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    Home » Main Course » Easy Taco Pinwheels

    Easy Taco Pinwheels

    Published: Jul 9, 2021 · Modified: Dec 2, 2021 by Anne Clark · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Use your leftover taco meat for these easy taco pinwheels! Filled with a mixture of taco meat, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, diced red and green bell peppers! They only take about 15 minutes to put together.  Place them in your lunch box with chips, guacamole, and fresh fruit for your new favorite meal prep.

    sliced taco pinwheels in lunch box with guacamole, chips, strawberries, and blueberries
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Easy Taco Pinwheels
    • What Goes Into This Recipe
    • How to Make Easy Taco Pinwheels
    • Tips and Variations 
    • What to Serve with Pinwheels
    • Vegan, Nut Free, and Dairy Free Variations
    • Frequently Asked Questions 
    • How Long Will These Last in the Fridge? 
    • More Easy Recipes to Try
    • Recipe

    Why You'll Love This Easy Taco Pinwheels

    Prep Time - These taco pinwheels only take 15 minutes to prepare!  Change out the mix-ins and create a different taco pinwheel every week, and add these to your dinner rotation 🙂 

    Easy Meal Prep - Use your leftover taco meat to make these pinwheels!  Place them in a lunch box along with some extra salsa, chips, and maybe a side of fruit or some more guacamole.  

    Make Ahead - Next time you make taco meat, double up on the recipe. You’ll want extra taco meat to make these amazing taco pinwheels. Fun for game day snacks, too!

    What Goes Into This Recipe

    ingredients measured out and laid out on countertop

    Large flour tortillas - use low carb tortillas if you're watching carb intake

    Cream cheese (softened) - set cream cheese on the countertop to soften which makes it easier to spread

    Leftover cooked and seasoned taco meat - about a cup is what you need for this recipe (if you don't have any "leftover" taco meat, you can make a fresh batch and freeze the remaining taco meat for later use, or make a double batch of pinwheels).  Alternatively, you can use leftover fajita meat.

    Shredded cheese - cheddar or Mexican blend is the best!

    Diced red and green bell peppers adds a nice fresh crunch and color.  Leave them out if you don't like them!

    Guacamole, salsa, and sour cream for serving (if desired) - if you can find the individual cups of these, they're so much easier to pack in a lunch box.

    How to Make Easy Taco Pinwheels

    (1) Mix cream cheese, meat, shredded cheese, red and green bell pepper together until combined. 

    (2) Evenly spread ⅓ to ½ cup of the cream cheese mixture onto the flour tortilla.

    (3) Roll tortillas up tightly and wrap each tortilla in plastic wrap to chill in the refrigerator overnight.

    (4) The next morning, before school or work, slice each tortilla into 1-½ inch pinwheels and place them in a bento lunch box like the one I use. Add guacamole, salsa, or other condiments into these amazing condiment cups.

    Tips and Variations 

    Switch out the taco meat for leftover fajita chicken (these are delicious, too!).

    Use spinach wraps instead of flour tortillas.

    Don’t overstuff or your tortilla or wrap may rip.

    Change up the taco mix-ins. A couple of my family's favorite mix-ins are lettuce, black olives, tomatoes, and my husband even loves to add some mango to his!

    You’ll want to store your taco pinwheels overnight in the fridge to keep them cold and in the fridge or with an ice pack until you are ready to devour them at lunchtime! I recommend storing taco pinwheels in an airtight container as well until you are ready to eat them. This will help keep moisture out so they do not become a soggy mess. 

    You’ll also want to keep the condiments like the guacamole and salsa separate as well. These Condiment cups work well for keeping these extras apart from the taco pinwheels. 

    What to Serve with Pinwheels

    Taco pinwheels make a perfect main course for your lunch. But everyone loves a side. Tortilla chips and salsa are great choices. You can add in some leftover Mexican rice.  

    A slice of Mexican Cornbread is a tasty addition to these pinwheels.  Other great sides for these taco pinwheels are fruit, a clementine, or blueberries and strawberries!

    Vegan, Nut Free, and Dairy Free Variations

    You can make taco pinwheels vegan by using tofu instead of meat. Almost all taco meat seasonings are vegan which makes it super easy to create a vegan taco pinwheel. 

    Frequently Asked Questions 

    Can I make these in advance?

    Of course, but don’t make them more than 24 hours in advance. 

    Do the taco pinwheels get soggy?

    Yes, the taco pinwheels will get soggy if you do not eat them within 24 hours.  

    Do you have to soften the cream cheese?

    Yes, you will want to soften it to make it easier to spread on the wrap.  

    What are some other taco mix-ins?

    Pretty much anything you love in a normal taco will work in a taco pinwheel! Olives, tomatoes, lettuce, and rice are just a few suggestions. If you have tried other favorites. Leave them in the comments below!

    How Long Will These Last in the Fridge? 

    You can keep the cooked taco meat safely in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I wouldn’t make the taco pinwheels until you are ready to eat them within 24 hours though! 

    3 compartment lunch box with taco pinwheels, guacamole cup, corn chips, and fresh fruit

    More Easy Recipes to Try

    • Lazy Enchiladas
    • Easy Rotisserie Chicken Quesadillas
    • Crock Pot Mexican Casserole
    • Cast Iron Jalapeno Cornbread

    Need more great recipe ideas?  Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram to get more delicious recipe ideas in your feed.

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    Recipe

    sliced taco pinwheels in lunch box with guacamole, chips, strawberries, and blueberries

    Easy Taco Pinwheels

    Taco pinwheels only take minutes to make! Even if you decide to change out the mix-ins and create a different taco pinwheel every time!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin For Later Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 522kcal
    Author: Anne Clark

    Equipment

    • mixing bowl
    • measuring cup(s)

    Ingredients

    • 4-6 large flour tortillas
    • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
    • 1 cup leftover cooked & seasoned taco meat
    • 1 cup shredded cheese
    • ½ cup diced red bell pepper
    • ½ cup diced green bell pepper
    • guacamole, salsa, and sour cream for serving, if desired

    Instructions

    • Mix cream cheese, taco meat, shredded cheese, red and green bell pepper together until combined.
    • Evenly spread ⅓ to ½ cup of the cream cheese mixture onto the flour tortilla.
    • Roll tortillas up tightly and wrap each tortilla in plastic wrap to chill in the refrigerator overnight.
    • In the morning, before work or school, slice each tortilla into 1-½ inch pinwheels and place in the lunch box.

    Notes

    You’ll want to store your taco pinwheels overnight in the fridge to keep them cold and in the fridge or with an ice pack until you are ready to devour them at lunchtime! I recommend storing taco pinwheels in an airtight container as well until you are ready to eat them. This will help keep moisture out so they do not become a soggy mess. 
    You’ll also want to keep the condiments like the guacamole and salsa separate as well. These Condiment cups work well for keeping these extras apart from the taco pinwheels. 
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mykitchenserenity or tag #mykitchenserenity on Instagram!!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 522kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 653mg | Potassium: 369mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1661IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 242mg | Iron: 3mg
    « The Best Cheesecake Topping Ideas
    Easy Rotisserie Chicken Quesadillas »

    About Anne Clark

    Hi! I'm Anne, the founder and content creator at My Kitchen Serenity, a food blog focused on serving the needs of busy moms and dads who are looking for easy and delicious recipes for the family.

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    Hi. I’m Anne and I’m happy to share with you my easy, family-friendly recipes. I’ve been cooking for my family for 30 years, and what I’ve learned is that most busy families appreciate easy homemade meals. Now that the kids are grown, my passion is creating and sharing flavorful food for you and your family to enjoy as well. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] 

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