Cheesy Baked Crack Chicken Pinwheels with Bacon
These Crack Chicken Pinwheels are an easy appetizer packed with bold flavors, featuring tender chicken, crispy bacon, ranch seasoning, and sharp cheddar cheese, all wrapped in a soft tortilla.
- Total Time23 minutes
- Yield24 Pinwheels 1x
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
- 2 cups shredded chicken (rotisserie works best)
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 6 strips cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1/4 cup green onions, finely sliced
- 1 small jalapeño, finely diced (optional)
- 4 large flour tortillas
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch seasoning. Stir until smooth.
- Add the shredded chicken, sharp cheddar cheese, cooked bacon, green onions, and jalapeño (if using). Mix until evenly combined.
- Lay a tortilla flat on a cutting board. Add 1/4 of the mixture to the center of the tortilla. Use a rubber spatula or clean hands to spread an even layer of the chicken mixture. Make sure to leave a small border around the edges.
- Roll the tortilla tightly from one end to the other, pressing gently to keep the filling in place.
- Using a sharp knife, slice into 1-inch pinwheels. At this point, you can serve them cold or proceed to the next step for a warm, crispy version.
- (Optional) To bake: Preheat oven to 375°F. Place pinwheels on a baking sheet and bake until golden and crispy. To air fry: Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Arrange pinwheels in a single layer and air fry until crispy and melty.
Notes
Refrigeration: Store leftover tortilla pinwheels in an airtight container with a layer of plastic wrap to keep them fresh. They will stay good in the fridge for up to 2 days. For best texture, slice just before serving.
Reheating (For Baked/Air-Fried Pinwheels): If you baked or air-fried them and want to store leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes or in the oven at 375°F until warm and crispy. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the tortillas soggy.
Make-Ahead: To prepare in advance, roll the tortilla roll, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, use a sharp knife to slice into 1-inch pinwheels.
Freezing: Freezing is not recommended for this recipe, as the cream cheese mixture may become grainy when thawed, and the soft tortilla can turn soggy.
All nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary based on brand of ingredients used and thickness of pinwheels.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer/Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Pinwheels
- Calories: 124
- Sugar: 0.7 g
- Sodium: 203.2 mg
- Fat: 9.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.6 g
- Protein: 4.3 g
- Cholesterol: 24 mg
