Go Back
Crack Chicken Pinwheels Recipe – Easy Party Appetizer with Bacon & Ranch..

Crack Chicken Pinwheels

Creamy shredded chicken mixed with cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, and ranch seasoning rolled in flour tortillas and sliced into bite-sized pinwheels. Perfect party appetizer.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 32 pinwheels
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 40

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups cooked chicken shredded, rotisserie works great
  • 1 cup cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
  • 1/2 cup bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1/4 cup green onions chopped
  • 4 large flour tortillas burrito-size
  • fresh parsley for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Sharp serrated knife
  • Plastic wrap
  • Cutting board

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, ranch seasoning mix, crumbled bacon, and chopped green onions. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and the mixture is creamy and uniform, about 2 minutes.
  2. Lay one flour tortilla flat on a clean work surface. If tortillas are cold, let them sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to prevent cracking. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture onto the center and spread it evenly across the entire tortilla surface, leaving about a half-inch border around the edges.
  3. Starting at one end, roll the tortilla tightly, keeping even pressure to prevent filling from squeezing out. The tighter the roll, the better your pinwheels will look when sliced. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
  4. Wrap each rolled tortilla individually in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up the filling. For best results or make-ahead convenience, chill up to 24 hours.
  5. Once chilled, unwrap the rolls and use a sharp serrated knife to slice each one into 1-inch thick pinwheels. Wipe the knife clean between cuts for neatest presentation. You should get about 8 pinwheels per tortilla roll.
  6. Arrange pinwheels on a serving platter cut side up. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving for best flavor.

Notes

These pinwheels can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Best served cold or at room temperature. Not recommended for freezing due to cream cheese texture changes. Customize by adding diced jalapeños, switching to pepper jack cheese, or mixing in fresh spinach. Use pre-cooked bacon to save time.