Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies)
Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne wrap a warmly spiced beef filling—perfumed with sofrito, sazón, olives, and tomato—inside a thin, bubbly crust that fries up crisp and flaky. Each bite balances savory richness with a hint of herbal oregano and briny olive. Serve these meat pies hot as a party appetizer, game-day snack, or a festive dinner centerpiece with dipping sauces.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves15
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 50 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 30
- Heart Health
- 63
- Metabolic
- 22
- Digestive
- 21
- Inflammatory
- 30
- Performance
- 31
- General Wellness
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot oil until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the onion, tomato sauce, olives, sofrito, sazòn, garlic, and oregano. Bring to a simmer and cook until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.
- 2
Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of the meat mixture into the center of a disco. Moisten the edges, fold the dough into a half-moon, and press with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining meat mixture and discos.
- 3
Heat oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Working in batches, fry the pastelillos in the hot oil until golden brown and bubbly, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels before serving.
- Calories 280.48 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 11.66 g Good Source 23%
- Carbohydrate 36.78 g 13%
- Total Fat 8.87 g Moderate 11%
- Saturated Fat 3.09 g Moderate 15%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 17.57 mg Moderate 6%
- Sodium 249.21 mg Moderate 11%
- Dietary Fiber 2.45 g Low Source 9%
- Total Sugars 2.83 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 8.83 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 2.44 mg Moderate 14%
- Potassium 19.8 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin A 3.2 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.24 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies) is a Puerto Rican appetizer recipe made with 11 ingredients. It takes about 55 mins, serves 15, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Dried Oregano, Empanada Dough, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Lean Ground Beef. Each serving provides about 280.48 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies)?
- It is a Puerto Rican pie recipe made with 11 ingredients, usually served for appetizer or dinner or lunch or snack.
- What is Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies) made of?
- The main ingredients are Dried Oregano, Empanada Dough, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Lean Ground Beef, Minced Garlic. The full list of 11 is above.
- What goes well with Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies)?
- Explore these Puerto Rican side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies)?
- About 55 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 280.48 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 11 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Is Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies) healthy?
- Puerto Rican Pastelillos de Carne (Meat Hand Pies) has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 280.48 calories and 11.66 g of protein, or 23% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 249.21 mg (11% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 3.09 g (15% of the Daily Value). It contains Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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