Empanada Day, known officially as National Empanada Day, is a tasty yearly event that celebrates the much-loved empanada-a pastry enjoyed by people everywhere. On this day, empanadas, which are pastries filled with all sorts of savory or sweet ingredients, take the spotlight. People honor both the classic and new ways to make and eat these stuffed pies, appreciating everything from their past to how we enjoy them today.
Empanada Day isn’t just another food-related date. It invites people to look at the many cultures behind this simple but popular food. It’s a chance for cooks, food fans, and anyone curious about food to enjoy different types of empanadas, try making new flavors, or even bake them at home. The day traces the empanada’s path from old times to being a favorite food in many places. Its easy-to-love taste and the ability to use many different fillings make it special worldwide.
What Is Empanada Day?
Empanada Day is a yearly event for celebrating the empanada-a pastry made by wrapping dough around a tasty filling, then either baking or frying it. The aim is to enjoy the many shapes, sizes, and flavors of empanadas in different countries. The idea is simple: take a day to enjoy these pastries, whether they follow tradition, reflect a certain place, or use new and creative fillings.
The day reminds us that empanadas can be comforting, easy to eat, and a great way to use all sorts of fillings. You’ll find them full of meat, cheese, vegetables, fruit, or even more original kinds. Their ability to bring people together over food is part of why they’re so popular.
When Is Empanada Day Celebrated?
National Empanada Day happens every year on April 8th in the United States. In 2025, it will be on a Tuesday, giving people the perfect reason for a special meal in the middle of the week.
Though April 8th is the set date, many people eat and enjoy empanadas all year. However, this day brings extra attention with deals, parties, and food-themed events that shine a spotlight on this pastry.
Why Do People Celebrate Empanada Day?
People mark Empanada Day mainly to show their love for a food that’s both flexible and meaningful in many cultures. It’s a day to remember empanadas’ long history, reach across the globe, and the many ways to enjoy them. For some, it’s a connection to family traditions; for others, it’s a way to try something new.
Besides tradition, it’s just fun to eat tasty food! Empanadas work as snacks, starters, or meals. The day encourages people to taste new flavors, try making their own dough, or check out a new local empanada maker. It’s all about enjoying food and good company.
History of Empanada Day
Empanada Day as a special holiday started in 2011, when people began asking for more recognition for this popular pastry. But the empanada itself has a history going back hundreds of years, found in cultures all over the world.
This recent holiday is built on generations of baking and sharing. While the full story of how National Empanada Day began in the US is still being learned, its creation shows the growing interest in celebrating different food traditions with dedicated days.
Origins of Empanadas
The first empanadas came from medieval times in Europe, mainly in the region we now call Spain and Portugal. The word “empanada” comes from the Spanish, Galician, and Portuguese verb for “to cover with bread” or “to coat.” Some forms of wrapped, filled dough even go back to Ancient Persia, around 100 B.C.
The empanada as we know it today took shape in Spain when the Moors lived there, starting in 711 A.D. They brought the idea of filling bread with meats and spices. A Spanish cookbook from 1520 mentions empanadas filled with seafood, showing that the recipe was already well known back then.
How Did Empanada Day Begin?
Though empanadas have been around for a long time, setting aside a specific “Empanada Day” is new. National Empanada Day was started in 2011 by people who wanted more folks to enjoy and appreciate this food. These new kinds of food holidays are becoming more common, giving people a set day to try favorite traditional or popular foods and share them with friends and family.
These holidays allow people to share their cooking, support local businesses, and create fun food experiences focused on one special dish.
Empanadas Around the World
Empanadas can be found almost everywhere, with each place putting its own twist on them. While they started out in Spain and Portugal, the idea of putting a filling inside pastry has been tried and changed to fit different cultures and ingredients around the globe.
From Latin America to Asia, empanadas have become a favorite. Local ingredients and ways of cooking often shape what goes inside and what the dough is like in each country. Each type tells a unique story about the place where it’s made.
Examples of Regional Empanadas
One of the best things about empanadas is how different they can be from country to country. In Argentina, empanadas are famous for their beef filling and are usually baked and closed with a crimp along the edge called a “repulgue.” Chile loves seafood versions, and empanadas are a big part of their national holidays.
In Venezuela, empanadas are made with corn dough for a whole new flavor and texture. Bolivia has “salteñas,” which are often sweet and spicy. Belize has “panades.” In the Philippines, empanadas are commonly filled with pork, potatoes, and raisins. In the United States, different areas make both savory and sweet empanadas-for example, you’ll see Creole-style in the South filled with meat and cheese, or sweet fruit-filled pastry in the Southeast. In New Mexico, it’s common to have pork, nuts, and spices in sweet empanadas at Christmastime.
| Country/Region | Type of Empanada | Main Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Beef Empanada | Beef, onion, spices, hard-boiled egg |
| Chile | Seafood Empanada | Fish, shellfish, onion, spices |
| Venezuela | Corn Dough Empanada | Cornmeal dough, meat or cheese |
| Bolivia | Salteña | Meat, vegetables, slightly sweet dough |
| Philippines | Pork Empanada | Ground pork, potato, raisins |
| USA (South) | Creole Empanada | Pork, beef, cheese, spices |
| USA (New Mexico) | Sweetmeat Empanada | Pork, nuts, sugar, spices |
Popular Empanada Fillings and Styles
What makes empanadas so interesting is what goes inside. The idea is always the same-closing dough around a filling-but the inside can be almost anything. From hearty meals to sweet desserts, the choices are nearly endless.
How the empanada is cooked also matters-baked ones get a flaky crust, while fried versions are crispy. Both ways offer their own taste and feel, and both are loved by different people.
Traditional Tasty Empanada Fillings
For savory options, here are some favorites:
- Beef: Seasoned ground beef, often with onions, olives, and sometimes hard-boiled eggs.
- Chicken: Shredded chicken mixed with vegetables like peas or potatoes.
- Pork: Seen in special versions such as Mexico’s sweet and savory Chiapas empanadas.
- Seafood: Tuna, sardines, or other fish-especially popular in coastal countries.
- Cheese or vegetables: For lighter flavors.
Sweet Empanadas and Dessert Options
- Fruit: Apple, apricot, peach, or similar-often spiced with cinnamon.
- Sweet potato: Popular both by itself or paired with spices or fruit.
- Guava paste: Used in Latin American and Caribbean recipes.
- Others: Chocolate, coconut, or cream cheese fillings; sometimes combined with fruit.
- Holiday varieties: In New Mexico, sweetmeat empanadas for Christmas feature pork, sugar, nuts, and spices.
New and Creative Fillings
- Kimchi and pork (Korean-inspired)
- Buffalo chicken (American twist)
- Turkey with stuffing and cranberry (holiday theme)
- Chorizo and cheese (“choriqueso”)
- Chocolate-covered crickets (in Mexico, for the adventurous eater)
- Vegan and gluten-free options with different types of dough and fillings
How to Celebrate Empanada Day
Empanada Day is about enjoying everything connected to these pastries. If you like to cook or just want to eat something new, there are many ways to take part in the occasion. You can make the celebration simple or turn it into a big food project-whatever suits you best.
Eat Empanadas
The easiest way is to eat empanadas! Visit a local restaurant, food truck, or bakery. Try a flavor you don’t usually pick, like beef instead of chicken, or a fruit-filled one if you always eat savory. Bring friends or family along for a shared meal.
Make Empanadas Yourself
If you want to cook at home, making empanadas is a fun activity. You can make homemade dough (and adjust it for needs like gluten-free or vegan) or use pre-made dough. Pick your favorite fillings or invent your own. Making empanadas together is a good group activity, too.
Throw an Empanada Party
Invite friends or family for an empanada party. You could order from local businesses for a variety to share, or ask guests to bring their homemade empanadas. Play Spanish or Latin music, decorate the room, or set up a tasting or making contest for more fun.
Share Online
Take pictures of your empanadas or share recipes on social media with #NationalEmpanadaDay. Post tips, your favorite combinations, or just a photo of your plate. Connecting online lets you celebrate with people everywhere.
Other Ways to Enjoy Empanada Day
- Hold a Tasting: Gather different empanadas from local shops or home cooks, label them, and sample each one. Try guessing the fillings, or rate your favorites.
- Cooking Contest: Compete with friends or family to make the best empanada. Pick different categories like savory, sweet, or most creative. Judge by taste, texture, and looks.
- Support Local Businesses: Buy empanadas from small shops or restaurants. This supports your community and lets you try expertly made treats. Share your experience on social media or recommend your favorite place to others.
Common Questions about Empanada Day
Are Empanadas Spanish or Latin American?
Empanadas started in Spain (Galicia) and also in Portugal, but became very important in Latin America after being brought over by Spanish settlers. Each Latin American country has its own take.
What Are the Usual Shapes and Cooking Methods?
Most empanadas are shaped into a half-moon by folding dough over the filling and sealing the edges (often crimped). They can be baked for a golden crust or fried for a crispy outside. The crimp pattern sometimes shows what filling is inside.
How Do Empanadas Connect to Culture?
Fillings often show local eating habits and history-seafood in coastal areas, beef where cattle are common. Making empanadas is often a social or family event, especially at holidays. Different cultures also have special shapes or crimping to show tradition or what’s inside without opening the pastry.
Can Empanadas Be Gluten-Free or Vegan?
Most are made with wheat flour and may use animal products, but it’s easy to make gluten-free versions (using corn or rice flour) and vegan fillings (with vegetables, beans, or dairy-free cheese). Many shops now offer plant-based or gluten-free choices for anyone with food needs.
Empanada Day every April 8th is a reminder that something simple can become a food favorite around the world. It’s not just about eating a pastry, but sharing stories, traditions, and clever new ideas. Whether you like savory beef, sweet fruit, or new fusion styles, Empanada Day invites you to try, make, or share empanadas, bringing people together with the joy of good food.