Chicken Pinwheels

Elevate your party snacks and game-day starters with these simple and delicious Chicken Pinwheels. These quick and easy roll-ups can be made ahead, making them the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer or satisfying lunch option that will leave everyone craving more!

These tortilla pinwheels taste as good as they look! You can taste the bold combination of flavors as they mix with the ranch seasoning from the Doritos. The result is a great recipe that everyone at your party will devour. It’s an easy appetizer that is just as effortless to put together as it is to set out and serve your guests. 

Even if you’re not hosting a party anytime soon, these pinwheels will also become one of your favorite afternoon snacks. Plus, there are so many ways to change them up that you’ll never get tired of making them. 

Why You’ll Love Chicken Pinwheels

• Feeds a crowd 
• Ready in 10 minutes 
• Bursting with layers of flavor 
• Easy to make ahead 

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

• Chicken breasts: This is the base of the entire recipe. Use boneless, skinless breasts. 
• Chicken broth: When you cook chicken breasts in chicken broth, it infuses it with more flavor.  
• Butter: It’s easier to control the flavors if you use unsalted butter. 
• Cool Ranch Doritos: You’ll crush them into crumbs, and they will add a wonderful flavor and crunch to the pinwheels. 
• Buttermilk powder: This adds a deeper flavor to the chicken mixture.  
• Spices: Combine chicken with the following bold spices – Paprika, Red Chili Flakes, Dill Weed, Salt and Pepper, Parsley
• Parmesan cheese: Any hard cheese will work, but parmesan is the most popular and easiest to find.
• Heavy cream: This makes everything mix perfectly and replaces cream cheese.  
• Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a bold flavor to the pinwheels 
• Celery: This veggie is optional but adds an earthy taste to the bold apps.  
• Red onion: Use any onion, but red onion is slightly sweeter. 
• Bacon bits: Either bacon bits or finely chopped cooked bacon will elevate the flavors. 
• Flour tortillas: Use taco-sized tortillas about 5-8 inches in diameter.     

How to Make Chicken Pinwheels

• Step One: Add chicken broth, butter, and minced garlic to a saucepan over medium-high heat. 
• Step Two: Place the chicken breasts inside and cover. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. 
• Step Three: Remove the chicken and add it to a large mixing bowl. Shred the chicken, then allow it to cool for 10 minutes. 
• Step Four: Add the Doritos to a ziplock and crush. Use a rolling pin or a meat mallet to crush into fine crumbs. 
• Step Five: Add Doritos and all remaining ingredients to the bowl with shredded chicken. Mix thoroughly. 

• Step Six: Spread a ¼” thick layer onto each tortilla. Stop ¼” from the edges. 
• Step Seven: Tightly roll each tortilla into a log. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• Step Eight: Cut the ends off of each tortilla roll. Then, cut the tortillas into 1” pieces. 
• Step Nine: Let pinwheels chill slightly before serving, and enjoy!

Equipment Needed

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• Saucepan – Use a saucepan with a big lid to cook your chicken breasts. 
• Large bowl – It should be large enough to mix the chicken with the rest of the ingredients. 
• Ziploc bag – You’ll use this to crush the Doritos into crumbs.
• Rolling pin – Use this to crush the Doritos. 
• Sharp knife – It needs to be sharp enough to dice the fresh vegetables. 
• Measuring cups and spoons – Use them to measure the spices.   

What to Serve with Chicken Pinwheels 

This easy chicken pinwheels recipe is the perfect party appetizer. Here are some of my favorite sides that taste delicious with chicken pinwheels.    

• Italian Sliders
• Air Fryer Crab Cakes
• Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Pretzel Bites
• Air Fryer Pasta Chips

Variations and Substitutions

• Make it spicier. Make buffalo chicken roll-ups by adding some buffalo wing sauce to the tender chicken. 
• Make rich pinwheels. Add a cream cheese mixture.  
• Powder instead of fresh. You can substitute garlic powder instead of minced garlic. 
• Save time and use leftover chicken.
• Any tortilla wraps work! You can try it with spinach wraps. 
• Add blue cheese crumbles inside the wraps for extra tang. 
• Add diced red peppers for more color and crunch. 

Storage Instructions 

Since there are chicken breast and dairy ingredients, don’t let the chicken bacon ranch pinwheels sit at room temperature for long. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Chicken Pinwheels Tips and Tricks

• For best results, serve them as soon as possible
• Crush the chips into tiny crumbs so they are easier to eat. 
• Dice the celery and onion into tiny pieces. 
• Refrigerate the log before you slice it. This will make it easier to cut. 

What Are Pinwheels  

All pinwheel recipes include the same basic steps. Add a filling to a tortilla, then roll it up and slice it. Pinwheels are rolled tortillas made with simple ingredients that could include softened cream cheese and any variety of different types of meat and vegetables. They almost always use soft flour tortillas, but some varieties also use puff pastry. Either way, they are a fun finger food to serve at parties. 

Can I Make Ahead? 

Yes, you can make crack chicken pinwheels ahead of time. Store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Serve them as soon as possible to experience the best taste. 

How To Keep The Tortillas From Getting Soggy 

Eating them as soon as possible is best so the sauce and chicken mixture don’t soak into the tortillas. You can also wrap the log in parchment paper or plastic wrap before you slice it – this will prevent the air from interacting with the tortillas and buy you a little more time.

How To Cut 

Cutting the pinwheels is easy! First, wrap up the log in parchment paper or plastic wrap. Then, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This will give the filling time to thicken a bit. 

After it is chilled, use a sharp serrated knife to cut them into equal slices. That’s it! It really is that easy. 

Dipping Sauces 

These pinwheels taste delicious on their own, but they taste even better with some fun dipping sauces! Try it with one (or all) of these tasty sauces: 

• Hot sauce
• Buffalo sauce 
• Ranch dressing 
• Sour cream
• Blue cheese dressing

Creative Presentation Ideas 

There are so many ways to be creative with this easy recipe. Give them a burst of color by sprinkling some finely chopped green onions on top right before serving them. Alternatively, fill a small bowl with dipping sauce and a veggie platter filled with red bell pepper, cucumber, and tomatoes. Arrange the pinwheels in a rainbow shape or stack them like a pyramid. Have fun with that part! 

This is the perfect appetizer for your next party because you can also serve them in individual portions with toothpicks.

FAQ

Easy Appetizers    

Want more easy appetizer ideas? Here are some of my favorites:

• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Pinwheels with Crescent Rolls
• Spicy Potato Skins 
• Stuffed Bacon Rolls
• Mac and Cheese Cups
• Pigs in a Blanket

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