Pimento cheese pinwheels are a simple, crowd-pleasing party appetizer made by spreading homemade pimento cheese on a flour tortilla, rolling it up, chilling, and slicing into bite-sized rounds. Served cold, these savory pinwheels are easy to prepare and perfect for gatherings.
Pimento cheese is a classic spread made from shredded cheddar, pimentos, mayonnaise, and cream cheese. For this recipe I use a slightly creamier jalapeño pimento cheese and spread it on standard flour tortillas. Adding an extra ounce of cream cheese helps the mixture spread smoothly on the tortilla.
I brought these pinwheels to a neighborhood block party recently and they disappeared quickly — both kids and adults loved them. They’re a great make-ahead finger food that’s simple to scale for a crowd.
Ingredients
- Pimento Cheese – Use the pimento cheese variation in the recipe card below (jalapeño optional). If you prefer no jalapeño, substitute 1 tablespoon minced onion. For best texture, shred cheddar from a block rather than using pre-shredded cheese.
- Tortillas – Standard-size flour tortillas or whole wheat wraps. For a higher-fiber option, use a high-fiber tortilla, but regular-size tortillas work well too. You can also use burrito-size tortillas if you prefer larger logs.
How to Make
Step 1: Prepare the pimento cheese spread. Spread it evenly over each tortilla, leaving about a 1/4″ margin around the edges so the filling doesn’t squeeze out when rolled.
Step 2: Roll each tortilla tightly into a log, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for about 4 hours. Chilling firms the logs and makes them easier to slice neatly.
Step 3: Remove the chilled logs from the refrigerator, trim the ends, and slice with a serrated knife into even pieces. Keep the pinwheels refrigerated until ready to serve.
To make ahead of time
- Make the pimento cheese up to two days in advance—flavors often mellow and improve after resting in the fridge.
- For a shortcut, you can use a store-bought pimento cheese spread to save time; spread and roll the same way.
Serving and Storage
Serve the pinwheels chilled on a platter and garnish with diced green onion if desired. For food safety, discard any pinwheels left at room temperature for more than four hours.
Store leftover pinwheels in the refrigerator for up to two days. After that the tortillas can become too soft for good texture, so they’re best eaten within 48 hours.
📖 Recipe
Pimento Cheese Pinwheels
Alaine @ My TX Kitchen
10 mins
10 mins
Ingredients
- 5 oz. cream cheese softened
- ⅓ c. mayonnaise
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ tsp. onion powder
- ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper
- 3 c. shredded cheddar cheese (~8 oz. block)
- 4 oz. jar pimentos drained
- 3 Tbsp. minced jalapeños
- 4 regular-size flour tortillas or whole wheat wraps
Instructions
- In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne until smooth and combined.
- Add the shredded cheddar and mix briefly until incorporated. Fold in the drained pimentos and minced jalapeños.
- Spread the pimento cheese mixture onto each tortilla, leaving a ¼” margin. Roll up tightly into logs, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
- Remove the chilled logs, trim the ends, and slice into even rounds using a serrated knife. Serve chilled.
Notes
Mayo: Use a good-quality mayonnaise for best flavor.
Cheddar: Freshly shredding a block of cheddar gives better texture than pre-shredded cheese.
Substitutions: Omit jalapeños if desired and use 1 tablespoon minced onion instead.
Tortillas: Regular flour or whole-wheat tortillas both work; choose based on your preference.
Nutrition
Calories: 129 kcal • Carbohydrates: 5 g • Protein: 5 g • Fat: 11 g • Fiber: 3 g • Vitamin C: 6 mg • Calcium: 131 mg
Pimento cheese pinwheels are a tasty, easy-to-make savory appetizer that works well for parties, potlucks, and casual gatherings. They’re quick to prepare and simple to transport.
FAQ
Is pimento cheese low carb?
Yes. Pimento cheese is primarily fat and protein from the cheese, with very few carbohydrates. A typical 2-tablespoon serving contains less than 1 gram of carbs. Using a whole-wheat or high-fiber wrap keeps each pinwheel under about 5 grams of carbohydrates per serving, depending on the tortilla used.
Happy Spring!
