The Yummiest and Best Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheel sandwiches are quick to assemble, easy to make, and are honestly just a lot of fun! We’ve been making them for years and have found something for everyone.
Whether you’re making lunch or dinner, check out these tasty pinwheel sandwich recipes and tips. And please let me know your favorite tortilla roll ups recipe below.
Pinwheel Sandwich Recipes
Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I am lazy in the kitchen because honestly, I would rather be baking or crafting (mostly the latter). When I learned about quick and easy pinwheel sandwiches at a restaurant in Hawaii eons ago, I was hooked and even asked the owner about all of the ways she made them!
My culinary travels aside, I have leaned into these easy lunch box and dinner ideas pretty hard and have shared many recipes. Below are a few to browse but be sure to read the tips section if you’re new to making these fun sandwiches.
RELATED READING: S’mores Dessert Pinwheels are Gone in a Flash!
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Why You’re Going to LOVE Pinwheel Sandwiches
- These are ridiculously easy to put together and it’s easy for you to create your own recipes. I often use whatever leftovers are in the fridge and carb-friendly tortillas as my starting point and then whip up a dip or spread to pair. You can’t beat nearly a ready to serve dish like that, right?
- Pinwheel sandwich recipes can be made ahead or served immediately, making them great for lunch, dinner, or even a party appetizer!
- Kids love to eat them and I always hear about the “surprise” in their lunchbox. They also love getting to spread the cream cheese mixture or sauce.
- The easiest pinwheel sandwich is just a tortilla, a spread or dressing, a bit of deli meat, and a slice of cheese. Throw on some bagged lettuce and you have a near instant lunch.
- Finger food is just plain fun, friends.
Tips for Making Tortilla Roll Ups (Bite-Sized Sandwiches)
- Chill the pinwheel after rolling for an hour or two to keep them together without picks. Conversely, serve them immediately with food picks like these – great for appetizers!
- If you don’t like flour tortillas, use bread you’ve rolled or pressed flat. The kids will love getting to cut the crusts off and use a rolling pin.
- For a low-carb pinwheel sandwich option, use lettuce leaves and picks to hold the pinwheels together. You will need picks.
- If you’re using a sauce (not a spread), place a piece of green leaf lettuce or slice of cheese between the sauce and the tortilla so it doesn’t get soggy.
- Roll the tortillas tightly – your goal is to see each layer so that it holds its shape. If you can’t get the pinwheels tight, just grab some toothpicks or food picks to hold them in place.
More Tips When Constructing Pinwheel Sandwiches
- If you find it tricky to roll the sandwiches, place the tortilla on a piece of plastic wrap and tightly roll it up while pulling tightly on the wrap.
- Although I kept the pizza pinwheels easy (or any Italian pinwheel, really), you can add sun dried tomato, provolone cheese, or other items to make them suitable to more grown-up palates.
- If making these tortilla roll sandwiches with little ones in mind, stay on the milder side of recipes like the Buffalo chicken.
Pinwheel Sandwich Recipes for Adults
Below, you’ll find some kid-friendly options – that’s how I started making these fun sandwiches. However, it’s hard to find recipes for pinwheel sandwiches for adult palettes, so I’ve also included those recipes, as well.
My favorite pinwheels for adults are the jalapeño poppers and the Italian meat recipes. Those both went flying off the appetizer table all three times I’ve served them, so I consider those big winners.
The Best Pinwheel Sandwich Recipes
Pinwheel sandwiches are some of my favorite easy appetizer, lunch, and dinner recipes. They're quick to make, store well, and they're a lot of fun to eat!
These ham and cheese pinwheel sandwiches are perfect for a picnic, hike, or lunch box. I use fun picks to make lunches fun for my daughter (and so she will eat instead of chat).
Pizza is always a hit and these pinwheels are an easy way to put smiles on faces. There are so many options with this recipe that you can make almost any pizza recipe into a pinwheel!
Talk about a hit! These bacon ranch pinwheel sandwiches were gone in a flash - even the little ones loved them.
These jalapeño popper sandwiches are a family favorite in our house. Everyone gobbles them up - they're great for a Saturday afternoon lunch.
The classic and DELICIOUS flavors of buffalo chicken come together so quickly in this easy recipe. Even the little ones gobble this up!
The classic Italian meat sandwich gets a new (and fun) twist in the pinwheel form. These are perfect to layout with drinks.
If you're preparing a Cinco de Mayo get together or just want to serve something that goes with margaritas and Coronas, this is it! The spicy flavors in this easy pinwheel sandwich recipe are easy to adapt.
Elevate your "sandwiches for dinner" night with these cheeseburger pinwheel rolls. They are hearty and fun and make a base for any great burger combination you can dream up.
These smoked salmon pinwheel sandwiches have a delicious grown up flavor. It's a perfect recipe for brunch or light afternoon snacking.
Whether you're trying to get more vegetables into your diet or your child's, these veggie pinwheel sandwiches are great for picky eaters.
Take things up a notch from a basic veggie pinwheel sandwich with these oh-so-colorful (and healthy) lunchbox meal. Just look at the colors and oh, that spread!
If I had to choose between these s'mores pinwheels and the traditional treat over a campfire, I would be hard-pressed to select a winner. Psst: this one does not use tortillas - that would be weird.
I had to whip up a batch of pumpkin pie pinwheel rolls during fall this year, so I'm adding them to the list. Just like the S'mores rolls, however, you'll need something other than a tortilla.
Fun Pinwheel Dessert Recipes
- S’mores Pinwheels – If I’m honest, I would rather have these than S’mores made over the campfire.
- Pumpkin Pie Pinwheels – Another dessert pinwheel recipe, these make your house smell so good and practically melt in your mouth!
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