Turkey pesto pinwheels make an eye catching appetizer or a quick lunch. These bite sized snacks are filled with pesto cream cheese spread, turkey, spinach and roasted red peppers.
Pinwheel sandwiches are the perfect addition to your next party appetizer spread. I love making pimento cheese pinwheels! They're easy to make, no-cook, and eye catching.
Flour tortillas are filled with sliced turkey, roasted red peppers, spinach, and a simple pesto cream cheese spread. They're easy to assemble and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Not only do they make a great party appetizer, but they can double as a quick, on the go lunch. Pack a handful of pinwheel sandwiches instead of the usual ham and cheese. They're great for lunch boxes!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Tortillas - I used 10-inch 'soft taco' sized tortillas for my pinwheels. Any size will work, but the quantity needed to make 24 pinwheels will vary.
- Turkey - Can be substituted with another sliced deli meat, like ham or pepperoni.
- Spinach - Can be substituted with any leafy greens you have on hand.
- Pesto - Adds a bright, fresh flavor to the pinwheels. I don't recommend omitting this ingredient. Pesto can be made from scratch (try my homemade pesto recipe) or store bought.
- Cream cheese - We're combining cream cheese with pesto to create a pesto spread. Cream cheese can be traditional, low-fat, or whipped for this recipe.
- Peppers - Roasted red peppers add color and mild, peppery flavor to the pinwheels.
Tips and tricks
Spread cream cheese to the edges - The cream cheese spread acts as a glue that helps keep your pinwheels closed after assembly. Spread it all the way to the edges in a thin, even layer for best results.
Rest before slicing - After filling your tortillas, wrap them in plastic wrap or wax paper and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or until ready to serve. This gives your filling time to firm up and makes them easier to slice.
Variations - Use your favorite deli meat like ham, pepperoni, or roast beef to create a variety of pinwheels. Thin sliced cheese also makes a great addition in pinwheel sandwiches.
Storage
Pinwheels are best served within about a day of preparing. They'll get soggy the longer they're refrigerated, so I suggest assembling them the day of an event if possible.
Frequently asked questions
Pinwheel sandwiches should be served cold. They can sit out for about 2 hours before requiring additional refrigeration. If your pinwheels have been out for more than 2 hours at room temperature, leftovers should be discarded.
Your pinwheels will get soggy over time. I recommend assembling them the day of serving for best results.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Turkey Pesto Pinwheel Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup basil pesto
- 3 10-inch flour tortillas
- 6 slices thin sliced deli turkey
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- ¼ cup roasted red peppers, drained and diced
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine cream cheese and pesto until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly onto flour tortillas.
- Top each tortilla with two slices of turkey, spinach, and roasted red peppers. Roll tightly and wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (or until ready to serve) to allow filling to firm up.
- Unwrap and carefully, using a serrated knife, cut each tortilla into 8 pinwheels. Serve cold.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Pinwheels are best served the same day, and will begin to get soggy the longer they're refrigerated.
- If serving at a party or event, pinwheels can sit out for up to two hours, but will need additional refrigeration after that.
- Turkey can be substituted with any deli meat, like ham or pepperoni.
This are super easy to make and are DELICIOUS!! The combination of flavors are perfect, without any flavor overwhelming the other, but rather complementing each other perfectly!
I made them for my daughter's bridal shower and they were a hit!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Beth!