Appetizers, picnics or lunch boxes, these turkey pesto tortilla roll ups are a healthy and easy way to change up lunchtime or feed a crowd.
Turkey Pesto Tortilla Roll Ups Recipe
When I made a batch of whipped pesto cream cheese spread the other day, I knew it was headed straight for these tortilla roll ups. Nothing spruces up simple wrap sandwiches better than a flavored cream cheese, lentil hummus or yogurt sauce. While these pinwheel sandwiches are packed with turkey, olives, peppers, spinach and the pesto cream cheese, they are easily switched up to suit your preferences. Keep reading for more variations, both meat and meatless!
If you're thinking that pinwheel sandwiches are just for lunches, think again! Whenever we set out a platter on the appetizer table, usually with three or four variations, or serve them at a game day party, they always disappear quickly.
That being said, they are fantastic for packing into picnic baskets or lunch boxes. Pack them alongside a tuna pasta salad and watermelon slices for an epic picnic meal!
Other variations for tortilla roll ups:
- Vegetarian #1: Vegetarian Pesto & Olive Pizza Roll-Ups
- Vegetarian #2: Another favorite combo is hummus (any flavor), roasted peppers, chopped artichoke hearts and feta cheese.
- Southwestern: Make an easy chipotle cream cheese by whipping chipotle peppers (go easy- they're spicy!) and lime juice with cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese.
- Harvest turkey: My family loves this one! Sliced turkey, sliced apples, Cheddar cheese and lettuce.
How to make pinwheel sandwiches:
- Start with the wrap. I typically use tortillas, but lavash bread or other thin wrap breads work equally well. Stick with whole wheat or regular tortillas, or change things up by using flavored ones, such as spinach or tomato basil.
- Spread it on! The cream cheese, hummus, pesto, mayo, mustard or yogurt sauce, that is. Use flavored cream cheese or yogurt sauces, or try different types of pesto to switch up the flavor profile. I found a tomato hazelnut pesto last week that would be perfect on roll up sandwiches!
- Time to layer. Meat, cheese, veggies, sliced fruit (apple and pear slices are great in sandwiches), olives, pickles and so on and so on... Make it meatless or pack it with your favorite meat. The possibilities are endless, so use your imagination!
- Starting at one side, tightly roll up the topped tortillas, taking care not to tear the tortillas.
- Tightly wrap the roll ups in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for an hour or so. I find that this allows the roll ups to really stick together, making it easier to slice them (and keep them together).
- Unwrap the roll ups. Using a sharp knife, slice off the unfilled/loose ends, then slice the rest of the rollups into rounds.
- Arrange them on an appetizer tray or tuck them into lunch boxes.
Other easy bite-sized appetizer recipes:
Prosciutto & Goat Cheese Cucumber Appetizers {Cookin' Canuck}
Baked Zucchini Hummus Bites {Cookin' Canuck}
Mini Chicken Enchilada Cups {Recipe Runner}
Mango Coconut Shrimp Pops {Jeanette's Healthy Living}
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Turkey Pesto Tortilla Roll Ups
Ingredients
- 4 tortillas (high fiber, low carb)*
- 6 tablespoons whipped pesto cream cheese spread
- 16 slices turkey deli meat**
- ⅓ cup sliced black olives
- ½ red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 ⅓ cups (packed) spinach leaves
Instructions
- Spread 1 ½ tablespoons of the cream cheese on each tortilla, spreading to the edges.
- Top each tortilla with 4 slices of the turkey meat. Divide the black olives, bell pepper slices and spinach leaves between the 4 tortillas.
- Roll up each tortilla fairly tightly, taking care not to rip the tortillas or push out the ingredients.
- Tightly wrap each roll up in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Unwrap the roll ups. Using a sharp knife, slice off and discard (or snack on!) the end pieces that don't contain fillings. Slice each roll up into 6 equal rounds. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Christina
These are gorgeous and delicious! I love how you can play with the fillings!
Noelle
These make the perfect lunch! I love this recipe, so quick and easy!
Rocky Mountain Woman
These look perfect for a July picnic!