5-Ingredient Chicken Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels
These 5-ingredient cranberry cream cheese chicken pinwheels are the perfect easy holiday appetizer, lunch, or snack! They’re packed with protein, sweet, savory, and perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings.
⏰ TIME: 45 mins
🤑TOTAL COST: $7.15
🍥 5 INGREDIENTS
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I haven’t made a pinwheel recipe in so long, but this week I decided to play around and make these sweet & savory cranberry cream cheese pinwheels!
They look so festive but require hardly any effort to make. They’re also the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and tangy in every bite!
You can make these for lunch, serve them as a Thanksgiving appetizer, bring them to a holiday party, or just eat them as a snack!
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They’re also super easy to make ahead of time. One less thing to worry about when you’re busy getting ready for a holiday gathering!
There’s no cooking involved (especially if you use leftover or rotisserie chicken), and everything comes together in one mixing bowl so there’s little clean-up involved too.
They’re simple, festive, and a delicious way to use up leftover shredded chicken!
Whether you’re putting together a Thanksgiving appetizer spread, hosting a Christmas party, or just want an easy finger food for your next get-together, these 5-ingredient cranberry cream cheese chicken roll-ups are always a fun addition.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
🍥 These cranberry pinwheels are:
- Made with just 5 ingredients
- Ready in 10 minutes
- Quick & easy to make
- No-cook
- High protein
- Meal prep-friendly
- Great for leftovers
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Flour tortillas: I recommend using large burrito-sized flour tortillas. They’re easy to roll and make perfectly sized pinwheels.
- Shredded cooked chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a great option that also adds a lot of flavor!
- Cream cheese: I used light cream cheese (also called neufchatel cheese). Let it soften up at room temperature before mixing so it’s easier to combine with the other ingredients.
- Dried sweetened cranberries: These add a pop of sweetness to every bite. I recommend roughly chopping them so they’re evenly distributed throughout the filling.
- Chives: Adds a nice flavor to the pinwheels and also a pop of color!
📌 OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS: Mix in some shredded cheddar cheese to make the pinwheels extra cheesy. For a little crunch, you can add chopped pecans or walnuts. You can also substitute green onions for the fresh chives.
Equipment You’ll Need
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- Large mixing bowl: For mixing up the ingredients. I love my Pyrex glass mixing bowl for recipes like this!
- Cutting board: For rolling up and cutting the pinwheels.
- Serrated knife: The best for cutting the pinwheels into neat pieces!
How To Make the Chicken Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Storage Instructions
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the pinwheels up to 24 hours in advance. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Wait to slice them into pinwheels until shortly before serving for the neatest presentation.
- Refrigerator: Store leftover sliced pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing these pinwheels.
The Printable Recipe Card
5-Ingredient Chicken Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- Cutting board
- Serrated knife
Ingredients
- 3 large flour tortillas (about 10-inch)
- 1 cup cooked shredded chicken (or rotisserie chicken)
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened, see notes)
- 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries
- 3 tbsp chives (chopped)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, dried cranberries, chopped chives, and shredded chicken.
- Lay a flour tortilla flat on a clean surface.
- Spread approximately ⅓ of the mixture evenly over the tortilla. Leave about ½ inch of clearance around the edges.
- Starting from the bottom edge, roll up the tortilla.
- Wrap each roll in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
- Take the rolls out of the fridge. Remove the plastic wrap and use a sharp serrated knife to slice each roll into 6-8 individual pieces.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Soften the cream cheese: Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for at least 20–30 minutes before you start making the pinwheels. If you’re short on time, you can also microwave the cream cheese in 10–15-second increments until softened.
- Use rotisserie chicken: Store-bought rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut for these pinwheels!
- Chill before slicing: Refrigerating the tortilla rolls for 30–60 minutes helps firm up the filling and makes them easier to slice.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the tortilla rolls up to 24 hours in advance. Keep them tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator and slice just before serving.
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