Quick answer
For a Sydney catering event, plan 4 empanadas per guest as a meal, 2 to 3 per guest as finger food alongside other dishes, and 6 to 8 per guest if empanadas are the only food. Argentum Empanadas delivers across Sydney from our kitchen in Bondi Beach, with 5 flavours and a $85 minimum order. Catering boxes scale from 60 pieces (Party Box) to 100 pieces (Corporate Box).
Empanadas are one of the easiest foods to serve at a gathering. Handheld, no cutlery, work equally well at a backyard party, a corporate lunch, a birthday, or a boat party on the harbour. The most common question hosts ask when planning an event is the same: how many do I actually need per person? This guide covers quantities, flavour mix, presentation, drinks, and how to order cleanly.
In this guide
How many empanadas per person
Quantity depends on the role the empanadas play at your event, and whether other food is being served. Round up if you're unsure. Empanadas reheat well and leftovers rarely go to waste.
| Event type | Empanadas per person |
|---|---|
| Canapé or starter | 2 to 3 |
| Shared spread with other food | 4 to 5 |
| Main meal, empanadas only | 6 to 8 |
| Hungry crowd or outdoor event | 8 to 10 |
Need exact numbers for a specific headcount? See our planning guides for catering for 50 people and catering for 100 people.
Why empanadas work for catering
Empanadas solve the practical problems most catering options create. They're built for events without the usual compromises.
No mess, no fuss
Sealed pastry. No plates, no cutlery. Guests eat one-handed while holding a drink or a conversation.
Flexible timing
Baked empanadas hold at room temperature for about 90 minutes. That's long enough for a grazing table, a buffet setup, or a cocktail window.
Dietary coverage
Beef, chicken, cheese, and vegan all in one order. Vegan and Halal option included. Most guests find something they want.
Scales cleanly
From a box of twenty for an office lunch to a hundred plus for a wedding or corporate event. The format doesn't change.
Travels anywhere
Boat, beach, park, office, home. Sealed pastries don't leak, slide, or collapse in transit.
Baked or frozen for your event
Frozen by default for retail. Baked or fried in beef tallow for catering and markets. The choice comes down to whether your event has a fixed start time or a flexible arrival window.
Baked (ready to serve)
- Arrive hot and ready
- Best for events with a fixed start time
- No kitchen access required
- Ideal for corporate lunches and boat parties
Frozen (bake at home)
- Bake fresh when needed
- Best for flexible arrival windows
- Bake in batches throughout the event
- Stores up to 6 months at -18C
Baking frozen empanadas for a crowd
- Preheat oven to 190C fan-forced or 220C conventional
- Arrange empanadas on a lined baking tray in a single layer
- Brush with egg yolk, milk, or oil for a deeper golden finish
- Bake from frozen for 18 to 22 minutes (under 25 minutes max)
- Rest 3 to 5 minutes before serving
For large parties, stagger trays every 10 to 15 minutes. Fresh empanadas keep coming out of the oven across the event. For the full method, see our cooking guide. Never microwave. Softens the pastry and kills the crisp.
Events perfect for empanada catering
The format suits almost any gathering. Four event categories cover most Sydney use cases.
Corporate events
Office lunches and team meetings. Client presentations and pitches. Board meetings and executive lunches. Training sessions and workshops. End-of-year celebrations. Product launches and networking events. Clean presentation, no crumbs on the carpet, and dietary coverage for diverse teams. See our office catering guide.
Birthdays and private parties
Birthdays, engagements, baby showers, housewarmings, casual dinner parties. Guests mingle while they eat. No formal sit-down required. Order frozen for relaxed timing or baked for a fixed start.
Milestone celebrations
Milestone birthdays (18th, 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th), anniversaries, graduations, retirements, weddings. Elegant but casual. Guests can enjoy while socialising. A memorable step up from standard catering.
Outdoor and harbour events
Beach gatherings, park picnics, BBQs, sports events, festival stalls. And yes, boat parties on Sydney Harbour. Empanadas travel well, hold at room temperature, and don't need refrigeration once cooked. Built for Sydney's outdoor lifestyle. See our boat party catering guide.
Choosing the right flavour mix
Variety matters when feeding a group. A balanced selection covers most diets and most preferences. For groups of 20 or more, four flavours is usually the right mix. The Argentum range is 5 active flavours: Carnivore, Athlete, Classic, Patagonia, Habibi Yalla.
- A classic grass-fed beef brisket option. Carnivore is the reliable crowd favourite that almost everyone enjoys.
- A chicken option. The Athlete is a lighter profile with green olives, suits most palates.
- A vegan option. Patagonia with its signature green dough. Covers vegans, vegetarians, and guests who simply want something different.
- Something distinctive. The Classic (three-cheese) or Habibi Yalla (open-top Arab-Argentinian) to give guests something memorable.
For smaller gatherings, two or three flavours is usually enough. For weddings and large corporate events, all 5 flavours work well to cover every dietary need. View the full range. Gluten-free is available for large orders on request with a week's notice.
Presentation and serving
How empanadas look on the table matters almost as much as how they taste. Three setups cover most events.
- Wooden boards or platters. The default. Looks generous, feels premium, easy to refill.
- Baskets lined with baking paper. Rustic and casual. Great for backyard gatherings, picnics, and relaxed dinners.
- Tiered stands. Best for cocktail parties and formal events where floor space is tight. Vertical presentation keeps the table clear for drinks.
Label flavours clearly, especially for mixed trays. A small card or folded tag next to each flavour saves guests asking.
Accompaniments
- Chimichurri. The traditional Argentinian herb sauce. Non-negotiable for beef varieties.
- Fresh salsa. Adds brightness and works with every flavour.
- Lemon wedges. Cuts through the richness of chicken and vegan options.
- A simple green salad. Rocket, lemon, olive oil, shaved parmesan. Balances the meal for lunch or dinner events.
Drinks that pair well
Empanadas are generous with drinks. Nothing complicated needed.
- Argentinian Malbec. The classic pairing. Rich enough to match the beef, smooth enough to drink casually. Any other medium-bodied red works too.
- Craft beer or lager. Cold lager cuts through the pastry. Pale ales and craft lagers pair across all flavours.
- Sparkling water with lemon. The non-alcoholic default. Clean, refreshing, doesn't compete.
- Coffee. For morning corporate events and brunch catering. Empanadas are a common café pairing in Argentina.
Planning and ordering
Lead time depends on your order size. Book earlier for larger events, especially in December and January. Minimum order is $85.
- Under 30 empanadas. 24 to 48 hours notice.
- 30 to 100 empanadas. 2 to 3 days notice.
- 100 to 300 empanadas. 4 to 7 days notice.
- 300 plus (weddings, large corporate). 1 to 2 weeks notice.
When you order, share:
- Event date, time, and location
- Guest count
- Event type (corporate, private, birthday, boat, outdoor)
- Dietary requirements
- Baked or frozen preference
Order ready-to-go catering boxes: the Corporate Box (100 baked), the Party Box (60 baked), the Party Box frozen, or the Chef's Box ($85 minimum). For custom orders, browse the catering collection or get in touch. Also see Sydney delivery, pickup and markets.
Frequently asked questions
How many empanadas per person?
Plan 4 empanadas per guest as a meal. As finger food alongside other dishes, 2 to 3 per guest is enough. If empanadas are the only thing served, allow 6 to 8 per guest. For hungry crowds, outdoor events, or events with lots of alcohol, lean toward 8 to 10. Round up. Leftovers freeze well.
How many empanadas for finger food?
For a finger food spread alongside other canapés, plan 2 to 3 empanadas per guest. If the event runs 2 to 3 hours and people are drinking, lean to 3. Pair with chimichurri and a small green salad so the empanadas feel like a deliberate course, not a snack between drinks.
How many empanadas for a dinner?
When empanadas are the meal, allow 4 to 6 per guest, or 6 to 8 if no other food is served. For 10 guests, that's 40 to 60 empanadas. For 25 guests, 100 to 150. Add a side salad and chimichurri. The Corporate Box (100 baked) covers 16 to 25 guests for dinner.
Do I order extra?
Yes. Round up by 10 to 15 percent. Empanadas reheat well in a 180C oven for 5 to 7 minutes, and frozen empanadas store up to 6 months at -18C. Running out is remembered. Leftovers rarely are. For outdoor events or boat parties, add a slightly bigger buffer.
Can I mix flavours?
Yes. Mixed orders are the most common approach. The Argentum range is 5 active flavours: Carnivore (grass-fed beef brisket), Athlete (chicken with green olives), Classic (three-cheese), Patagonia (vegan), and Habibi Yalla (Arab-Argentinian). For 20 plus guests, a 4-flavour mix covers most preferences and dietary needs cleanly.
How do I calculate quantity for 50 guests?
For 50 guests, plan 200 empanadas as a meal (4 per guest), 100 to 150 as finger food (2 to 3 per guest), or 300 to 400 if empanadas are the only food (6 to 8 per guest). Two Corporate Boxes (200 baked) covers a meal. See the full breakdown in our catering for 50 people guide.
Catering for your Sydney event
Premium Argentinian empanadas, baked, fried in beef tallow, or frozen. Delivered across Sydney from our kitchen in Bondi Beach.
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