Description
Delicious and easy Ranch Pinwheels featuring a creamy ranch-flavored spread with cheddar cheese, bell pepper, and green onions rolled into tortillas or baked puff pastry. Perfect as a no-bake appetizer or a crispy baked snack, with optional add-ins like chicken, black olives, or spinach for extra flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream or mayonnaise
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- Optional: chopped cooked chicken, black olives, or spinach
Base
- Large flour tortillas (for no-bake version) or puff pastry sheets (for baked version)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ranch Filling: In a mixing bowl, blend the softened cream cheese, sour cream or mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning mix until you achieve a smooth and consistent mixture.
- Add Fillings: Gently fold in the shredded cheddar cheese, diced red bell pepper, and chopped green onions to the ranch mixture. If desired, add chopped cooked chicken, black olives, or spinach to customize your pinwheels.
- Make No-Bake Tortilla Pinwheels: Spread the ranch mixture evenly over large flour tortillas. Carefully roll each tortilla tightly to ensure the filling stays inside, then wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour to firm up.
- Slice and Serve Tortilla Pinwheels: After chilling, slice each rolled tortilla into 1-inch pinwheel pieces. Arrange on a serving platter and serve immediately or keep chilled until ready to eat.
- Prepare for Baked Puff Pastry Pinwheels: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface.
- Assemble Puff Pastry Pinwheels: Spread the ranch cream cheese mixture evenly over the puff pastry. Sprinkle any additional desired fillings on top. Roll the puff pastry sheet tightly into a log and slice into 1-inch thick pinwheel pieces.
- Bake Puff Pastry Pinwheels: Place the sliced pinwheels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spaced slightly apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and crispy.
- Cool and Serve Baked Pinwheels: Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, omit optional cooked chicken.
- Use mayonnaise instead of sour cream if preferred for a slightly different flavor and texture.
- The no-bake tortilla version is perfect for quick prep and cooler snacks, while the puff pastry version provides a delightful crispy texture.
- Store any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- You can customize pinwheels with additional vegetables or herbs according to taste.
