You know those meals that don’t need explaining? The kind that just shows up on the table and makes people smile before the first bite? That’s what Empadão is in Brazil. It’s not trendy. It’s not fancy. It’s just… home. Every family has their own way of making it. Some use chicken, some use shrimp, some even add hearts of palm or that creamy requeijão cheese — but it’s always the same feeling: warm, rich, satisfying. Empadão is basically Brazil’s big version of a pot pie, but with more love stuffed inside
Where Did This Pie Come From?
Like a lot of food in Brazil, this one came over with the Portuguese ages ago, where they brought the idea of savoury pies, and as we know, Brazilians — being Brazilians — added their own flavour, more filling, more cream, and more soul. Over the years, it went from being special-occasion food to something you see in bakeries, at birthday parties, or just made on a lazy Sunday at home.
Ingredients
The dough is buttery and soft. The filling? Up to you. Most people go with shredded chicken cooked with onions, garlic, tomatoes, and olives, but honestly, use what you love.
Here’s a basic list for the chicken version:
- Flour
- Butter (lots of it)
- An egg
- Salt
- A splash of water to bring it together
For the filling:
- Cooked, shredded chicken
- Onions, garlic
- Tomatoes or tomato sauce
- Sliced green olives
- Hearts of palm (if you want)
- Cream cheese or requeijão
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Step 1: Mix the flour, butter, egg, and salt until you get a soft and spongy dough and then chill it in the fridge for a bit
Step 2: Cook onions and garlic in a pan until they smell sweet, then throw in the chicken, olives, and maybe some hearts of palm. Let it all cook together. Stir in some creamy cheese at the end so it gets rich
Step 3: Roll out the dough to the top with a beaten egg, line your baking dish, add the filling, cover with more dough, and brush
Step 4: Hot or warm. Maybe with a salad. Or on its own. Doesn’t matter. It’s not fancy food — it’s family food. Comfort food
More About Empadão
Empadão is the kind of meal that doesn’t need to be explained to Brazilians — it just shows up and makes the whole house smell like home. Every forkful feels like someone cooked it because they wanted you there. Empadão is the kind of meal that doesn’t need to be explained to Brazilians — it just shows up and makes the whole house smell like home. Every forkful feels like someone cooked it because they wanted you there. It’s not just about feeding people — it’s about creating a moment. A meal that says, “You belong here. Stay a little longer.
