Looking for the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer? These quick and flavorful Italian pinwheels are a fantastic choice for any party, gathering, or even a speedy lunch. Packed with a creamy, savory spread, crisp lettuce, and all your favorite Italian deli delights like salami, pepperoni, and ham, these pinwheels are guaranteed to be a hit!
Table of Contents
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- Italian Pinwheel Ingredients
- Step-by-Step Guide to Making Pinwheel Sandwiches
- Creative Pinwheel Sandwich Variations
- Best Practices for Storing Italian Pinwheels
- Expert Tips for Perfect Italian Pinwheels
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- Explore More Easy Appetizer Recipes
- Recipe Card: Italian Pinwheels
These Italian pinwheels are more than just easy to make; they’re bursting with classic Italian sandwich flavors in every bite.
Imagine the taste of salami, pepperoni, ham, and provolone cheese, all rolled up in a soft tortilla. It’s like your favorite Italian sub, transformed into a fun and convenient finger food. Forget ordinary sliced bread – these tortilla roll-ups are the perfect bite-sized Italian appetizer, adding a touch of fun to any occasion.
Pinwheel appetizers are incredibly versatile and flavorful, making them ideal for parties, potlucks, or a simple snack or light meal.
What truly sets these Italian pinwheels apart is their adaptability. The creamy spread itself, a blend of cream cheese, pepperoncini, and roasted bell peppers, is so delicious that it could be enjoyed simply with tortillas as a vegetarian snack.
If you’re a fan of these Italian Pinwheels, you might also love these equally delicious recipes: Salami Antipasto Bites, Easy Italian Pasta Salad, or Tomato Tortellini Soup!
Italian Pinwheel Ingredients
(For complete ingredient measurements, scroll down to the recipe card below)
- Large Burrito-Size Flour Tortillas: Opt for burrito-size tortillas as they provide ample space for fillings. Fresh tortillas are easier to roll and work with. Feel free to experiment with spinach wraps, whole-wheat tortillas, or your preferred flatbreads for different flavors and textures.
- Salami: Genoa salami is recommended. Thinly sliced meats are key for pinwheel sandwiches, ensuring they are easy to roll and slice neatly.
- Pepperoni: Similar to salami, thinly sliced pepperoni is best for these appetizers.
- Ham: Deli ham works perfectly for its thinness and flavor.
- Provolone Cheese: Provolone complements the Italian flavors beautifully. However, you can customize with your favorite cheese varieties such as pepper jack for a spicy kick, cheddar for a classic taste, or havarti for a creamy texture.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese is essential for creating a smooth and spreadable base. For a dairy-free or vegan option, hummus makes an excellent alternative, adding a different but equally delicious flavor profile.
- Green Leaf Lettuce: Fresh green leaf lettuce adds a refreshing crunch and visual appeal.
- Italian Dressing: Provides a tangy and zesty flavor to the cream cheese spread.
- Italian Seasoning: Enhances the Italian flavor profile of the pinwheels.
- Pepperoncini & Roasted Red Bell Peppers: These ingredients are finely chopped and incorporated into the cream cheese spread, adding a delightful tanginess and sweetness.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Pinwheel Sandwiches
(For detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card below)
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Spread: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, Italian dressing, Italian seasoning, chopped pepperoncini, and roasted red bell peppers. Mix until the spread is smooth and creamy. A hand mixer can be used for a quicker and more consistent blend, but mixing by hand works just as well.
- Spread the Cream Cheese Mixture: Lay out a tortilla and evenly spread the cream cheese mixture over the entire surface, ensuring it reaches the edges. This creamy layer acts as a flavorful glue, holding the pinwheel together and preventing it from drying out.
- Layer the Italian Ingredients: Arrange the salami, pepperoni, ham, provolone cheese, and green leaf lettuce in an even layer on top of the cream cheese spread, slightly off-center. This layering technique ensures that each pinwheel slice contains a perfect balance of all ingredients.
- Roll Tightly into a Spiral: Starting from the edge with the fillings, tightly roll the tortilla into a spiral, similar to rolling a sushi roll. The tighter the roll, the neater your pinwheel slices will be.
- Chill (Optional): If you are not serving immediately, wrap the rolled pinwheels tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator. Chilling helps the pinwheels firm up, making them easier to slice.
- Slice into Pinwheels: When ready to serve, use a serrated knife to slice the rolled tortilla into approximately 1-inch thick pinwheels. A serrated knife provides a cleaner cut without squishing the pinwheels.
- Repeat and Serve: Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas and ingredients. Arrange the Italian pinwheels on a platter and serve.
Creative Pinwheel Sandwich Variations
The beauty of pinwheels lies in their versatility. Feel free to customize them based on your preferences and dietary needs.
Running out of pepperoncini? Banana peppers are a great substitute, offering a similar tangy flavor.
For a Mediterranean twist, swap roasted red bell peppers for sun-dried tomatoes and green leaf lettuce for fresh basil. This variation transforms the Italian pinwheels into sun-dried tomato and basil pinwheels, offering a different flavor profile.
To make these Finger Food Recipes plant-based, use hummus instead of cream cheese for a boost of plant-based protein and fiber. Hummus adds a creamy texture and nutty flavor that pairs wonderfully with the other ingredients.
Experiment with different wraps! Swap out the flour tortilla with your favorite wrap, such as spinach, tomato, or other flavored wraps, to add another layer of flavor and color. Flatbreads can also be used for a different texture.
Best Practices for Storing Italian Pinwheels
Proper storage is essential, especially when making these finger food recipes ahead of time. Always store Italian pinwheels in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent foodborne illnesses. Whether you are preparing them hours in advance or storing leftovers, refrigeration is crucial. Seal them tightly in a zipped plastic bag or wrap them individually in plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out. They are best consumed within 2-3 days for optimal flavor and texture.
Expert Tips for Perfect Italian Pinwheels
- Make-Ahead Magic: These Italian pinwheels are ideal for make-ahead preparation. Roll them up a day in advance, wrap them tightly, and store them in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve, simply slice them into approximately 1-inch slices. This time-saving tip is perfect for party planning.
- Generous Cream Cheese Spread: Ensure you spread the cream cheese mixture generously and evenly over the entire tortilla. This not only adds flavor but also acts as an adhesive, holding all the ingredients together and preventing the pinwheels from unraveling.
- Roll Tightly: Roll the pinwheels as tightly as possible to create a compact spiral. A tight roll ensures that the pinwheels hold their shape and are easier to slice neatly.
- Serrated Knife for Slicing: Use a serrated knife for slicing the pinwheels. The serrated edge cuts through the layers cleanly without compressing or tearing the tortilla and fillings.
- Keep Ingredients Cold: Using cold ingredients, especially the deli meats and cheese, makes slicing easier and helps the pinwheels maintain their shape. Cold ingredients are firmer and less likely to shift during slicing.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
Enhance your pinwheel-making experience with these helpful kitchen tools:
Explore More Easy Appetizer Recipes
Looking for more inspiration for your next gathering? Check out these other easy and delicious appetizer recipes:
Hummus Recipe With Tahini
Italian Pizza Bites
Cheesy Pull Apart Garlic Bread with Dipping Sauce
Butternut Squash Bites
Browse All Appetizer Recipes
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Italian Pinwheels
Italian Pinwheels are a delicious and easy finger food recipe, perfect as an appetizer, snack, or light meal. Filled with savory ham, pepperoni, salami, provolone cheese, a flavorful cream cheese spread, and Italian seasonings, they are always a crowd-pleaser.
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Ingredients
For each pinwheel
- 3 large burrito-size flour tortillas
- 15 slices salami (approximately 5-6 per tortilla)
- 15 slices pepperoni (approximately 5-6 per tortilla)
- 6 slices deli ham (2 slices per tortilla)
- 6 slices provolone cheese (2 slices per tortilla)
- 3 leaves green leaf lettuce
For the cream cheese spread
- 8 oz softened cream cheese
- 1 Tbsp Italian dressing
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt and pepper
- ½ cup pepperoncini, finely chopped
- ½ cup roasted red bell peppers, finely chopped
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Instructions
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Spread: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, Italian dressing, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, finely chopped pepperoncini, and roasted red bell peppers. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Spread Cream Cheese on Tortillas: Spread approximately ⅓ of the cream cheese mixture evenly over each tortilla, ensuring it covers the entire surface.
- Layer Ingredients: On each cream cheese-covered tortilla, layer salami, pepperoni, ham, provolone cheese, and green leaf lettuce in an even layer, slightly off-center.
- Roll into Pinwheels: Tightly roll each tortilla into a spiral. If not serving immediately, wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.
- Slice and Serve: When ready to serve, slice each rolled tortilla into approximately 1-inch thick pinwheels using a serrated knife. Arrange on a serving platter and enjoy!
Video
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Notes
- Italian Pinwheels are a fantastic make-ahead appetizer, perfect for parties and gatherings.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1 pinwheel, Calories: 111kcal (6%), Carbohydrates: 3g (1%), Protein: 5g (10%), Fat: 9g (14%), Saturated Fat: 4g (25%), Cholesterol: 24mg (8%), Sodium: 397mg (17%), Potassium: 92mg (3%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 337IU (7%), Vitamin C: 4mg (5%), Calcium: 62mg (6%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate and courtesy. Accuracy is not guaranteed as ingredients can vary.
© Author: Tawnie Graham of Kroll’s Korner
