Veggie Pinwheels

These veggie pinwheels are one of the best go-to appetizers for any party because they look great and taste amazing! If you want an appetizer that adults and kids will both reach for, this is the recipe you want.

This recipe features my tried and true party winning appetizer known to pack in the flavor and impress with their colorful and fun shape. Say hello to the one and only veggie pinwheels. Keep on reading for party planning tips, ingredient details, and more!

Jump to Recipe

What You Need To Make These Veggie Pinwheels

The ingredients for this recipe are nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, you are likely to find what you need at any grocery store on any given day of the week. I can always count on this appetizer when I don’t want to fuss with finding seasonal or niche ingredients. I know for a fact that my go-to stores carry the basics: veggies, cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch seasoning. Honestly, the older I get the more I appreciate an easy recipe with ingredients that are easy to find.

Here is everything you need to make veggie pinwheels:

• 8 large flour tortillas
• 1.5 blocks of cream cheese. Full fat or lite is up to you! In some cases, your store may only carry one option and either will work
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 packet of ranch seasoning mix
• 1 bell pepper or a handful of mini sweet peppers, chopped
• 1 small head of broccoli, chopped
• Large carrots, chopped
• Shredded cheddar cheese, chopped

Tips For Making The Cream Cheese Veggie Pinwheel Appetizer

1. Finely chopped veggies are best! It’s easier for the tortillas to roll up tightly when the veggie pieces are on the small side. It is nice to get a “crunch” from the small veggies so don’t feel like the veggies need to be too small. Finding that happy medium is key.
2. Flour tortillas are the way to go. I’ve found that flour tortillas are easy to roll up without breaking. Corn tortillas don’t hold very well and will not result in the same outcome as flour tortillas. If you are looking for a gluten free option, you can use specially formulated gluten free tortillas. I have not had a chance to test this recipe with gluten free tortillas yet so I cannot attest to how well they hold up when rolled.
3. Use a thin layer of the mixture when adding to the tortillas. This will help with the rolling process! You want to roll them tight but if too much mixture is added, it will just ooze out at the end.
4. Let the rolls chill in the fridge for at least an hour (2-4 hours recommended if possible) to firm up before slicing into pinwheels. To make sure the rolls hold together while chilling, be sure to wrap each roll in plastic wrap.

The Best Time to Serve Veggie Ranch Pinwheels

A large part of party planning is determining the food and drinks. Having an easy and versatile go-to appetizer like this one can take a lot of the pressure off the decision making process. These can be served at any and every party, but here are some of my favorite parties to bring this appetizer to.

• Super Bowl Party – Finger foods are a game day must. Cream cheese, ranch, and veggies are just what people need. Don’t deprive the people of their needs. 😉
• Christmas Party – Use red and green bell peppers instead of carrots and cheddar cheese to make these festive! Who doesn’t love holiday themed foods?!
• Kids Birthday Party – Let’s be real, not all kids light up with excitement for a veggie tray at a party. But you know what they might get excited about? Food that looks as fun as these. Not that these pack in all kinds of nutritional benefits, but the fact that there’s veggies in here has to count for something, right? I’ll leave that up to you to decide, momma. Just know this is a kid-friendly recipe, most love them!
• Summer & Backyard Parties – These veggie pinwheels can be so refreshing on a summer day. I think it’s fair to assume we all enjoy a cold drink and appetizer when the suns out. It’s also a great opportunity to use crisp, fresh produce from a local farmers market, grocer, or even your backyard. If you grow bell peppers, this is a great appetizer to feature your home-grown produce in.

Veggie Pinwheels Ingredient Recommendations

I’ve said it once and I’ll keep on saying it, this appetizer is so convenient because the ingredients are nothing out of the ordinary. They’re easy to get your hands on. Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be when you’re looking for a very specific item or brand at a store and it’s not there. If you’ve been there and done that, you know the level of frustration I’m talking about.

Thankfully this appetizer uses ingredients that are located in the areas you likely already shop in during a typical grocery run. It really just comes down to personal preference in terms to the types of brands or veggie you.

Tortillas – Signature Select 8 Count Flour Burrito Size

I used these tortillas and they are great for rolling! You can find this specific brand at Jewel Osco or Safeway.

Cream Cheese – Philadelphia 8 oz. Block 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese

When you think cream cheese, I bet Philadelphia comes to mind. But just in case it didn’t, here is the cream cheese I recommend for this appetizer. I like to get the 1/3 less fat version which can be found here at Walmart. Personally, I don’t think the less fat version tastes any different from the original so I prefer to use it when it’s available.

Sour Cream – Daisy Light Sour Cream

Another classic is the Daisy brand. Do a dollop of daisy or about 3/4 cup for this recipe! You can get the regular and light varieties at Walmart, Jewel Osco, and more.

Ranch Seasoning – Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning 1 oz.

This seasoning mix is the most important ingredient in these pinwheels. Regardless of the fillings you prefer, the ranch seasoning is what packs in all the flavor. Without this ingredient, these pinwheels might not be as addicting as they could be!

The last time I made these pinwheels I was heading to a super bowl party at my neighbors house. When I arrived with these in hand, everyone’s first comment was about how beautiful they looked. That’s always a win. If something looks yummy, we all know how bad that makes us want to dig in and try it. Once you get someone’s attention on appearance, you know for a fact that they’re interested in trying it. And once they get to taste it, we want that to keep them coming back for more!

At the Super Bowl party I attended, there were SO many appetizers and most of them were served warm. There was queso, pigs in a blanket, caramelized sausages, warm ham & cheese sliders, and homemade greek chicken wings. Of course there were chips and dip, veggie trays, and fruit but otherwise these veggie pinwheels were one of the only other chilled appetizers. It’s always good to have a balance of warm and cold appetizers and these ranch packed pinwheels definitely helped with that! They were a hit.

Can I Substitute The Veggies For Something Else?

Yes! You can absolutely swap any of the veggies and shredded cheese if you prefer something else. This recipe packs in 3 different veggies but if your preference lies elsewhere, you can cut out a few or all of the veggies. Maybe you’re not a fan of broccoli, in this case you swap it for cauliflower instead. Here are some of my other favorite ways to change up these pinwheels if you’re looking for another option.

1. If you don’t like peppers (regardless of spice level), you can swap them for cucumbers or celery instead
2. If you enjoy a little spice in your food, use shredded pepper jack cheese or a diced jalapeno
3. Don’t really like veggies at all? That’s okay! You can make these with bacon bits, turkey or ham, and cheese instead
4. Where’s my meat lovers? For those that like a little more than veggies and cheese, using bacon, ham, turkey, or any other deli meat of your choice.

If you tried this recipe, let me know how it turned out! What type of pinwheels are your favorite? Share with us in the comments below!