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Soft, creamy, and delightfully savory, my Ham and Cheese Roll Ups are one of my favorite appetizers to make for a crowd. They are quick and easy, made with only 6 ingredients, and easy to customize for kids and grown-ups! They are also excellent candidates for meal prep, making them a fun addition to packed lunches.
Love these ham and cheese pinwheels? Try my Mexican Pinwheels and Greek Salad Pinwheels, too!
Table of Contents
recipe walk-through
How To Make Ham and Cheese Roll Ups
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
Step 1: Make Cream Cheese Mixture. In a small bowl, whip the cream cheese until it’s smooth and soft. You want to make sure you start with room-temperature cream cheese or it will end up lumpy.
Step 2: Add Seasonings. Add the pepper and oregano to the cream cheese and whip again until the spices are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. If you have it, freshly ground black pepper is far superior to pre-ground.
Step 3: Spread and Layer. Use a knife or an offset spatula to spread the cream cheese mixture over the tortilla and layer the cheese and ham on top.
Step 4: Roll, Cut, & Enjoy! Roll up the tortilla tightly into a log shape and slice it into wheels about 1-inch thick. Garnish with fresh parsley (totally optional), then serve.
How do I get my pinwheels to stick shut?
Be sure to spread the cream cheese all the way to the edges of the wrap so your roll-ups have something to stick to.
If you’re still having trouble getting them to stick, try wrapping the rolled-up log tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour before slicing. If all else fail, stick a toothpick in each pinwheel to hold them together.
Recipe Tips
- You need a glue, so don’t omit it! If you’d rather use something else other than cream cheese, be sure to opt for a spreadable choice. Boursin, slightly warmed goat cheese (to make it spreadable), or Neufchatel cheese would all do the trick nicely. If dairy is out of the question, try using a plant-based cream cheese substitute, or turn to something like hummus instead.
- Be sure to get large enough tortilla wraps. They are sometimes sold as “burrito-sized,” or they may be labeled “wraps” instead of tortillas, especially if they are flavored.
- Make sure your tortillas are nice and fresh so they are pliable enough to roll up without breaking.
- Avoid adding “wet” ingredients to the actual pinwheels (e.g. sliced tomatoes), or you’ll risk them going soggy. I suggest offering cherry tomatoes on the side if you’re hankering for the addition. You can also use a toothpick to skewer one to each piece for easy presentation points.
Serving Suggestions
As far as I’m concerned, these roll-ups are perfect as a tea-time snack with other finger sandwiches, or to serve at buffet-style luncheons. They’re also great for packed lunches!
- When it comes to food, remember you eat with your eyes first. I suggest using a pretty serving tray that you line with leaf lettuce for a little color and frill. Serve the roll-ups with the cut sides visible — they’re actually quite pretty!
- If you want a little extra visual *pop*, try alternating two different colors of tortilla wraps.
- Score some presentation points and use toothpicks to add extra garnishes like mini pickles or cherry tomatoes). This can also be useful if you’re having trouble getting the wraps to stay sealed shut!
Variations
- Other Spices: If you want to add more pizazz to your cream cheese spread, garlic salt, oregano, and onion powder are all good places to start.
- Different Deli Meats: Ham and cheese is a classic combination, but there are plenty of other deli meats out there to choose from. Turkey, salami, pastrami, pepperoni, or roast beef are all good choices.
- Different Cheeses: I love the mild flavor of Colby Jack and find that it is a real crowd-pleaser. But feel free to swap in any flavor cheese of your choice! Try using provolone (especially if you add in some salami or pepperoni), cheddar, havarti, muenster, or gouda. No matter what you choose, be sure to opt for *thinly sliced* cheese to make sure you can roll up the pinwheel without breaking it.
- Flavored Wraps: Tortilla wraps come in a variety of flavors! Try using a spinach and herb variety if you want the wraps to be green, or sun-dried tomato if you’d like red. Or alternate with one of each if you’re making them for a holiday party!
- Flavored Cream Cheese: If you want to jazz your ham & cheese pinwheels up without any extra effort, reach for some flavored cream cheese! Savory options like Chive & Onion or Herb Flavored cream cheeses are a great option.
Storage Tips
Best Way to Store Leftovers
One of the best things about these ham cheese roll-ups is that they are perfect for making in advance! Here’s how to store them for the best possible results:
- Refrigerator Storage: You can store these pinwheels for up to 3 days in the fridge covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container.
- Freezer Storage: You can store the pinwheels in the freezer for up to two months. Simply place them in the fridge and serve once they are completely thawed. Be sure to check the center of the pinwheels because the tortilla will thaw faster than the cream cheese. I suggest allowing them to defrost overnight in the fridge so you don’t have any unexpected icy fillings!
More Finger Foods to Try
- Easy Deviled Eggs
- Baked Club Sliders
- Sweet Potato Wedges
- Josephinas (Chili Cheese Toast)
- Bacon Crackers
- Roasted Grapes
- Hush Puppies
Ham and Cheese Roll Ups
Ingredients
- 2 Large tortillas burrito size
- 8 ounce Block of cream cheese room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- 12 Slices of extra thin Colby jack cheese
- 12 Slices of deli ham
- Fresh parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whip the cream cheese until it is smooth and soft.
- Add the pepper and oregano to the cream cheese and whip again until the spices are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Use a knife to spread the cream cheese mixture over the tortilla and layer the cheese and ham on top of the tortilla.
- Roll up the tortilla and slice them into wheels about .5-1 inch thick.
- Garnish with parsley, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
Parsley or oregano?
What are you referring to? Both are in the recipe.
The list of ingredients calls for parsley. No mention of oregano. In the instructions it says oregano. No mention of parsley. I just want to clarify which we are to use.
Sorry for the confusion. Oregano is mixed in with the cream cheese, and parsley is added as an optional garnish.
Sounds amazing! We will be on vacation next week and I am going to make these! Love your recipes!