A creamy filling made with chicken taco flavors is spread over a soft flour tortilla and rolled up to make the most delicious Mexican pinwheels ever!
These Mexican pinwheels are perfect for ANY party or get together! ย Made with mouthwatering chicken taco flavors, they’re a favorite with both kids and adults!
It’s party time!! I actually had these at a get together with my in-laws, and my mother-in-law had made these. ย Like me, she loves to cook, so naturally we were talking about the food, and she mentioned that she’d found this recipe on Old El Paso‘s site. I tweaked it, based on our tastes, and I love the final product!
I like a LOT of cilantro flavor, so if you’re not a huge fan, feel free to adjust that amount to your liking. ย As a bonus, these aren’t spicy at all, so even the kiddos can snack on these Mexican pinwheels! ย You could also experiment with different flavored tortillas as the wraps.
While these are PERFECT for a party, they’re also fun to have as an afternoon snack or a fun dinner (I like to pair them with a salad… this one is my fav!). ย There’s something so ridiculously fun about getting to eat with your hands isn’t there?
I think these Mexican pinwheels are pretty amazing as is, but if you’re looking for some other add-ins or toppers, here are some great options:
- finely minced jalapeรฑos (fresh or canned)
- roasted poblanos
- minced sautรฉed onions
- cooked small corn kernelsย
- drizzle sour cream over the top (or Mexican crema)
- scoop some guacamole on top before eating (try this one!)
- experiment with a different sour cream to cream cheese ratio (the more sour cream you use, the “wetter” the filling will be)
Like with most pinwheels, once you roll up the tortilla, you’ll want to chill them in the refrigerator (the whole rolls) for a bit, so they firm up. ย Otherwise, when you go to slice them, they’ll get mashed and sort of fall apart.ย I recommend using a sharp serrated knife, it makes slicing the 1 inch sections a breeze!
I really hope you all give these a try… whether it’s for a party, cookout, snack or dinner… I really think you’ll love them as much as we sure do!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 12 oz cream cheese, softened to room temp (my packages are 8oz, so I used a package and a half)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded chicken **see recipe notes below
- 1.5 Tbsp taco seasoning (choose your favorite)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
- 10 oz can of diced tomatoes with green chiles, very well drained
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic, finely minced
- 5 green onions, sliced thinly
- 3/4 - 1 cup cilantro, chopped finely (adjust to your tastes)
- 8 burrito sized flour tortillas
- fresh minced cilantro, for garnish optional
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, stirring until well combined.
- Lay flour tortilla down on work surface and spread about 1/4 cup (amount will vary from person to person) evenly over the tortilla, leaving a 1/2 - 1 inch border all around.
- Start at the bottom of the tortilla (closest to you), and roll up tightly towards the top, like a cigar. Place roll seam side down on prepared pan.
- Repeat with remaining tortillas and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to several hours to chill and firm up.
- Use a sharp, serrated knife to slice roll into 1 inch pinwheels and serve.
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Chef Tips
- Recipe preparation time does not count chilling time, as that will vary from person to person.
- If you have leftover filling, it can be frozen (in a sealed bag or airtight container) for up to 2 months
SHREDDED CHICKEN RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Tequila Lime Chicken - cook as directed, then shred (this gives the best flavor)
- Leftover cooked chicken from another recipe
- Rotisserie chickenย
- Canned chicken (this is the easiest option, but not the best flavor)
Video
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Michelle says
Would these be ok to be made up the night before and chilled over night?
The Chunky Chef says
They sure would ๐
Nicole says
Made them and used the hot and spicy taco mix. It was a hit.
Maggie Unzueta says
This looks insanely, incredibly good. Sooo yummy!
Mary says
Awesome!!!! Made my tastebuds dance! Thank you for sharing such a joyful and wonderful recipe.๐๐
sher says
Do you think these can be made in advance? Or another way to put it, how long will they keep in the refrig?
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Sher ๐ I’ve made these the night before serving them, but never tried it for longer than that.
Steph says
Has anyone added fresh jalapeรฑos to this? If so did they also use the tomatoes with the green chiliโs or maybe just a can of regular tomatoes? This recipe looks great!
The Chunky Chef says
I’ve never tried it (maybe another reader can chime in), but I think fresh minced jalapeรฑos would be fabulous in these! Depending on your heat tolerance, you could use regular petite diced tomatoes to keep it semi-mild, or go for the tomatoes and green chiles to make it spicier ๐
Portia says
Made these for game day. They were fantabulous!! My husband and I ended up hiding some back for us because they were going so fast. Will definitely make again and again. Thanks for such tasty goodness!!!
SuebeeQ says
I had two poached chicken breast leftover so I adjusted the amount of ingredients accordingly. Instead of packaged taco mix I made my own combo of chili, oregano, cumin and garlic powder. I also substituted parsley for cilantro. I cut the chicken in chunks and chopped it up in the food processor then added all the other ingredients and pulsed until it was a smooth mixture. This was good right out of the processor but it was even better after it sat in the fridge a while. This made a lot so even after spreading it on tortillas I had some leftover. This will make a great sandwich spread. That is if it lasts. It’s so good that I keep sneaking spoonfuls of it. Will definitely make again. Thanks for this tasty and easy recipe.
Darlene says
Mine is a question….What do you consider Mexican cheese?
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Darlene ๐ You can use any cheese you’d like.. the one I usually use is a bag (I believe it’s Sargento brand), that says Mexican blend cheese.
cecilia says
gonna take to potluck, it would sit out for 3 hrs. in shade. any suggestions, i dont want anybody getting sick. can make \at home, then transport to party.
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Cecilia ๐ I think they should be okay… but you could always set the plate of pinwheels on a bowl full of ice so they keep reasonably chilled.
Jessica | The Novice Chef says
I can think of so many times to make these~! Perfect for snacks, appetizers, lunch or even a light dinner!
Cookin Canuck says
These would be awesome to pack up for a summertime picnic! Love the flavors in here.
Melissa @ Insider The Kitchen says
OMGoodness!! This was fabulous and soooooo tasty! I used wheat burrito tortillas and chopped up the spinach and added it to the chicken mix!
Cathy Trochelman says
These look seriously perfect! I bet they’re the first things to go at a party!
Dee says
These are making me hungry! I happen to like the green tortillas, but my kids run from those, too!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
I love these! Not only are they pretty (pretty party food!), but loving the taco take you’ve incorporated. I’ll be bits of poblanos would be fab, too!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Those look sooo good – love the ingredient combo!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
These are my kind of appetizer! I thought they were perfect until I read you tips for toppings. WOW! How will I ever choose?
Stephanie says
What beautiful creations my friend!!! I love ALL of the flavors in these bad boys, especially the cilantro- I’m so with you there. I am obsessed with that stuff! ๐ These are perfect to bring to summer get-together’s, I bet they disappear FAST!
Neha Mathur says
These pinwheels have my heart. So pretty.