Pinwheel sandwiches, also called tortilla roll-ups, are a delicious finger food you can serve as a party appetizer or bring to a potluck. They also make a great addition to a packed lunch and are perfect for kids or adults. They are sandwich wraps made of tortillas rolled up with club sandwich or other sandwich fillings.
The secret to a great pinwheel sandwich is the cream cheese filling! This is the “glue” that keeps this rolled up sandwich looking great and it tastes amazing. I like to make the cream cheese filling with ranch and bacon bits, but there are many different options and variation to try.
Related: Looking for more easy appetizers? Try 30 Easy Finger Foods for a Party, 50 Easy BBQ Side Dishes or 75 Summer Dinner Ideas.
Basic Ingredients
- Flour tortillas
- Cream cheese
- Ranch dressing – store bought or homemade
- Bacon
- Sliced cheddar cheese – colby is great too
- Deli meat – I like smoked turkey, salami or ham
- Veggies like romaine lettuce, cucumber, avocado or spinach
How to Make Pinwheel Sandwiches
Combine the softened cream cheese with the ranch dressing and bacon (chopped).
Lay out a tortilla shell. Spoon the cream cheese mixture on top and spread into a thin layer, coating the entire tortilla.
Layer on the sliced cheese, deli meat, and spinach. Place it toward the bottom 1/3 of the tortilla (not the center).
Roll up the tortilla and slice into pinwheels. The cream cheese holds these together pretty well, BUT if you have issue with them wanting to unroll, add a toothpick to the pinwheel. Use a sharp knife to cut the rolled tortilla into pinwheels.
Additional Filling Ideas
- For the cream cheese filling, you could omit the ranch dressing and add a packet of ranch seasoning instead. The bacon is also optional.
- If you don’t want to use a cream cheese filling, you could swap it for hummus for a similar effect.
- Any cheese that comes in slices (or that you can slice) will work. You could also try a crumbly cheese like feta.
- Any deli meat you prefer can work for pinwheel sandwiches: turkey, chicken, salami, pepperoni, or even bacon strips.
- You can add more or less vegetables: lettuce, spinach, sliced bell peppers, thinly sliced tomato, or fresh herbs like cilantro or basil.
- Pickled items will work as well: bread and butter pickles, olives, pickled carrots, etc.
More Appetizer Recipes
Other recipes to make for a party:
- The Best Fruit Salad
- Creamy Pasta Salad
- Deviled Eggs
- Ambrosia Salad
- Egg White Bites
- Homemade Chex Mix
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make pinwheel sandwiches ahead of time?
Yes, pinwheel sandwiches can be made the day before and refrigerated until ready to serve. The one factor you’ll want to consider are any ingredients (like sliced tomatoes) that could create additional moisture during storage.
How do I store pinwheel sandwiches and how long do they last?
You can store pinwheel sandwiches in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This could be a ziplock bag or Tupperware-type container.
You could also store them on a serving tray or cutting board wrapped in plastic wrap. They can be stored this way for 2-3 days.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 4 tortillas soft
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- 3 strips bacon
- 8 slices cheese
- 8 slices deli turkey
- 16 slices salami
- 1 cup spinach leaves
Instructions
- Combine the softened cream cheese with the ranch dressing and bacon (chopped).
- Lay out a tortilla shell. Spoon the cream cheese mixture on top and spread into a thin layer, coating the entire tortilla.
- Layer on the sliced cheese, deli meat, and spinach. Place it toward the bottom 1/3 of the tortilla (not the center).
- Roll up the tortilla and slice into pinwheels.
- The cream cheese holds these together pretty well, BUT if you have issue with them wanting to unroll, add a toothpick to the pinwheel.
Notes
- For the cream cheese filling, you could omit the ranch dressing and add a packet of ranch seasoning instead. The bacon is also optional.
- If you don’t want to use a cream cheese filling, you could swap it for hummus for a similar effect.
- Any cheese that comes in slices (or that you can slice) will work. You could also try a crumbly cheese like feta.
- Any deli meat you prefer can work for pinwheel sandwiches: turkey, chicken, salami, pepperoni or even bacon strips.
- You can add more or less vegetables: lettuce, spinach, sliced bell peppers, thinly sliced tomato, or fresh herbs like cilantro or basil.
- Pickled items will work as well: bread and butter pickles, olives, pickled carrots, etc.