I made these Vegetarian tortilla pinwheels as appetizers for my daughter’s first birthday and everyone loved it.
I served them baked as I personally prefer the baked one over the cold but they taste delicious either way!! If you are looking for an easy appetizer that you can make ahead of time, these tortilla pinwheels are the perfect recipe for you. I’ve another Pinwheels recipe which is using a crescent dinner roll instead of a tortilla. Both recipes have their own unique taste and texture due to the base used. Whichever you try am sure you will like both.
What is Tortilla Pinwheels
Tortilla Pinwheels or tortilla roll-ups are tortillas filled, rolled up, and cut into thin slices. They make the perfect appetizer/snack recipe for any party or potluck.
Today I am sharing a vegetarian tortilla pinwheels recipe with you all that is a huge hit with all age groups.
To make these veggie tortilla pinwheels, we take a tortilla and layer it with a filling made of cream cheese, veggies (green onions, carrots, broccoli, and bell pepper), and spices, then sprinkle with cheese and a final layer of spinach.
Roll up the tortilla tight and then refrigerate before slicing and serving. The sliced tortilla roll-ups are called Tortilla pinwheels and are excellent finger foods for parties or even for afternoon tea. My kids love it for their school lunch.
I am sharing two ways you can serve these veggie pinwheel appetizers, cold or warm by baking or air-frying them. They taste delicious either way!
Serve these vegetable pinwheels with your favorite dipping sauce and see them get devoured in minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It’s super simple and easy to make Can be made ahead of time, Looks pretty, tastes delicious, Can be made vegan and gluten-free Perfect as an appetizer, snacks, or for school lunch Crow pleaser for game day, picnics, parties, and potlucks Bonus: You can serve it two ways: hot (baked/air fried) or cold.
Recipe Ingredients
For the Filling Cream cheese: Use softened cream cheese, at room temperature, so it is easy to combine with the other ingredients. You can also use vegan cream cheese to keep it vegan or use flavored varieties like garlic & herb, chive onion, or spicy jalapenos. Veggies - I prefer using green onion for mild onion flavor but you can also use red onion. Along with that some red and green bell pepper, shredded carrots, and broccoli. You can also add corn or cabbage to this filling. Spices: Salt, pepper, dry oregano, garlic powder, parsley flakes to flavor the filling. For the pinwheels Tortillas: For this recipe, use flour (not corn) as they are easier to roll and don’t tear that easily. I have used a regular 8-inch soft flour tortilla, you can also use whole wheat or any of the flavored ones like spinach. Spinach leaves: I have used fresh baby spinach as is. You can chop and add if needed. Shredded cheese: I have used a shredded Mexican cheese blend. Use your favorite cheese. Cheddar, mozzarella, and pepper jack are some of my favorites to use. Red chili flakes: Added to taste and optional. Please refer to the recipe card for exact measurements of ingredients.
How To Make Tortilla Pinwheels (Stepwise Method)
Make cream cheese veggie filling
1 & 2 - In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese (softened) with spices (salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, and parsley flakes). Mix well. You can also microwave the cream cheese for 10-15 seconds or until soft enough to mix. 3 - Next add the veggies - green onions, carrots, broccoli, red and green bell pepper. 4 - Mix well and divide the cream cheese mixture into 4 equal portions.
Make Veggie Tortilla Pinwheels
5 - Warm up the tortillas for 15 seconds in the microwave or on the stovetop (this helps make the tortilla soft and easy to roll). Place one portion of the cream cheese mixture and spread it evenly making sure you get as close to the edge as you can. 6 - Layer it with a generous amount of cheese, sprinkle red chili flakes (optional). 7 - Top it with an even layer of spinach leaves in the center only. Avoid sides. 8 - Starting from one side, roll the tortilla tight until you reach the opposite side. Apply cream cheese to the end (if more is required) to act as glue and help the tortilla stick. 9 - Take a plastic wrap and place the tortilla seam-side down on it. Roll it so that the wrap covers the entire tortilla tightly. Tuck the sides inside. Repeat this procedure for the other roll too. Store in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour to overnight. These cream cheese veggie tortilla pinwheels can be served cold or warm (baked or air-fried). When ready to serve, get the rolls out of the fridge and unwrap. Slice off the edges that way you get clean cuts and then slice each roll into 6-7 evenly sized about ½ inch pinwheels (pieces).10 - For the Cold Tortilla Pinwheels: Simply serve sliced pinwheels with your favorite dipping sauce. 11 and 12 - For the Baked Tortilla Pinwheels: Preheat the oven to 375°F, line the baking tray with aluminum foil, and spray with cooking oil. Place the cut tortilla pinwheels onto the sheet and bake for 10-15 mins until the cheese has melted and the tortilla edges are golden and crisp. Flip mid-way through. Alternately you can air fry them for 6-8 mins, rotating halfway through until cheese has melted and edges are golden and crisp.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve these pinwheels cold or warm (baked/air-fried) as appetizers, or snacks with your favorite dipping sauce. They are perfect for school lunch too. I like to serve them with a mix of sour cream/mayo and sriracha sauce, Maggi hot and sweet sauce, or sweet red chili sauce but they will work great with ranch, Creamy Avocado Dip, or any dip of choice.
Recipe Tips
In the filling, you can add veggies of choice. Crunchy veggies like bell peppers, onion, grated carrots, green/purple cabbage, or broccoli make some great options. Makes sure to cut veggies into thin/fine pieces. You can also add sprouts or cooked beans for added nutrition. Avoid using veggies like tomatoes or cucumber as they can make the wrap soggy due to their high water content. I prefer to keep the filling neutral and instead serve with a spicy sauce so that it caters to everyone’s taste. But you can add red chili flakes, red chili powder, or hot sauce to the filling based on your taste preference Make sure to roll the pinwheels tightly and refrigerate them so they hold their shape when sliced. They may slightly expand and open when baked but still retain their shape. The melted cheese helps keep it together.
More Easy Appetizers
More Recipes with Tortilla
Hope you enjoy these Veggie Tortilla Pinwheels!! If you give this recipe a try, please rate by clicking stars ⭐️ in the recipe card. Thank you ❤️! You can also follow me on Facebook | Instagram to see what’s cooking in my kitchen!!
Recipe Card
Update Notes: This post was originally published on Apr 20, 2015, but was republished with, step by step instructions, updated photos, tips, and a video in Mar of 2022.
