Consider these the James Bond of finger sandwiches. Crack chicken pinwheels, pinwheel sandwiches, tortilla rolls, chicken roll ups, tortilla pinwheels or cream cheese roll ups; your family probably also has unique name for this crowd-pleasing and easy to make appetizer. They can even be a quick lunch!
What You’ll Need
All of these bacon ranch chicken pinwheels ingredients are simple and also budget friendly for the perfect appetizer. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Shredded chicken– Or chopped! Use leftover chicken from another recipe but also feel free to grab a rotisserie chicken at the store, a can of chicken or deli chicken. Make our baked chicken breast for dinner and make an extra.
- Large tortillas- We used 10-inch flour tortillas and honestly, they can be any size for flavor you’d like, we just specify flour to prevent folks from using corn tortillas, which would be rubbery in this circumstance. Next time, we’ll use the square flatbread sold for wraps- makes for less waste on the ends since they are a perfect square.
- Cream cheese
- Dry ranch mix
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Milk
- Worcestershire sauce
- Coarse sea salt
- Bacon
- Scallions
5S Philosophy 👩🏻
- Salt – Most dry ranch mixes already have salt in them, so I just add a touch of coarse sea salt to bring out the other flavors. If using fine sea salt, cut the amount in half. Regular table salt often has a grainy texture and metallic aftertaste.
- Seasonings – Ranch is fantastic- but taco seasoning is great, as is blackened seasoning or thai seasoning.
- Sauces – Salsa provides pizazz, use a thick and chunky version and add 1-2 tablespoons. Sun-dried tomatoes are also fun and not as water-filled. Roasted red bell peppers are a good option too.
- Swaps – Swap chicken for turkey. No one said you had to use chicken! Change the cheese! Try using provolone cheese, mozzarella or even spicy cheeses like pepper jack or a habanero laced cheese.
- Senses – Creamy ranch and smoky bacon swirl with tender chicken in soft tortillas, giving each bite a cool, savory crunch that’s as satisfying as it is flavorful.
Perfect Pairings
Bacon ranch chicken pinwheels are great as a party appetizer or quick sandwich for kids school lunches or weekend snacks. Serve them with chips, pretzels or a leafy green side salad. Other appetizer recipes we love are:
Tips for Perfect Pinwheels
A zesty no-bake appetizer option, there are a few tricks to making the best colorful and delicious pinwheel.
- Make-Ahead: Make them ahead of time, but not too far in advance. Ideally most pinwheel recipes are best enjoyed within 12-24 hours of making, otherwise you risk the tortilla getting soggy.
- Roll Tightly. Roll the tortilla as tight as you can. The cream cheese will act as a glue to hold it to together, but if you want a better secure connection, use toothpicks or wrap it in plastic wrap.
- Chill. Chill the whole roll before cutting. Letting it congeal and harden a bit will prevent it from collapsing when you cut them.
- Cut Using the Right Knife. Use a serrated knife and a sawing motion to cut the rolls without squishing them.
Bacon Ranch Chicken Pinwheels Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 2 tablespoons dry ranch mix
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese , finely shredded
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 cup chicken , shredded or chopped
- ½ cup bacon , cooked and crumbled
- 1 tablespoons scallions , chopped
- 4 10- inch flour tortillas
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer, mix the softened 8 ounces cream cheese, 2 tablespoons dry ranch mix, 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce and ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt until fully mixed.
- Gently fold in the cooked and shredded 1 cup chicken, cooked and crumbeld ½ cup bacon and sliced 1 tablespoons scallions, folding by hand.
- Evenly divide the spread between 4 10- inch flour tortillas. Spread out evenly all the way to the edges. Roll the tortilla tightly and wrap in plastic wrap to help it keep its shape.
- Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes to reform.
- Using a sharp knife or a serrated knife, cut into 1-inch slices. Discard the ends with no filling that are uneven.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.
Video
Nutrition
Storage and Freezing
Store your pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also wrap them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
I do not recommend freezing pinwheels. While it can be done, they don’t tend to thaw well. Cream cheese gets dry and crumbly and they loose their shape. If you do place to freeze them, freeze as a larger log and thaw overnight in the fridge. Do not freeze individual pinwheels.
More Easy Pinwheel Recipes
Whether for a party appetizer or an afternoon snack, pinwheels are perfect for any occasion!
How far ahead can I make these? Will they be soggy if I make them the night before?
Nope- that should be fine! Just keep them refrigerated.
I love this recipe. I’ve made it for a parties when I need to bring an appetizer. They go really qucik.
So glad you loved them! Also give the buffalo chicken ones a whirl!
I’m making these for a holiday party because I know there won’t be any left! They’re always a hit!
Yes to this! Chicken and bacon are the two of the best things! Thanks for sharing!
Pinned to make for family this weekend — thank you! 🙂
Made these for a party and they were a total hit! So much better than store bought/deli subs and love the easy handheld size.
I made these pinwheels for lunch for my kids today and it was a total hit!! It was super easy to make and they gobbled it up!
These are great! My kids loved them.
Oh, man! These are so good and so easy! They’re the perfect appetizer for any gathering!