deep fry at 180C for 3 to 4 minutes until golden, but baking is simpler and less messy.
More made with chile colorado sauce
Tacos Dorados de Papa con Chile Colorado (Crispy Potato Tacos)
DFEFNFGorditas de Carne con Chile Colorado (Stuffed Masa Pockets)
GFEFNFCostillas de Cerdo en Chile Colorado (Red Chilli Pork Ribs)
DFEFNFEnchiladas de Queso con Chile Colorado (Red Cheese Enchiladas)
GFEFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.