Name: Air-Fryer Southwestern Beef Hand Pies
Total time: 1 h
Ingredients: 8 ounces 93 percent lean ground beef; 3 garlic cloves , minced; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano or ¼ teaspoon dried; 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese , shredded (1 cup); 1 cup mild tomato salsa , drained; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro; 1 package store-bought pie dough; 1 large egg , lightly beaten

Why This Recipe Works

Easily prepared with store-bought pie dough, these spiced ground-beef hand pies can be made ahead and frozen, then quickly baked in the air fryer for a flaky, steaming- hot snack or meal anytime. Microwaving beef, aromatics, and spices bloomed flavors and let us drain away excess liquid that would sog out the dough. We then stirred in cheese, which added richness and created a cohesive filling; salsa for depth of flavor; and cilantro for freshness. We were able to cut eight 5-inch rounds from two 12-inch pastry rounds to make four hand pies.

Before You Begin

Hand pies can also be cooked immediately without freezing; reduce the cooking time in step 3 to 10 to 12 minutes.

Instructions

Microwave beef, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano in bowl, stirring occasionally and breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until beef is no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Transfer beef mixture to fine-mesh strainer set over large bowl and let drain for 10 minutes; discard juices. Return drained beef mixture to now-empty bowl and stir in Monterey Jack, salsa, and cilantro.

Roll 1 dough round into 12-inch circle on lightly floured counter. Using 5-inch round biscuit cutter, stamp out 4 rounds; discard dough scraps. Repeat with remaining dough round. Mound beef mixture evenly in center of each stamped round. Fold dough over filling and crimp edges with fork to seal. Transfer hand pies to parchment paper–lined rimmed baking sheet, brush with egg, and freeze until firm, about 1 hour. (Hand pies can be transferred to zipper-lock bag and stored in freezer for up to 2 weeks; do not thaw before cooking.)

to cook hand pies Lightly spray base of air-fryer basket with vegetable oil spray. Arrange up to 2 hand pies in prepared basket, spaced evenly apart. Place basket in air fryer and set temperature to 350 degrees. Cook until hand pies are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and let cool slightly. Serve.