Mexican Pinwheels Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links.
Are you looking for an easy and delicious appetizer packed with bold Mexican flavors? Look no further than these delicious Mexican Pinwheels!
This great recipe for Mexican Tortilla Pinwheels is perfect for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, church gatherings, or just a fun dinner with friends and family.
Pinwheels are some of our favorite easy appetizers to make. Also known as Fiesta Pinwheels or Mexican Tortilla Roll Ups, these are so colorful and festive!
As a productivity manager, I understand how precious your time is, especially when it comes to preparation and presentation and this is an simple and quick recipe!
Why you will love this recipe
- Easy. It’s incredibly easy to make, with only a few simple steps to follow.
- Flavorful. It’s packed with flavor, thanks to the creamy filling made from cream cheese, sour cream, and homemade taco seasoning.
- Customizable. You can add your favorite taco toppings to make it your own. These are great as an afternoon snack or lunch too!
- Perfect for a crowd. You can easily double or triple the recipe to feed a larger group.
- Prep ahead of time. It’s a great make-ahead appetizer, so you can prepare it in advance and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve.
Ingredients for easy Mexican pinwheels
- Large flour tortillas
- Cream cheese – softened at room temperature
- Sour cream
- Taco seasoning – I use a homemade taco seasoning but packaged is fine.
- Garlic powder
- Shredded chicken – rotisserie chicken works great
- Shredded Mexican cheese
- Black beans
- Red pepper – finely diced (you can use green pepper too, but red is more colorful)
- Jalapeno peppers – finely diced
- Salsa – for dipping
Equipment and kitchen tools
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Medium bowl
- Spoon
- Plastic wrap
- Large serrated knife, like a bread knife
How to make taco pinwheels
Steo one – Wash and chop the the red peppers and the jalapeño peppers
Step 2 – In. medium bowl, add the cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning, and garlic to a bowl, and stir well to combine.
Step 3 – Spread ¼ of the cream cheese mixture onto each of the tortillas.
Step 3 – Add the 1/4 of the beans and the chicken to the tortilla.
Step 4 – Add ¼ of the the red peppers to the tortilla
Save The Recipe!
Add your email below and we’ll send it straight to your inbox+ you’ll receive all our newest recipes
Step 5 – Add 1/4 of the rest of the ingredients (except the salsa) onto each of the tortillas.
Step 6 – Start at one end, and roll the tortilla tightly until it meets the other end. Wrap in plastic wrap. Repeat process for the remaining 3 tortillas.
Refrigerate for 1 hour or until ready to serve.
After chilling, remove the plastic wrap, and use the serrated knife to cut into one-inch pieces, with a serrated knife. .
Arrange on a platter, and serve with salsa.
Like my Hummus Pinwheels, Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels and Chicken Chicken Salad Pinwheels – these are simple and delicious!!
Tips for best results
- Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing it with the other ingredients.
- To make this recipe even easier, use store-bought taco seasoning instead of homemade.
- For a spicier version, add more jalapeno peppers or a few dashes of hot sauce.
- To make this recipe ahead of time, prepare as directed and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- You can also use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas for a gluten-free version of this recipe.
- Sprinkle the tops of your Mexican cream cheese pinwheels with some fresh cilantro for extra flavor and color.
Substitutions and Variations
Swap the chicken for ground beef or southwest sausage for a different flavor.
Add some fresh veggies, like diced green onions or red onion, for extra crunch and flavor.
Substitute black olives or ripe olives for the red pepper or jalapeno peppers. You could also add some green chilies.
Serve with tortilla chips or use as a filling for taco shells for a different presentation.
Add your favorite veggies to the mix. Some that work great are bell peppers.
Add some taco meat to your pinwheels if you like for extra protein.
Recipe FAQs
Although the pinwheel recipe can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance, it is best to serve the tortillas the same day they are made (while they are still slightly crunchy). They are still delicious if you prepare them in advance, but the tortillas start to soften and get a little soggy after a few days.
The pinwheels seal better on the ends when chilled for a few hours before serving, making it a perfect make-ahead appetizer. But, the longer they sit, the soggier the tortilla may become.
More Great Appetizer Recipes
Mexican Pinwheels
Equipment
- cutting board
- sharp knife
- medium bowl
- Spoon
- Plastic Wrap
- Large serrated knife, like a bread knife
Ingredients
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1.5 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded chicken
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
- ½ cup black beans
- ½ red pepper finely diced
- 2 jalapeno peppers finely diced
- salsa for dipping
Instructions
- Wash and chop the peppers.
- Add the cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning, and garlic to a bowl, and stir well to combine. Spread ¼ of the mixture onto each of the tortillas.
- Add ¼ of the rest of the ingredients (except the salsa) onto each of the tortillas.
- Start at one end, and roll the tortilla tightly, until it meets the other end. Wrap in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until ready to serve.
- Remove the plastic wrap, and use the serrated knife to cut into one inch pieces, discarding (or eating) the ends.
- Arrange on a platter, and serve with salsa.
Notes
- Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing it with the other ingredients.
- To make this recipe even easier, use store-bought taco seasoning instead of homemade.
- For a spicier version, add more jalapeno peppers or a few dashes of hot sauce.
- To make this recipe ahead of time, prepare as directed and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- You can also use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas for a gluten-free version of this recipe.
- Sprinkle the tops of your Mexican cream cheese pinwheels with some fresh cilantro for extra flavor and color.
Nutrition
If you are not yet subscribing to my CELEBRATE THE SEASON newsletter, you can subscribe here. I share easy recipes for the season that the entire family is sure to love and also a few things that I don’t share here.
I want to make these for dinner! Maybe some bean, some chicken, and some bean and chicken!
Amazing, love this and will have to make this for our next get-together.
Thanks so much for participating and sharing at SSPS 292. See you again next week!