Description
These Chicken Salad Pinwheels are a delightful and easy-to-make appetizer or light meal that combines shredded chicken, sweet grapes, crunchy pecans, and celery in a creamy lemon-mayo dressing, all wrapped in soft flour tortillas with crisp lettuce. Perfect for parties, lunches, or snacks, they offer a refreshing and satisfying bite with minimal prep time.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Salad
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- ¾ cup red grapes, halved
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup celery, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Wraps
- 3 large flour tortillas
- 6 to 8 leafy lettuce leaves
- Optional: fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and fresh lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to your preference to create a balanced, creamy dressing base.
- Combine salad ingredients: Add the shredded chicken, halved grapes, chopped pecans, and thinly sliced celery to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Prepare tortillas: Lay one large flour tortilla flat on a clean work surface or cutting board. Place 2 to 3 leafy lettuce leaves across the center of the tortilla, forming a base for the filling.
- Assemble pinwheels: Spoon about one-third of the chicken salad mixture over the lettuce layer and spread it evenly across the tortilla, leaving some space at the edges.
- Roll the tortilla: Carefully roll the tortilla tightly into a log shape, ensuring the filling stays compact inside. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas and filling.
- Chill the pinwheels: Place the rolled tortillas in the freezer for approximately 15 minutes. This step firms them up, making slicing easier and cleaner.
- Slice into pinwheels: Remove the logs from the freezer and slice each into ½- to 1-inch thick pinwheels. Wipe the knife clean between cuts to maintain neat edges on each piece.
- Serve and garnish: Arrange the pinwheels on a serving platter, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve immediately. Alternatively, refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Use rotisserie or leftover cooked chicken to save time.
- For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Add chopped fresh herbs like dill or chives for extra flavor.
- These pinwheels can be made a few hours ahead and kept refrigerated, but slice just before serving for best presentation.
- Gluten-free tortillas can be used as a substitute if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Chicken salad, pinwheels, appetizer, easy recipe, party snacks, chicken wraps, no-cook, quick lunch
