Chicken Salad Pinwheels are the perfect appetizer or light lunch for any occasion. With easily available ingredients these are the perfect twist on your classic sandwich recipe!
Chicken Salad Pinwheels really are the super simple recipe you’ve been looking for. Build your favorite chicken salad, wrap it snuggly in a tortilla and you’ve got the perfect party food.
The slightly sweet and salty mayo, juicy chicken, and texture from the almonds and grapes really make these Chicken Salad Rollups stand apart from the rest.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I loooove appetizers. In fact, I may or may not be known to make a meal out of just appetizers. I can’t help it, they’re so delicious and in this case, with these they’re SOOO easy to make into a meal.
But, it’s not just me, there’s something about a good batch of chicken salad that most people love. Anytime I make it, both kids and adults can’t get enough.
Chicken salad has always been a hit with my kids and this recipe doesn’t disappoint either. Plus using this pinwheel recipe is an easy way to get them to devour it!
This is a quick and easy recipe that you can make for potlucks, picnics, gatherings and just at home when that craving calls, which is all the time around here.
Some of our other favorite pinwheel recipes we have on our site include: Mississippi Sin Dip Pinwheels, Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels, and Sausage Dip Pinwheels.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Super simple to make, whip up the salad, spread on a tortilla and roll it up.
- This can easily be doubled to feed a larger crowd.
- These are great to make ahead for different occasions, so less stressful at party time with last-minute things.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (FULL RECIPE AT BOTTOM)
Chicken breasts
Mayonnaise
Green onions
Dried minced onion
Garlic salt
Brown sugar
Red seedless grapes
Almonds
Salt
Pepper
Burrito sized tortillas
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN SALAD PINWHEELS, STEP BY STEP:
- Mix together the mayonnaise and chicken in a large bowl.
- Add in green onions, minced onion, garlic salt, brown sugar, grapes, and almonds to the mixture. Stir up to combine. Taste and add salt and pepper if desired.
- Layout a burrito tortilla on your work surface. Add a quarter of the chicken salad mixture and spread it out. Leave a 1/2 inch border around the end of the tortilla so it doesn’t overflow. Roll the tortilla up tightly into a log and repeat with the remaining chicken salad and tortilla shells.
- Wrap the logs in plastic wrap tightly and fold the ends of the wrap under the logs. Put them in the fridge for 4 hours, or overnight if possible.
- Remove the plastic from the pinwheels and cut them into 1/2 inch slices. Serve and enjoy.
WHAT KIND OF CHICKEN SHOULD I USE?
I like to use shredded chicken breasts. You can bake or boil your chicken and shred it. If you’re looking for simplicity, try using shredded rotisserie chicken.
Feel free to use whatever cut of chicken you like though, breasts aren’t the only option. You can use pulled chicken thighs, drumsticks, tenders, whatever you have on hand.
Think easy, this is a great recipe to use any leftover chicken you have from other recipes.
CAN I MAKE PINWHEELS THE DAY BEFORE?
Yes, that’s one of the things I love most about these Chicken Salad Pinwheels. You can take the stress out of lunch, appetizers for the party, or snack time when you put these on your menu.
Instead of having to wait to the last minute to make something for your guests, you can make these up to 24 hours ahead of time.
In fact, I recommend making them the day before so the chicken salad has time to set a bit and have the flavors marry which then becomes even more flavorful!
CAN I ADD OTHER ADD-INS?
Yes, this recipe is very versatile! You can use other colored grapes (we like the red as it stands out), you can chop up your almonds as well to make them smaller.
Craisins, other nuts, other vegetables etc can be used in this recipe. We love the recipe the way it is but if you have your own favorite chicken salad recipe that you love, feel free to use it!
HOW TO STORE:
These can be stored in an airtight container where they will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
These can also be frozen, place your pinwheels in a freezer container with parchment paper between each layer separating them. They will keep frozen for up to 2 months.
To defrost them, simply remove the container and place it in the refrigerator overnight, serving them cold is best.
TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Use soft and pliable tortillas so they roll easily and won’t crack.
- Don’t overstuff your pinwheels or they’ll be tough to cut and difficult to handle.
- Ensure that you wrap them tightly so they’re easier to slice.
- We find that using a serrated knife to cut these works best!
- Feel free to use different flavors of tortillas, just make sure they’re burrito size.
- Experiment and add in other ingredients like apple bits, raisins or chopped onions, etc for different flavors – these are very adaptable.
- The refrigeration step is imperative. It’s great that you can mix the salad and then make the pinwheels, since you have to let them set in the refrigerator anyway, you can skip the step of chilling the chicken salad on its own.
Looking to take the stress off your plate while finding the perfect appetizer recipe? You have to try these Chicken Salad Pinwheels, they are really flavorful, easy and great for any time.
IF YOU LIKE THIS RECIPE YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
If you’ve tried this CHICKEN SALAD PINWHEELS or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and what shenanigans I’m getting into!
Chicken Salad Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts boneless skinless, finely shredded
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- ½ cup thinly sliced red seedless grapes
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 burrito sized tortillas
Instructions
- Mix together the mayonnaise and chicken in a large bowl.
- Add in green onions, minced onion, garlic salt, brown sugar, grapes, and almonds to the mixture. Stir up to combine. Taste and add salt and pepper if desired.
- Layout a burrito tortilla on your work surface. Add a quarter of the chicken salad mixture and spread it out. Leave a 1/2 inch border around the end of the tortilla so it doesn't overflow. Roll the tortilla up tightly into a log and repeat with the remaining chicken salad and tortilla shells.
- Wrap the logs in plastic wrap tightly and fold the ends of the wrap under the logs. Put them in the fridge for 4 hours, or overnight if possible.
- Remove the plastic from the pinwheels and cut them into 1/2 inch slices. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Use soft and pliable tortillas so they roll easily and won't crack.
- Don't overstuff your pinwheels or they'll be tough to cut and difficult to handle.
- Ensure that you wrap them tightly so they're easier to slice.
- We find that using a serrated knife to cut these works best!
- Feel free to use different flavors of tortillas, just make sure they're burrito size.
- Experiment and add in other ingredients like apple bits, raisins or chopped onions, etc for different flavors - these are very adaptable.
- The refrigeration step is imperative. It’s great that you can mix the salad and then make the pinwheels, since you have to let them set in the refrigerator anyway, you can skip the step of chilling the chicken salad on its own.
Nutrition
Tornadough Alli is not a nutritionist or dietitian, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and nutritional value is important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and values can vary depending on which brands were used.
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