These Chicken Taco Pinwheels are yummy no-bake appetizers to entertain your guests with a creamy cheesy texture, simple ingredients, a heat kick, and a burst of fresh Mexican flavors. With just a bit of prep time and a little chilling you'll have the perfect snacks for game day or simply a creative way to use leftover chicken.
If you love pinwheel sandwiches or want to make a variety for your next party, try these tasty Turkey Pinwheels With Cream Cheese or my spicy Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels.
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Table of contents
Why You'll Love These Easy Taco Pinwheel Appetizers!
Foolproof recipe - a simple list of ingredients and no fancy cooking steps. Just mix all ingredients, except tortillas, in a bowl, wrap, and you have an amazing appetizer literally packed with flavors.
It makes these pinwheels perfect for times when you don't have much time, or don't want to wash loads of dishes.
Just a perfect amount of heat - those Mexican flavors are brought not just with taco seasoning but with a touch of hot sauce and a few dices of jalapeno. Warms your soul and tastes delicious!
Delicious appetizer to share with friends and family - just a pack of tortillas and a bowl of filling make quite a lot of these finger-licking pinwheels. Easy recipe for a gathering, potluck, or small party where finger food is needed.
Don't tell anyone but they may be better than tacos - with every bite you get a mouthful of flavors without making a mess.
Equipment Needed
Large mixing bowl - it is a one-bowl recipe, so we need a large bowl to properly mix all ingredients.
Plastic wrap - to roll the pinwheels and make them hold the shape while chilling.
Key Ingredients
Taco seasoning - You can use a taco seasoning packet or make homemade taco seasoning.
Tortillas - I use store-bought flour tortillas. We need large, burrito-size (10 in), tortillas so they can hold all the filling.
Chicken - Rotisserie chicken. Chop it or shred it. A perfect was to use leftovers.
Jalapeno and hot sauce - I'm adding just a little bit of jalapenos and hot sauce, you can adjust it to your preferences or skip if you don't like spicy food.
Cream cheese - soften it at room temperature for easy mixing and spreading. Can use full fat or lite.
Cheddar cheese - you can safely use pre-shredded cheese. Also can use Colby Jack cheese.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Chop jalapenos, shred the chicken, and mix all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl until it makes a homogenous filling.
Lay flour tortilla on a work surface and spread a 6th of the cream cheese mixture all over the tortilla in a thin layer.
Roll the tortilla tightly and wrap it in plastic wrap.
Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas and cream cheese filling.
Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. It is a crucial step that helps the rolls to not fall apart!
When ready to serve remove the plastic and trim of ends.
Then cut each tortilla into 1-inch pinwheels and arrange on a platter to serve. One roll makes roughly 6 pinwheels.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe works great for entertaining a group, served on a big plate so everyone can share.
To play with Mexican flavors more, plate with sour cream, salsa, and/or guacamole.
Make sure to chill the rolls quickly before serving, it helps them hold the shape nicely and make it easier to hold and eat them.
Make Ahead
The recipe doesn't take much time and you will only need to start it at least 1 hour ahead. If you don't have time on day X, make it one day ahead.
The key is to make sure the pinwheels will hold the shape and will not fall apart.
If you're bringing these appetizers to someone's place, it is easier to transport them as a tight roll, still wrapped in plastic and cut on the spot.
Storage
It is best to store pinwheels in the fridge for 1-2 days only, or the tortillas will get soggy.
However, you can store the filling for up to 4 days in the fridge and wrap it in fresh tortillas to serve when needed.
As our pinwheels have cream cheese they are not good for freezing.
Substitutions And Additions
If you're not a fan of spicy, omit jalapenos and hot sauce. You can substitute jalapenos with green chiles, they are usually less hot than jalapenos.
Add red bell peppers for some colors and that nice juicy sweetness, and anything else that brings out Mexican flavors for you, like corn, black olives, spicy peppers, etc.
For a more doughy variation, you can substitute tortilla with puff pastry. You can also use your favorite type of tortillas - I use flour tortillas, but I know some people prefer the whole wheat variety.
Did you try this recipe? Please let me know what you think! Leave a comment below, and a 5- star rating. I would love to hear from you! Subscribe Here to get new recipes sent straight to your inbox!
Easy Taco Pinwheel Appetizers
Equipment
- large bowl
- plastic wrap
Ingredients
- 2 cups rotisserie, chicken chopped
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- ¼ cup salsa (drain excess liquid if necessary)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 1-2 tablespoons jalapenos, minced
- 1 dash hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (homemade or packet)
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
- 6 large burrito sized flour tortillas
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients (except tortillas) to a large mixing bowl. Use a spatula to combine.
- Lay flour tortilla on work surface and spread a ⅙th of the cream cheese mixture all over the tortilla in a thin layer.
- Roll the tortilla tightly and wrap in plastic wrap.
- Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas and cream cheese. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve remove the plastic and trim of ends. Then cut each tortilla into 1 inch pinwheels and arrange on a platter to serve.
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