Name: Crack Chicken Pinwheels
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie works great); 8 oz cream cheese (softened); 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon; 1-2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix; 1 tablespoon milk; 4 large flavored tortillas (spinach or sun-dried tomato are great choices)

These Crack Chicken Pinwheels combine creamy ranch flavor chicken, crispy bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese wrapped in a flavorful tortilla for the perfect snack or appetizer for any party. Simple to prepare and bursting with irresistible flavor, they’re just right for any occasion. Just mix, roll, chill and slice you have, hands down, a perfect crowd pleaser.

Why You Are Going To Love These Crack Chicken Pinwheels:

Flavor-Packed: With savory chicken, cream cheesy, and the deliciously addictive flavors of ranch seasoning and bacon, these pinwheels are killing it on taste.

Great for Parties: These are finger-food crowd-pleasers, so they’re great for entertaining, family gatherings or game-day snacking.

Make the Ahead: Prep the rolls in the fridge overnight then just slice and serve! Great for those busy days when you need something quick and tasty.

Adaptable: These pinwheels are infinitely customizable if, say, you want to change up the meat, cheese or tortilla style. And they are perfect for kids and adults!

Key Ingredients:

Shredded Chicken: A rotisserie chicken is a fantastic shortcut here. It’s flavorful, juicy and a time-saver. You can substitute leftover cooked chicken breast or canned chicken in a pinch.

Cream Cheese: Ensure that the cream cheese you are using is softened, it will make for easy mixing which will give you a smooth and spreadable filling. A trick: let it warm to room temperature for 20 minutes or so, or microwave it for 10 to 15 seconds.

Cheddar Cheese: This can be sharp cheddar, which delivers a strong punch of flavor, but mild cheddar or a blend of cheeses (such as Colby-Jack) would also be great

Bacon: Pre-cooked, crumbled bacon will do the trick for convenience, but freshly cooked and crumbled is still best for crispy texture and flavor. If you want to lighten it up, try turkey bacon.

Tortillas: Using flavored tortillas such as spinach or sun-dried tomato adds color and a layer of flavor to these pinwheels. Regular flour tortillas are just fine, too, if that’s what you have.

Ranch Seasoning Mix: Find a good-quality ranch seasoning packet, or make your own if you have dried herbs (like parsley, dill and onion powder). This spice blend is all you need to bring out that “crack” flavor in the people!

Full ingredient amounts and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom

Instructions:

Prepare the Filling

Gather: It’s 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie is good for easy and maximum flavor).

Soften Cream Cheese: Make sure the cream cheese is softened before mixing.

Cheddar Cheese: 1 cup, shredded for that sharp, cheesy flavor

Cook Bacon: Cook and crumble ½ cup of bacon for a salty, crunchy texture.

Complete Ranch Seasoning: For that classic “crack” flavor, add 1-2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix.

Add Milk: Add 1 tablespoon of milk so that it becomes creamy and spreadable.

In a big mixing bowl, stir together the shredded chicken, softened cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, ranch seasoning and milk. Mix well, until the filling is creamy and all ingredients are well-combined.

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Spread the Filling

Lay Out the Tortillas: Grab a flavored tortilla (such as spinach or sun-dried tomato) and place it flat on a clean surface.

Fill the Tortilla: Place a good spoonful of the chicken into the center of the tortilla and spread it out. Leave a little border around the edges ώστε not to overflow when rolling.

Roll the Tortillas

Roll Tight: Begin from one edge and roll it up tightly to help the pinwheels keep their shape.

Repeat: Proceed with the remaining tortillas until all are filled and rolled.

Chill the Rolls

Wrap and Refrigerate: Each rolled up tortilla covered in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until firm for easier slicing.

Slice and Serve

Unwrap and Slice: Take the rolls out of the fridge, unwrap them, and cut them into pinwheels ½ inch thick, using a sharp knife, for the cleanest cut.

Arrange and Garnish: Arrange on a platter and garnish with additional green onions or fresh herbs for a pop of color.

Serving Suggestions:

Crack Chicken Pinwheels are versatile in how you serve them:

Party Platter: Arrange them alongside other finger foods, such as mini meatballs, veggie sticks and cheese cubes, for a colorful, crowd-pleasing appetizer spread.

Snack Board: Fans of the snack board should add them to the spread with sliced veggies, chips, dips and an assortment of cheeses. This makes it an easy and impressive board when entertaining.

Light Lunch or Snack: Enjoy a few with a side salad or some fruit for a fast but filling lunch or snack.

Dip-Friendly: Serve with more ranch dressing or a spicy aioli on the side to take it up a notch.

Storage and Meal Prep Tips:

Crack Chicken Pinwheels are super easy to make ahead and store, which makes them ideal if you’re prepping for an event, or in need of a quick grab-and-go snack.

Storage: Store any leftover pinwheels covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for 3 days max.

Make-Ahead: The pinwheels can be assembled a day ahead of time and then wrapped and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to slice and serve.

Freezing: If you want to keep these pinwheels longer than a few days, you can freeze them before you slice them. Wrap each rolled tortilla tightly in plastic and refrigerate in a freezer bag for up to 1 month. Slowly thaw in the refrigerator overnight before slicing.

Reheating: These are best served chilled, but you can warm them slightly in the microwave if you’d like them a touch warmer. But keep in mind that the cream cheese filling is likely to soften, so a few pulses for 5-10 seconds will go a long way.)

Recipe Variations:

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels: Add 1-2 tablespoons buffalo sauce to the filling for a spicy version. This version goes great with extra ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Southwestern Style: Stir in some diced green chilies, black beans, and corn for southwestern flavor. A dash of taco seasoning for added flavor goes a long way.

Turkey and Swiss: Use shredded turkey instead of chicken and Swiss cheese instead of cheddar. Stir in a tablespoon or so of Dijon mustard for more flavor.

Veggie Pinwheels: To make it vegetarian, replace the chicken with diced bell peppers, cucumbers and shredded carrots. You could use a veggie-derived seasoning blend for extra taste.

Greek Style: Replace the cheddar with crumbled feta and stir in some chopped kalamata olives and diced cucumbers for a Greek-style version. You can replace the ranch seasoning with a Mediterranean seasoning or Greek seasoning blend.

Conclusion:

Crack Chicken Pinwheels Filling Your Mouth With Savory Flavors With their customizable ingredients and prep-ahead ease, these pinwheels can become a go-to appetizer or snack in your recipe repertoire. And they’re fun to make and even more fun to eat!

Try these Crack Chicken Pinwheels at your next party or make a batch to snag all week long! They’ll be a big hit, and you’ll feel how easy and satisfying they are to make.