Pickle Roll Ups with Ham (Pinwheels)

Easy to make and popular with most everyone, pickle roll ups (pinwheels)  are a fail-proof appetizer. Pickle roll ups with ham are perfect for lunchboxes, too.

I’m always happy when I see a platter of pickle roll-ups or tortilla pinwheels at parties. Pinwheels are the perfect bite-sized appetizer: you can make them ahead, they are easy to transport, look kind of cool, and taste great. Plus I love that you can personalize them in so many ways. Tortilla pinwheels pretty much appeal to anyone.

I recently brought a platter of pickle roll ups to a birthday party for my father-in-law. A seven-year-old cousin came back to the buffet table multiple times, exclaiming the roll ups were the best food he ever had!  I’m not sure why that surprised me–everyone seems to like these bite-sized goodies.

Roll ups/pinwheels  are perfect for lunch boxes, too. They keep well in the fridge and are the perfect size for little hands. With tortilla, cream cheese, and a veggie of some sort,  a roll up is pretty nutritious. 

Check out some of my other roll up recipes. I particularly like  Southwestern roll ups with black beans, and pepperoni pizza pinwheels are a hit with the kids. For those with vegetarian tastes, these vegetable cream cheese roll ups are filled with fresh veggies and herbs for a wonderful appetizer or snack.

About these Pickle Roll Ups:

If you’ve had a roll up/pinwheel appetizer, chances are it was this one with pickles, cream cheese, and ham. It’s a classic, basic recipe that’s been around for a long time. 

Pickle roll ups are so easy to make. This recipe begins with ten 6-inch flour tortillas. I like to put all ten tortillas in a single layer on the counter and start putting on the layers. 

First comes a thin layer of softened cream cheese. I use an 8-ounce block of reduced-fat cream cheese and spread it on all the tortillas until it’s used up. 

Next, layer on the ham. Thin sliced deli ham is perfect and a 9-ounce package is just the right amount.

Next place a dill pickle spear on one edge of the tortilla. Go ahead and get all 10 pickles in position. 

You’re ready to roll! Starting on the pickle edge, roll up the tortillas as firmly as you can.

Tightly wrap each tortilla roll up in plastic wrap. You’ll have ten individually wrapped roll ups. Refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.

When you’re ready to serve, unwrap each roll up and slice into one inch pinwheels.

Actually, you can make them whatever size you want! I don’t mean to be bossy. If you’re making them for lunchboxes, maybe you won’t want to cut them at all. They are already wrapped–just drop them into your lunchbox and you’re good to go!

How to make these ham pinwheels your own:

You can do pretty much whatever you like with pinwheels. Be creative and make your own signature pinwheels! I’ve listed a few ideas above and I have a few more suggestions: 

• Skip the tortilla and make ham pinwheels. Simply spread the cream cheese on ham slices (make sure you buy fairly thick slices so you can roll it), add the pickle and roll it up. Chill and slice.
• Use flavored cream cheese. Or flavor it yourself with a teaspoon of horseradish or hot sauce to make it spicy. Add chopped herbs such as parsley or dill to the cream cheese. Go southwestern by adding taco seasoning to the cream cheese, mixing in black beans, and sprinkling Monterey Jack cheese on the cream cheese.
• Mix chopped olives or sliced green onion with the cream cheese before spreading it. Or sprinkle them on after spreading the cream cheese.
• Instead of making the pinwheels with dill pickles, try sweet pickles, a fresh cucumber spear, or a green onion (scallion). This pickled asparagus would be really good, too! I love pinwheels with roasted red peppers.
• Use whole wheat tortillas, spinach or tomato flavored wraps instead of flour tortillas. Speaking of spinach, add a thin layer of baby spinach leaves to the cream cheese before rolling up the pinwheels.
• Serve them with a dip. Try this fry sauce, Thousand Island dressing, or homemade ranch dressing.

Storage Tips

Pickle roll ups are best eaten within 24 hours and can be refrigerated for up to three days. The tortillas will continue to soften the longer they are refrigerated.

Pickle roll ups are a perfect make ahead appetizer because they really need to chill for a couple of hours at least or overnight. 

Looking for more make ahead appetizer ideas?

Pinwheels are so easy and fun! Take a look at more appetizer/lunchbox recipes that you can prepare ahead of time:

 

• Southwest Deviled Eggs
• 7-Layer Dip 
• Spinach Balls (great in lunchboxes, too)
• Black Bean Dip (with a secret ingredient that adds extra protein)
• Brownie Brittle Popcorn (can’t always be healthy, right?)
• Spinach Mac and Cheese Muffins
• Rosemary Roasted Almonds

Verdict: These are strangely addicting and so easy to make. That’s a win in my book!
Husband’s take: I think Ben could take or leave these. They aren’t his favorite.
Changes I would make: None at all!
Difficulty: Easy!