Italian Pinwheel Appetizers: Savory Tortilla Roll-Ups Recipe

Italian pinwheels pack the bold, savory flavors of a BMT sandwich into an easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing roll-up.

These flavorful appetizers are loaded with hard salami, pepperoni, deli ham, and Italian cheeses. A creamy spread made from cream cheese and mayo binds everything together and adds a tangy, rich base. Roasted red peppers, pepperoncini, Italian seasoning, and sliced black olives give the spread a bright, zesty finish.

Fun fact: BMT stands for biggest, meatiest, tastiest.

Why these pinwheels are great

• Quick and simple to assemble.
• Can be prepared ahead of time.
• Perfect for game day, parties, or packed lunches.
• Make a lot at once—ideal for feeding a crowd.
• Easily customizable to suit your favorite sandwich toppings.

How to make Italian pinwheels

Begin by preparing the cheese spread. Beat together an 8-ounce block of softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 2/3 cup chopped roasted red peppers, 2/3 cup chopped pepperoncini (use hot pepperoncini if you like heat), and a drained 2.25-ounce can of sliced black olives.

Assemble the pinwheels:

1. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over five large burrito-sized flour tortillas, spreading thin.
2. Sprinkle about 1/3 cup shredded Italian blend cheese (or mozzarella) on each tortilla.
3. Layer sliced hard salami across each tortilla.
4. Add a layer of pepperoni on top of the salami.
5. Place four slices of deli ham over the pepperoni on each tortilla.
6. Arrange a strip of coarsely chopped romaine lettuce along one edge of each tortilla.
7. Tightly roll each tortilla starting from the edge with the lettuce. Tuck the filling in as you roll to keep it compact.
8. Wrap the rolls and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour to set. When ready to serve, slice into 1-inch rounds with a serrated knife.

Tips for best results

• Use the largest tortillas you can find; burrito-sized works best. If unavailable, lavash flatbread is a suitable substitute.
• A serrated knife gives the cleanest slices without squashing the pinwheels.
• Customize with extra sandwich toppings—sliced red onion, jalapeños, mushrooms, or your favorites.
• For longer storage, omit the lettuce; pinwheels without lettuce will hold up better in the fridge for a day or two.

More snack ideas

Cranberry Meatballs

Southwest Caviar

Chicken Parmesan Sliders

Pickle Thing Dip

Spicy Sriracha Ranch Pretzels

Italian Pinwheels

Italian pinwheels capture the big, bold flavors of a BMT sandwich in a fun roll-up—great for parties and lunchboxes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings: 20

Author: Amy D

Ingredients

Italian Cheese Spread

• 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 2/3 cup chopped roasted red peppers
• 2/3 cup chopped pepperoncini peppers
• 2.25 ounce can sliced black olives, drained

For the pinwheels

• 5 large burrito-size flour tortillas
• 1 2/3 cups shredded Italian blend cheese or mozzarella
• 6 ounce package sliced hard salami
• 6 ounce package sliced pepperoni
• 20 slices deli ham
• 1 small head romaine lettuce, washed and coarsely chopped

Instructions

1. Make the cheese spread by mixing the cream cheese and mayo until smooth. Stir in Italian seasoning, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini, and black olives.
2. Divide the cheese spread among the five tortillas and spread evenly.
3. Top each tortilla with 1/3 cup shredded cheese.
4. Layer hard salami, pepperoni, and ham on each tortilla.
5. Place shredded lettuce along one edge of each tortilla.
6. Roll each tortilla tightly, starting at the edge with the lettuce, tucking in ingredients as needed.
7. Cover and chill the rolls in the refrigerator for one hour.
8. Slice into 1-inch rounds using a serrated knife and serve.

Notes

Stick a toothpick into each slice to serve easily at parties. Substitute or add any favorite sub sandwich toppings to customize the flavor.

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