Looking for tortilla pinwheel recipes? Take a twirl through this collection of fun and easy tortilla roll ups, perfect for parties, potlucks, lunches, and after school snacks.
Then check out my tips and tricks to learn how to make your own tortilla pinwheel recipes.
Tortilla pinwheels are always a huge hit anywhere they go, and for good reason. They're so creamy and flavorful -- I mean, you can stir almost anything into cream cheese, roll up into a tortilla, and it'll be absolutely delicious.
They look pretty on a party platter, so you know they'll get devoured! And when I set them out with these delicious Pancetta-Wrapped Apples, Corn in a Cup, and Cucumber Pico de Gallo -- whoa, stand back!
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The 25 Best Tortilla Pinwheel Recipes
These are hands-down, the 25 most delicious tortilla pinwheel recipes out there. Perfect for entertaining, make-ahead lunches, or a last-minute snack.
Rainbow Veggie Pinwheels
These rainbow Veggie Pinwheels are made from yellow and red bell pepper, carrots, spinach, purple cabbage, shredded chicken, and ranch flavored cream cheese rolled up in a spinach tortilla wrap. Delicious and easy lunch for work or back to school.
Taco Pinwheels
Taco Pinwheels are an easy appetizer made from cream cheese, diced tomatoes, black beans, corn, and spices in a flour tortilla. Perfect no-cook recipe for parties or Taco Tuesday!
Smoked Turkey Pinwheels
Delicious Smoked Turkey Pinwheels are a perfect party appetizer, light lunch, or game day snack. They are easy to make with fresh herb cream cheese, slices of turkey, baby spinach, and shredded cheddar cheese for the win!
Vegan Pinwheels
Savory Vegan Pinwheels are filled with a rainbow of fresh vegetables and a delicious, easy to make chickpea spread. Serve this easy pinwheel recipe as appetizers at your next get-together or potluck, or for an easy lunch or afternoon snack.
Boursin Roast Beef Pinwheels
Boursin Roast Beef Pinwheels are a simple yet elevated party appetizer you can prepare with just ten minutes of prep time. Filled with delicious flavors of creamy herb cheese, roast beef, roasted red pepper, red onion, and fresh greens you won’t be able to stop after just one of these rich and savory tortilla roll-ups.
Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Pinwheels
Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Pinwheels feature fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, crisp crumbled bacon, and romaine lettuce rolled up in soft flour tortillas. This delicious recipe is a perfect finger food, lunch, or snack!
Italian Pepperoni Rollups
Italian Pepperoni Rollups are the perfect pinwheels for pizza lovers everywhere. All your favorite pizza toppings and garlic cream cheese rolled up in large tortillas make an ideal lunch, appetizer, or snack.
Salami Pinwheels
Salami Pinwheels with dill pickle relish are easy to make with just four simple ingredients! Great recipe for a fun and tasty snack, lunch, or party food.
Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels have all the flavors of buffalo chicken wings, like chicken, hot sauce, celery, and blue cheese, rolled up into tortilla wraps. Great way to use up leftover chicken and perfect party appetizer, Super Bowl snack, and holiday finger food.
Ham and Cheese Roll Ups
Need a quick and delicious appetizer or snack? Make easy ham and cheese pinwheels! These cream cheese pinwheels are made with simple ingredients: deli ham, cheddar cheese, and cream cheese spiked with ranch seasoning mix all rolled up in regular or whole wheat tortillas.
Tortilla Wrapped Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Chicken fiesta cream cheese roll ups are a quick appetizer you can make with rotisserie chicken, taco seasoning, shredded cheese, green onion, diced tomatoes, cream cheese, and burrito size tortillas. The best part about this recipe is you can customize it with your favorite flavors.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Quick and easy Club-style Pinwheel Sandwiches are the best appetizer to bring to parties and BBQs or to take along for lunch. They're filled with fresh sliced tomatoes, lettuce leaves, your favorite cheese and deli meat, bacon bits, and a delicious mixture of cream cheese, mayo, and ranch dressing mix.
Baked Jalapeno Popper Roll-Ups
Baked Jalapeno Popper Roll-Ups are a favorite bite-size tortilla pinwheel filled with everything you love about a classic popper: creamy cheese, fresh jalapenos, and crispy bacon. You can make these roll-ups for a quick snack or a tasty party appetizer everyone will love.
Mediterranean Pinwheels
Mediterranean Pinwheels are a delicious finger food and easy party appetizer! These Mediterranean-inspired snacks feature wholesome ingredients like creamy hummus, arugula, thin slices of cucumber, red onion and Peppadew peppers, and feta cheese rolled up into a healthy pinwheel sandwich.
Pizza Pinwheels for Back to School or A Busy Weeknight Dinner
These fun Pizza Pinwheels are a kid-approved back to school lunch or easy weeknight dinner. These tortilla pinwheel sandwiches are easy to make with mini pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce, and cream cheese wrapped in flour tortillas.
Mexican Street Corn Pinwheel Appetizers
Mexican Street Corn Pinwheels are so easy to make with charred corn, jalapeno, fresh lime, chili powder, Cotija cheese, and a tangy mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo. A delicious and easy appetizer to bring to your next gathering or special occasion. Just be sure to bring plenty -- they go fast!
Easy Cheeseburger Pinwheels
Cheeseburger Pinwheels are a quick lunch with all the flavors of a cheeseburger with lettuce and tomatoes. Fun recipe even picky eaters will love and a great way to use up leftover ground beef!
Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pinwheels [VIDEO]
Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pinwheels are the ultimate party appetizers that you can put together in less than 20 minutes. Loaded with bacon, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and ranch, these crack chicken pinwheels are packed with flavor, and guaranteed to be your favorite appetizer.
Turkey Pinwheels
Turkey Pinwheels with spinach are a tasty way to change up your lunch routine, and super easy to make! Perfect for parties and easy to customize with different ingredients to create your favorite flavors.
Creamy Ranch Tortilla Pinwheels with Roasted Red Peppers
Creamy Ranch Tortilla Pinwheels are so easy to make with roasted red peppers, black olives, cabbage, and ranch cream cheese. Delicious no-cook appetizers, perfect for summer potlucks!
Mexican Tortilla Pinwheels
Mexican Tortilla Pinwheels are always the hit of the party. Made with two types of cheese, black beans, and colorful veggies all rolled up inside tortillas and cut into rounds, they're the perfect stress-free entertaining recipe, or make-ahead snack!
Chicken Cranberry Salad Pinwheel Sandwiches
Chicken Cranberry Salad Pinwheel Sandwiches are filled with chicken, almonds, dried cranberries, green onions, and feta, rolled up in spinach tortillas. A festive appetizer for holiday parties that tastes even better than they look.
Easy Sandwich Pinwheels
Sandwich Pinwheels are super easy to make with deli turkey, pepperoni, crisp lettuce, and herb cream cheese in flour tortillas. Perfect packable lunch for picnics and back to school and delicious appetizer for entertaining and game day.
Turkey Pesto Pinwheels with Smoked Provolone
Pesto Turkey Pinwheels are loaded with smoked provolone and turkey wrapped in a pesto cream mixture. Perfect recipe for a simple lunch, party platter, or snack that will have you coming back for more
Holiday Tortilla Pinwheels (A Festive Party Snack!)
These pretty Holiday Tortilla Pinwheels will add a festive touch to your
next holiday gathering. A rich and creamy feta and cream cheese
mixture, deli ham, and tart-sweet dried cranberries make them unique and
totally delicious!
How to Make Pinwheels Sandwiches
Making tortilla pinwheel sandwiches is fun and easy to do! And the best part is you can come up with a million creative ideas by mixing and matching all your favorite ingredients.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
1. Chose your fillings
When selecting what you’re going to roll up into your tortilla, look for ingredients that don't have too much moisture. Anything with too high of a water content can lead to soggy pinwheels.
- Meat & beans: rotisserie chicken, deli meat slices, pepperoni, canned tuna, leftover turkey or ham, any type of canned beans
- Shredded cheese, cheese slices, or cheese crumbles
- Crunchy fruit and veggies. Stick to firm fruits and vegetables. Anything too moist and juicy can make the pinwheels soggy.
- Crisp greens like romaine, kale, spinach, or green leaf lettuce
- Dried fruit for chewy sweetness
- Nuts and seeds for crunch
2. Create the cream cheese mixture
You can make pinwheels with a plain old block of cream cheese or add herbs, spices, and other flavor enhancers:
- Creamy condiments: mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, creamy dressing, Greek yogurt
- Herbs and spices, dry ranch mix, salsa, pesto
3. Select a wrap
Extra large flour tortillas work well for pinwheels because you can cut each one into 8-10 slices.
Choose from flour tortillas, whole wheat tortillas, or flavored tortillas like spinach herb, sun-dried tomato, or jalapeno cheddar
4. Assemble the pinwheels
1. Mix softened cream cheese with herbs and spices, flavorings, or creamy condiments.
Stir shredded or chopped meat, chopped vegetables, and shredded or crumbled cheese into the cream cheese mixture.
2. Lay the tortillas on a flat work surface.
3. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over a tortilla, to within about a half-inch of the sides and top of the tortilla.
4. Layer toppings like slices of meat and cheese, lettuce leaves, and other large pieces in a thin layer over the cream cheese mixture. Too many fillings will keep the tortillas from rolling up into a tight roll.
5. Roll the tortillas into a tight roll.
6. Wrap the tortilla rolls in plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator for several hours to let the cream cheese firm up.
7. With a sharp serrated knife, use a sawing motion to gently cut the tortilla roll into 8-10 slices. If desired, serve with your favorite dipping sauces.
For best results, serve pinwheels within 24 hours.
Expert Tips
- Softened cream cheese will be much easier to mix and spread. To soften cream cheese, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Resist the temptation to “overfill” the tortillas. A thin layer of filling will make it easier to wrap the tortilla into a tight roll.
- Wrap the tortilla rolls in plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator to firm up for a few hours.
- Use a sharp serrated knife to gently slice the rolls into pinwheels.
FAQs
You can wrap pinwheels with tortillas, flatbread, or lavash.
Yes, you can make tortilla pinwheels a day in advance. Keep the tortilla rolls tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator overnight, then slice them the next day.
To keep tortilla pinwheels from getting soggy, limit the moisture in the filling ingredients. Fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content can release water and add moisture to the filling. If you are making the tortilla roll ups in advance, keep the tortilla rolls wrapped in plastic until it is time to serve them. Then unwrap the plastic, slice, and serve.
Yes, refrigerating the tortilla rolls before cutting them allows the softened cream cheese to firm up again so the pinwheels will hold together when you slice them.
Store leftover cream cheese roll ups tightly wrapped in plastic or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
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