I know you may hear the name “funeral potato” and not instantly think of a delicious cheesy potato dish, but this one is. Funeral potatoes are a famous Idaho and Utah dish that is traditional for families to bring to an after-funeral luncheon. A very simple, yet tasty dish always here to warm people’s stomachs and indulge in something so creamy. There are usually so many leftovers that I can’t help, but think of something fun to repurpose them into. Why not empanadas? Using a store-bought pie crust, we’re going to cut out empanada wrappers and stuff this pastry to the gills with cheesy potatoes, fry them up, and enjoy them the next day. You can just as easily bake them, but why not indulge in something even better? Serve them up with a delicious creamy dipping sauce.

If you’re making these from scratch, you are going to need some time to first bake your cheesy potatoes, then let them cool. Best to do this overnight because the more firm the potatoes are, the easier to stuff the empanadas. While your potatoes are baked, take the time to cut your pie dough into the perfect size empanada wrapper. Wrap these in plastic wrap and store them in the fridge for an easy project the next day.

When stuffing, use a fork to seal the edges on both sides to give that classic empanada fan. Don’t worry if some of the cheesy potatoes are squeezing out as long as the seal on the fan is tight. Freeze or refrigerate your appetizers until ready for cooking. Make a lot of these and just save for a rainy day or unexpected visitors. They make such a tasty treat to air fry, bake, or fry. This is by far one of my favorite ways to use up and store leftover potatoes.