Empanadas are meat pies that are common in many South American and Hispanic countries. There are probably as many empanada recipes as there are families that make them. Though the filling ingredients vary, most consist of a meat mixture encased in a pastry shell, much like pie crust. So if you can't find the "Empanada Shells" in the frozen food section of your favorite super market, you can use pie crust or make your own dough.