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Best Ham and Cheese Pinwheels for Easy Lunchboxes

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These ham and cheese pinwheels are quick, easy, and perfect for lunchboxes. Made with simple ingredients like flour tortillas, cream cheese, deli ham, and cheddar, they come together in under 20 minutes and are a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
  • 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
  • 8–10 slices deli ham (Black Forest or honey ham)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (sharp preferred)
  • 2–3 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Soften the cream cheese: Remove from fridge 30 minutes before starting, or microwave in 10-second bursts until soft but not hot.
  2. Mix the filling: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and a pinch of pepper. Stir until smooth.
  3. Fold in the good stuff: Add shredded cheddar cheese and sliced green onions. Fold until evenly distributed.
  4. Prep your tortillas: Lay tortillas flat on a cutting board. If stiff, microwave for 10 seconds wrapped in a damp paper towel.
  5. Spread the filling: Using a rubber spatula, spread an even layer (about ¼ inch thick) of cream cheese mixture over each tortilla, going to the edges.
  6. Layer the ham: Place 2-3 slices of ham over the cream cheese, overlapping slightly for full coverage.
  7. Roll it up tight: Starting at one edge, roll the tortilla tightly but gently, like rolling a sleeping bag.
  8. Wrap and chill: Wrap each rolled tortilla tightly in plastic wrap, twisting the ends. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or freeze for 10 minutes if in a rush).
  9. Slice and serve: Unwrap chilled rolls, slice off uneven ends, then cut into 1-inch pieces using a serrated knife with a sawing motion.
  10. Arrange and pack: Place pinwheels in lunchbox or serving dish. If packing for later, cover with a slightly damp paper towel to prevent drying.

Notes

For best results, let cream cheese truly soften to room temperature. Chill rolls for at least 30 minutes to set the cream cheese and make slicing easier. Use a serrated knife with a sawing motion for clean cuts. The flavors meld and improve overnight.

Nutrition

Keywords: ham and cheese pinwheels, lunchbox recipes, easy appetizers, no-bake snacks, kid-friendly

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/best-ham-and-cheese-pinwheels-for-easy-lunchboxes-54-chars/