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The Ultimate Easy Cheesy Taco Pinwheels (Make Ahead Party Appetizer)

A stack of freshly made taco pinwheels filled with seasoned ground beef and melted cheddar cheese, garnished with green onions.
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Make these easy, cheesy taco pinwheels for a crowd-pleasing party appetizer. They are quick to prepare and perfect for game days or Taco Tuesday snacks.

Ingredients

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  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup cooked ground beef or chicken
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning mix
  • 1/2 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 1/4 cup sliced black olives, drained
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeños (optional)
  • 10 large (10-inch) flour tortillas

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and taco seasoning mix. Mix until smooth.
  2. Stir in the cooked ground beef or chicken, shredded cheese, black olives, green onions, and jalapeños, if using. Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
  3. Lay one flour tortilla flat on a clean surface. Spread about 1/10th of the meat and cheese mixture evenly over the entire surface of the tortilla, leaving a small border around the edges.
  4. Starting from one edge, tightly roll up the tortilla into a log shape.
  5. Wrap the rolled tortilla tightly in plastic wrap. Repeat this process for the remaining nine tortillas.
  6. Refrigerate the wrapped logs for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours, to allow them to firm up. This step is key for clean slicing.
  7. When ready to serve, unwrap the chilled logs. Use a sharp knife to slice each log into 1-inch thick pinwheels.
  8. Arrange the bite-sized taco treats on a serving platter. Serve immediately as a finger food for your party.

Notes

  • For make-ahead party food, you can prepare the filling up to two days in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator.
  • If you prefer a spicier flavor, add a dash of hot sauce to the cream cheese mixture.
  • These pinwheels are great served with salsa or guacamole for dipping.
  • If you use puff pastry instead of tortillas, bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/taco-pinwheels-easy-cheesy-appetizer-recipe/