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This turkey pinwheels recipe is made with homemade cream cheese spread and so easy to make! Pinwheels are perfect for parties or lunches!
Say hello to these Turkey Pinwheels with homemade garden vegetable cream cheese spread that will forever be making an appearance at your future parties and events, or even packed in your lunches. You, my friends, seem to love Pinwheels, especially these Ham and Cheese Pinwheels and these Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels.
Month after month these pinwheel recipes are some of the most favorited recipes here on CenterCutCook. When I started getting messages asking for Turkey Pinwheel recipes, I knew I had to make it happen.
One of the key elements to any pinwheel recipe is the sauce or dressing, and for this recipe, you’ll have the option of making homemade veggie cream cheese. Philadelphia Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese is the inspiration for this homemade variation. It’s loaded with fresh veggies and tastes incredible.
Turkey Pinwheel Ingredients:
- Deli Turkey: My go-to tends to be Sara Lee Oven Roasted Turkey Breast but use whatever deli turkey breast is your favorite. This would also be a great recipe to make with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.
- Cream Cheese: Fat-free cream cheese is not recommended. Make sure to allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature. It’ll be easier to stir in the veggies with softened cream cheese, and also easier to spread on the tortillas.
- Veggies for Cream Cheese: You can use whatever ingredients you have on hand. Whenever I’m making this cream cheese, I use whatever veggies I’ve bought and prepped for snacking for the week. I generally use chopped carrots, green bell pepper, cucumber, and red bell pepper. You only need about 2 tablespoons of each vegetable and it is entirely up to you how large or small you what the veggies pieces. If you’d like a chunkier cream cheese spread, go ahead and chop the veggies a little bit larger.
- Tortillas: You can use whatever sized tortillas that you have on hand, however, whenever I am making pinwheels I tend to use the larger 12 inch burrito size. Corn-based tortillas will not hold up, therefore are not recommended for this recipe. Use a flour-based tortilla and feel free to use any variety that you’d like – sun-dried tomato tortillas are delicious, as are garden-veggie tortillas. You can’t go wrong with a plain flour tortilla either.
- Mlik: You’ll need about 1-2 tablespoons of milk to thin out the cream cheese spread
Certainly you could forego making homemade vegetable cream cheese and use pre-made from the grocery store, however, the homemade cream cheese is delicious.
Easy Instructions
Turkey pinwheels recipes are so easy to make and this version is no exception. Here’s a brief overview:
- Make the homemade cream cheese: (or choose a store-bought cream cheese that you enjoy!). To simplify the process, go ahead and use a blender, or a food processor, however neither of those kitchen appliances are necessary. You can use a good ole’ wooden spoon to stir all of the ingredients together. Mix well.
- Arrange all of the tortillas on your work surface.
- Spread a layer of homemade vegetable cream cheese on the tortillas, making sure to cover the entire surface of each tortilla.
- Arrange turkey on top
- Add any veggies that you’d like including spinach and/or tomatoes or leave them plain with just turkey and cream cheese spread
- Roll-up tightly. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes
- Trim off the ends and discard, then cut into pinwheels about 1.5-2 inches thick
Turkey Pinwheels Tips and Tricks
- Make ahead: make these 24 hours ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for parties or packing in lunches. Be sure to store them in an airtight container.
- Try different cream cheese or dips
- For serving at a party, insert a toothpick into each pinwheel
Yes, pinwheels can be made 24 hours ahead of time. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Turkey Pinwheels Recipe Variations
These Turkey Pinwheels with homemade garden veggie cream cheese are so easy, so delicious, and so perfect for parties and picnics! A tray of pinwheels at Costco is quite pricey considering how simple and easy they are to make at home. And with that homemade veggie cream cheese? *Perfection!*
Here are a few other turkey pinwheel variations that you can try:
- Turkey, bacon and ranch – pair with ranch dip
- Buffalo Turkey Pinwheels – pair with blue cheese dip or ranch
- Italian Turkey Pinwheels – pair with pesto, roasted red peppers and mozzarella cheese
- Greek Turkey Pinwheels – add cucumbers, olives, feta cheese, and dip with homemade greek dressing.
More Pinwheels Recipes to try…
Pinwheels are a popular choice to serve at parties, showers, and for lunches because they are easy to make and versatile. Here are some more pinwheels recipes you’ve gotta try!
- Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
- Taco Pinwheels
- Rainbow Rice Krispie Pinwheels
If you try this recipe for Turkey Pinwheels with that delicious cream cheese spread, please leave a comment and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Turkey Pinwheels with Cream Cheese Spread
Ingredients
CREAM CHEESE INGREDIENTS
- 1 – 8 ounce package cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 tablespoon milk to thin out the cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped carrots
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cucumber squeeze excess liquid
- 2 tablespoons red bell pepper
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
PINWHEEL INGREDIENTS
- deli turkey slices
- 12 inch flour tortillas of choice burrito size
- spinach sliced tomatoes, any veggies you would like to add
- homemade vegetable cream cheese or store-bought if preferred
Instructions
CREAM CHEESE DIRECTIONS
- Combine all cream cheese ingredients in a large bowl.
- Use a mixer or stir to combine.
- If you prefer finer veggies in your cream cheese, pulse the cream cheese mixture in your food processor (or blender) until you’ve reached your desired consistency. Just a few pulses are all that’s needed.
PINWHEEL DIRECTIONS
- Spread a layer of cream cheese on each tortilla.
- Arrange turkey slices across the center of each tortilla.
- Add any veggies you wish like spinach and tomatoes.
- Roll-up tightly
- Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to allow the cream cheese to firm up
- Slice into 1.5-2 inch thick slices, discarding the ends of the tortillas.
