Introduction

Cheesy Taco Pinwheels are a flavorful and fun appetizer or snack that’s easy to make. Combining seasoned ground beef, creamy cheese, and melted cheddar wrapped in tortillas, these pinwheels bring a tasty twist to your taco night.

The image shows a stack of around nine golden-brown pinwheel snacks on a round white plate, each piece made of a rolled flatbread filled with a cooked, crumbly meat mixture and slightly browned edges. The pinwheels have a spiral shape with visible layers of dough and the seasoned meat inside, with the outer dough layer having a light, flaky texture. In the background, there are blurred small bowls—one filled with green guacamole and another with red salsa—both sitting on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

½ pound ground beef
2 tablespoons taco seasoning

3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 tablespoon sour cream

Salt, to taste
2 large flour tortillas

¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Step 1: Brown the ground beef in a small skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks until fully cooked through.
Step 2: Drain any grease from the skillet, then add ¼ cup of water and the taco seasoning. Stir to combine and cook for 5 to 10 minutes until the liquid has evaporated.

Step 3: Transfer the seasoned beef to a bowl, add the cream cheese and sour cream, and mash everything together with a fork until well combined. Taste and add salt if needed.
Step 4: Spread the mixture evenly over each tortilla, covering the surface to the edges.
Step 5: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly across each tortilla, then roll each tortilla up tightly.

Step 6: Trim the edges off the tortillas to clean them up, then slice each rolled tortilla into 5 pinwheel pieces using a sharp knife.
Step 7: Place the pinwheels in a single even layer in an air fryer basket and cook at 370°F (188°C) for 5 minutes until the cheese melts and edges are golden.
Step 8: Serve the pinwheels immediately while warm and gooey.

Tips & Variations

For extra heat, add diced jalapeños to the beef mixture or sprinkle them on before rolling.
Use flour tortillas with spinach or sun-dried tomato for added flavor and color.
If you don’t have an air fryer, bake the pinwheels in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes.

Swap ground beef for cooked shredded chicken or turkey for a lighter option.

Storage

Store leftover pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm them in the air fryer or oven until heated through and the cheese is melty again. Avoid microwaving to keep the tortillas from becoming soggy.

How to Serve

A baking tray lined with light beige parchment paper holds twelve small spiral rolls arranged close together. Each roll has two visible layers: a golden brown outer dough layer that is soft and slightly crispy at the edges, and an inner filling layer that is a mix of browned ground meat, melted cheese with orange and yellow hues, and some darker baked spots. The rolls vary slightly in size and shape but all have a rustic, homemade look with gooey melted cheese and meat filling oozing slightly onto the parchment. The tray is set against a white marbled texture surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these pinwheels ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the pinwheels and keep them wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge for a few hours before cooking. Just add a minute or two to the cooking time if warming from cold.

Can I freeze the pinwheels?

These pinwheels freeze well before cooking. Place the rolled and sliced pinwheels in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze, then transfer to a freezer bag. Cook from frozen, adding a few minutes to the air fryer or oven time.