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Italian Pinwheels Recipe

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Italian pinwheels feature flour tortillas spread with seasoned cream cheese, layered with Italian meats, cheese, and vegetables, then rolled and sliced. These easy no-cook appetizers are perfect for parties!

  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: About 40-50 pinwheels (serves 10-12) 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cream Cheese Spread:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons mayonnaise for extra creaminess

For the Pinwheels:

  • 4-5 large (10-12 inch) flour tortillas
  • 6-8 oz sliced Italian deli meats (salami, pepperoni, capicola)
  • 4-6 oz sliced provolone or mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup roasted red peppers, drained and patted dry
  • 1-2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
  • Optional: ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
  • Optional: ¼ cup pepperoncini or banana peppers, chopped

Instructions

Prepare the Cream Cheese Spread:

  1. Mix Spread: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix with a fork or spatula until smooth and well combined. Add mayonnaise if using for extra creaminess.

Assemble the Pinwheels:

  1. Spread Cream Cheese: Lay one tortilla flat on a clean cutting board. Spread about 2-3 tablespoons of the seasoned cream cheese in a thin, even layer over the entire surface of the tortilla, going all the way to the edges.
  2. Layer Meats: Arrange 2-3 slices of deli meat over the cream cheese, covering most of the surface but leaving a 1-inch border at the far edge (this helps seal the roll).
  3. Add Cheese: Layer 1-2 slices of provolone or mozzarella over the meat.
  4. Add Vegetables: Arrange roasted red pepper strips, spinach leaves, and any optional ingredients (sun-dried tomatoes, pepperoncini) over the cheese. Don’t overfill—a thin layer works best.
  5. Roll Tightly: Starting from the edge closest to you, roll the tortilla up tightly but gently, keeping the filling compressed. The cream cheese will help seal the edge.
  6. Wrap: Wrap the rolled tortilla tightly in plastic wrap, twisting the ends to secure. This helps the roll hold its shape.
  7. Repeat: Repeat with remaining tortillas and ingredients.

Chill and Serve:

  1. Refrigerate: Refrigerate wrapped rolls for at least 1 hour (or up to 24 hours). Chilling makes them much easier to slice cleanly and allows flavors to meld.
  2. Slice: Unwrap chilled rolls and place on cutting board. Using a sharp knife, trim off the ends, then slice each roll into ¾-1 inch rounds, wiping the knife clean between cuts for neat slices.
  3. Serve: Arrange pinwheels cut-side up on a serving platter. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Soften cream cheese to room temperature for easiest spreading.
  • Pat all wet ingredients (peppers, etc.) completely dry to prevent soggy pinwheels.
  • Don’t overfill tortillas or they won’t roll properly and will fall apart.
  • Chilling is essential for clean slicing—don’t skip this step.
  • Wipe knife clean between cuts for neat, pretty pinwheels.
  • Store in refrigerator for up to 2 days.
  • For best results, assemble the night before and slice just before serving.
  • Author: Samantha Nelson
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling time)
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: Italian-American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 pinwheels
  • Calories: 245
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 685mg
  • Fat: 16g
  • Saturated Fat: 8g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 16g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 10g
  • Cholesterol: 42mg