These pinwheel sandwiches are the perfect party appetizer for game day, or even a easy lunch idea! Your favorite deli meat (we use turkey and ham), combined with lettuce, cheese, bacon, and a seasoned cream cheese spread.
They are a sandwich recipe that you can customize with your favorite sandwich fillings and that can be a great, to-go-style meal if needed, too!

Deli meat recipes can be so fun to make since there are so many different variations that you can make for a sandwich.
Although you can use your favorite deli meat, we love using turkey and ham for this recipe, and we use similar meats on these Italian Sliders. You can also use roast beef like we do on these roast beef sliders!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Party Food: When you need an easy appetizer that’s not a dip or something hearty like chicken wings, this pinwheel sandwich recipe is a great appetizer choice for your next party or for something classy like a baby shower! They also don’t have to stay warm, like so many other appetizers do.
- Customize: Have a favorite deli meat? What about a favorite cheese? Love certain things on a sandwich? Easy pinwheel sandwich recipes like this one, can easily be customized to fit your taste.
- Ready in under 30 minutes: We love it when something can be made quickly, and these pinwheels fit the bill!
Ingredients Needed
I’ve highlighted a couple of ingredients below with some relevant notes but these can easily be switched out and replaced with your favorite items! See more about them below.

- Deli Meat – We love club sandwiches so much so we usually choose to use deli ham and slices of turkey for these pinwheels. (We use ham on these chicken club sandwiches too, if you’re looking for a hearty sandwich recipe for dinner.)
- Cream Cheese & Mayo – These are mixed together to create a cream cheese mixture, that helps give the pinwheels a bit of a creamy texture, paired with meat, cheese, and tortillas.
Substitutions
Looking to switch some items out? No problem! Here are some suggestions that we have:
- Mayonnaise – Not a fan of mayonnaise? No problem. You can use sour cream instead if you’d like.
- Deli Meat – Roast beef, bologna, flavored turkey, salami, and all kinds of other deli meats can be used instead of turkey and ham. Or, you can also use rotisserie chicken! Looking for a vegetarian option? You can leave the meat out and make a veggie pinwheel.
- Cheese – We love the sharpness of cheddar cheese but you can use American, provolone, pepperjack, mozzarella cheese, or your favorite cheese.
- Lettuce leaves– Spinach is another great option to roll up in these tortilla pinwheel sandwiches if you don’t want to use green leaf lettuce or romaine.
- Flour Tortillas – You may choose to use a spinach or whole wheat tortillas and that’s just fine. However, make sure you use the burrito size, or very large sizes, so they can roll well.
- Vegetables – You may also prefer to add other items to these like green onion, black olives, or even red bell peppers like we used in our Christmas Tree Pinwheels.
- Paprika – You can take this out or you can also use garlic powder to add that garlic flavor to your sandwich wraps.
How to Make Pinwheel Sandwiches
It’s really easy to make these pinwheels but we’re still going to walk you through to show you the best way to make them.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
First, you’ll begin by mixing together the cream cheese spread, so you can spread that on the tortilla first. Then, you’ll prep your other ingredients and start to assemble the pinwheels.

STEP 1. Make spread. Add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and paprika into a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix until smooth. (Image 1).
STEP 2. Slice tomatoes. Using a mandolin slicer or very sharp knife, cut thin slices of tomato (Image 2).
Tip: Cutting the tomatoes thin will help the sandwich to roll better.
STEP 3. Dry tomatoes. To remove excess moisture from the tomatoes, press between layers of paper towels. This will keep the pinwheels from getting soggy as fast (Image 3).
STEP 4. Time to spread. Spread 2 tablespoons of cream cheese spread onto a tortilla in a thin even layer (Image 4).

STEP 5. Add bacon. Sprinkle on a little more than 1 teaspoon of bacon bits, or as many as you would like (Image 5).
STEP 6. Add meat. Next, add two slices of deli meat across the center or lower ⅓ of the tortilla (Image 6).
STEP 7. Add cheese. Add two slices of cheese on top of the meat (Image 7).
STEP 8. Layer tomatoes. Place sliced tomatoes on top of the cheese (Image 8).

STEP 9. Add lettuce. Lastly, add a single layer of lettuce. Removing the thick stem will help make the sandwich roll better (Image 9).
STEP 10 & 11. Roll up. Finally roll the tortilla toward the center, and keep the roll as tight as possible (Images 10 & 11).
STEP 12. Cut. Then place the rolled tortillas on a cutting board and cut into 1-inch slices (Image 12).
Recipe Pro Tips
- Same day. These easy pinwheel sandwiches are best if eaten on the same day that they’re made.
- Slicing the ends. We like to trim the ends of the roll before cutting to make even slices.

Recipe FAQs
You can but it’s best to make them as close to serving as possible, or within one day, so they don’t get soggy.
If you find that your pinwheels are falling apart, you can refrigerate them to allow the cream cheese to secure the pinwheels more.
It’s safe to say that 4-6 pinwheels per person is a good amount if serving as a meal. If an appetizer, 2-3 may be more likely.
What to Serve with Pinwheels
With these pinwheels having protein, dairy and veggies all in one bite… you really don’t have to serve anything with them. However, if having for lunch, these would pair wonderfully with potato chips, seasoned potato wedges, french fries, or even chips and salsa or smoked queso dip.
You can also dip this perfect finger food in to ranch, or this fun jalapeno ranch dip.

Storage
Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for 1-2 days. You can also wrap them in plastic wrap to secure them even more!
More Recipes You’ll Love
Love easy recipes like this one? We think you’re also going to love our other easy recipes.
Article fully updated with a new recipe on November 5th 2023.
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe

Pinwheel Sandwiches
Ingredients
Spread
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Toppings and Wrap
- 4 burrito size tortillas
- 2 tablespoons bacon bits the "real" bacon bits (not dried)
- ½ pound sliced deli meat we prefer turkey and ham
- 8 slices cheddar cheese (thinly sliced) or your favorite cheese
- 1 large tomato
- leaf lettuce
Instructions
Prepare Ingredients
- Mix all ingredients except tortillas, in a bowl.
- Add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and paprika into a medium size mixing bowl, bend until smooth.
- Using a mandolin slicer or very sharp knife, cut thin slices of tomato.
- To remove excess moisture from the tomatoes, press between layers of paper towels. This will keep the pinwheels from getting soggy as fast.
Assemble Pinwheels
- Spread 2 tablespoons of cream cheese spread onto a tortilla in a thin even layer.
- Sprinkle on a little more than 1 teaspoon of bacon bits, or as many as you would like.
- Next add two slices of deli meat across the center or lower ⅓ of the tortilla.
- Add two slices of cheese on top of the meat.
- Place sliced tomatoes on top of the cheese.
- Lastly add a single layer of lettuce. Removing the thick stem will help make the sandwich roll better.
- Finally roll the tortilla toward the center, keep the roll as tight as possible. Then cut into 1 inch slices.
- Repeat three times.
Notes
- We like to use ham and turkey to make it like a Club Sandwich, but any type of deli meat will do.
- Cutting the tomatoes thin will help the sandwich to roll better.
- I like to trim the ends of the roll before cutting to make even slices.
- I like to use cheddar cheese but any cheese could be used.
- Sour cream can be substituted for the mayonnaise.
- These are best if eaten on the same day.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Meggan says
Do you still have the taco pinwheel recipe? This is now what my old pin linked too when I was looking for the taco version!
Jessica says
Hi Meggan! I’m sorry! That taco pinwheel recipe didn’t seem to be too popular, so I decided to change things up. However, if you’d like to still make the taco pinwheels, here’s the recipe that was here before:
1 cup shredded cheese
8 oz cream cheese softened
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can RO*TEL diced tomatoes with green chilis drained
1/2 cup corn drained
1/2 cup black beans drained & rinsed
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 burrito size tortillas
Directions:
Mix all ingredients except tortillas, in a bowl.
Spread 1 cup of the mixture on to each tortilla.
Starting at one end, roll up the tortillas
Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Remove from refrigerator and slice in to circles.
Garnish with remaining black beans, corn, and cilantro.
I hope that helps!
Dawn Coleman says
so, do you cream the cheese and spice first, then add ingredients?
Jessica says
Hi Dawn! We mixed all of the ingredients (except tortillas) together in a bowl, and then spread the mixture on to the tortillas. I’m not sure if that answers your question or not though, so just let me know if not! 🙂 Thank you!
Giraffe B says
Making these for a new years get together! I added lime, avocado, and diced black olives. Delicious!
Jessica says
Mmmmmm!!!! All of those additions sound amazing! I’ll do that next time. Thank you so much for sharing!
Shashi at Savory Spin says
Such a delicious appetizer – and it’s no bake too! So loving the punch of flavor that RO*TEL ads to these – my daughter is looking over my shoulder right now and asking to go to Walmart to pick up these ingredients to make these for dinner tonight! 🙂
#client
Jessica says
Awww! How sweet is that! 🙂 Thank you so much!