Enjoy all your favorite keto empanada flavors in an easy cheese roll-up! This is a simple grab-and-go lunch or snack.
What Are Empanadas
An empanada is a Spanish or Latin-America pastry. The dough is usually filled with savory things like meat and vegetables.
It’s then wrapped up and fried and the result is a buttery delicious pastry that you can take with you on the go.
I took all my favorite things about empandas – their portability and flavors – and made a fantastically low-carb version. Each roll up only has 2 grams net carbs!
And the best part about them is that you don’t have to deal with making dough or trying to find the best low-carb tortilla.
Keto Empanada
The secret to keeping the carbs really low in a keto empanada, is to use cheese as the tortilla. There are basically no carbs in cheese, so it’s the best choice!
I used taco blend shredded cheese to make the roll-ups, but you can use any type of semi-hard cheese that you want. In fact, if you shred cheddar at home, it will have a much stronger flavor.
This recipe makes eight empanada roll ups. That’s enough for you to get full at lunch and then save the rest for your meal prep!
If you’re going to be sharing your roll-ups with anyone, you might want to double the recipe. They taste so good that everyone will want seconds!
What To Put In Empanadas
One of the best things about empanadas is that you can fill them with almost anything. Yup, you can even make dessert empanadas!
I filled these roll-ups with a classic mix of ground beef, turnip, carrots, and some bold spices. These roll-ups ended up tasting just like a food truck taco – but without all the carbs!
If you aren’t a fan of turnips, you can leave them out. And if you want to really amp up the spice, I suggest adding more cayenne pepper and some red pepper flakes. Or, drizzle some hot sauce on top.
What To Eat With Empanadas
These empanada roll ups go perfectly with some classic keto Mexican foods. Instead of street corn, make Mexican street Cauliflower.
Chop up the cauliflower and make keto Mexican cauliflower rice. Do you like cilantro? Then keto cauliflower cilantro lime rice might be perfect for you!
Or make a keto Taco Bell Mexican pizza to eat with the empanada roll ups. Both recipes are so low in carbs that you won’t have to worry about saving any of your macros for dinner.
How To Store Empanadas
Since these aren’t typical empanadas in fried pastry dough, you’ll store them a little differently than classic empanadas. Place them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Reheat them in the oven, not the microwave. If you reheat them in the microwave, the cheese wraps might melt.
I don’t recommend freezing them. The process of thawing them will change the texture of the cheese roll-ups too much.
Keto Empanda Roll Ups Recipe
Here’s the list of the ingredients and steps that you’ll need to make these easy keto empanada roll ups. Exact measurements and instructions are located in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Servings: 8
Net Carbs: 2 net carbs per serving
Ingredients
- Shredded Cheese
- Ground Beef
- Turnip
- Matchstick Carrots
- Onion
- Garlic
- Chili Powder
- Cumin
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne Pepper
- Beef Broth
Directions
Add the ground beef and turnips to a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute until the meat is completely browned. Drain the excess grease, and reduce the heat to medium.
Stir in the onions, carrots, seasoning and broth. Stir to combine. Continue to simmer until almost all of the liquid is absorbed.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the cheese into 8 evenly sized circles on a parchment or silicone mat-lined baking sheet. Leave some space between each circle of cheese.
Bake for 8 minutes, or until the edges are browned and turning crispy. Remove the cheese from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
Place a layer of the filling down the center of each cheese circle. Carefully roll each circle of cheese up and around the filling.
Allow the cheese to cool and crisp up before serving.
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Keto Empanada Roll Ups
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 2 cups Fiesta or taco blend shredded cheese
- 1/2 pound Ground Beef
- 1 medium Turnip diced
- 1/3 cup Matchstick Carrots
- 1/3 medium Onion chopped
- 2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 pinch Cinnamon
- Cayenne Pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup Beef Broth
Instructions
- Add the ground beef and turnips to a skillet over medium high heat. Saute until the meat is completely browned.
- Drain the excess grease, and reduce the heat to medium.
- Stir in the onions, carrots, seasoning and broth. Stir to combine.
- Continue to simmer until almost all of the liquid is absorbed.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the cheese into 8 evenly sized circles on a parchment or silicone mat lined baking sheet. Leave some space between each circle of cheese.
- Bake for 8 minutes, or until the edges are browned and turning crispy.
- Remove the cheese from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.
- Place a layer of the filling down the center of each cheese circle. Carefully roll each circle of cheese up and around the filling.
- Allow the cheese to cool and crisp up before serving.
Notes
Net Carbs: 2 Net Carbs Per Serving
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
Keto Roll Ups
If you enjoyed this keto empanada roll-ups recipe, here are some more delicious keto roll-up recipes you should make next. They are delicious and low in carbs.
