These chicken bacon ranch pinwheels are a crowd-pleasing treat perfect for any occasion! They seamlessly blend creamy textures with rich, savory flavors.
You’ll love the tender diced chicken, crispy bacon, creamy cheese, and zesty ranch. It’s all rolled in a soft tortilla and chilled to perfection.
These guys are easy to prepare and make an excellent snack or appetizer. They’re a big hit with kids and adults alike.
Why You’ll Love These Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
Perfect for Parties: You can whip these up any time. But honestly, I typically save them for special occasions. They make a great appetizer or finger food for any event or get-together.
Mouthwatering Taste: The rich, creamy blend of chicken, bacon, cheese, and ranch is always delicious.
Time-Saver: Prepare these pinwheels in advance. Then, refrigerate them overnight, so you can focus on other things on the day of your event.
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: Tender, juicy chicken is the protein-packed base of these flavorful pinwheels.
- Thick-Cut Bacon: Cook until it’s extra crispy, then crumble it into small pieces. It adds a smoky, salty, and satisfying depth to the recipe.
- Cream Cheese: For the best flavor, use full-fat, block-style cream cheese. It’s rich, creamy, and delightfully tangy.
- Sharp Cheddar: The ultimate flavor enhancer. It pairs perfectly with the chicken and bacon.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix: A packet of ranch adds a quintessential blend of herbs and spices.
- Large Burrito-Sized Tortillas: The soft wraps hold everything in place.
- Fresh Chives: Though optional, chives’ fresh flavor is perfect in these pinwheels. They also add a pop of color.
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
There are only a handful of steps in this recipe.
1. Combine. Mix the chicken, bacon, cream cheese, cheddar, and ranch until evenly distributed.
2. Spread. Divide the well-mixed spread among the 4 tortillas. Spread it thinly, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Top with sprinkled chopped chives (if using).
3. Roll & Refrigerate. Tightly roll up each tortilla. Then, wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 1 hour or overnight.
5. Slice & Serve. Remove the plastic and slice each roll into 3/4- to 1-inch pinwheels. Arrange on a serving platter, and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
As with most pinwheel recipes, these are easy to make. As a result, I only have a few tips:
- Dice the chicken finely. You can use store-bought rotisserie chicken or cook your own. Either way, be sure to cut it into small pieces. If they’re too large, they won’t roll up inside the tortilla well.
- Bake the bacon. You can fry it, of course. But for the best, crispiest bacon, the oven is the better option.
- Let the cream cheese sit. It needs to soften to room temperature before you use it. Otherwise, it’s far too difficult to stir and mix.
- Put in some elbow grease. Don’t buy pre-shredded cheese. Yes, it’s convenient. But unfortunately, it doesn’t taste as good. Nor will it mix in as nicely as freshly shredded cheese.
- Try fun variations. Swap out the sharp cheddar for another variety. Or use different meats, such as pulled pork. You can also add thinly sliced veggies or different seasonings. Caesar, bleu cheese, and honey mustard all work well.
How to Store
Chicken bacon ranch pinwheels store beautifully, just like most pinwheel recipes. Refrigerating them gives their flavors time to meld.
To Store: Place the pinwheels in an air-tight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate them for up to 4 days.
To Freeze: Wrap the pinwheels in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
36
servings20
minutes137
kcalThese cheesy chicken bacon ranch pinwheels are a guaranteed party pleaser! With a blend of cream cheese and cheddar, they’re full of goodness!
Ingredients
3 chicken breasts, cooked and finely diced
1 pound thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 (1-ounce) packet ranch seasoning mix
4 large burrito-sized tortillas
2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the finely diced chicken, crumbled bacon, softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and ranch seasoning. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Divide the mixture evenly among the 4 tortillas. Spread it in a thin layer, leaving about 1/2 inch border around the edges. Sprinkle chopped chives over the mixture if using.
- Tightly roll up each tortilla, ensuring the filling is evenly distributed.
- Wrap each roll in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. This will allow the flavors to meld and the rolls to firm up.
- When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap. Slice each roll into 3/4- to 1-inch thick pinwheels using a sharp knife.
- Arrange the pinwheels on a serving platter and serve chilled. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store-bought or homemade chicken is fine. Dice either into small bits for ease of rolling.
- Bake the bacon for the crispiest texture. Crumble it finely.
- Set the cream cheese out early to soften.
- Grate the cheese yourself for the best results.
