Switch up the usual sandwich for these easy turkey pinwheels!
If you’ve had pinwheels before, you know how popular they can be with kids and adults, and I’ve spruced up the classic recipe with fresh ingredients and creamy hummus for a healthy lunch option that fits perfectly in a lunchbox.
Healthy Turkey Pinwheels Recipe
Healthy turkey pinwheels are made with fresh veggies, sliced turkey, and creamy hummus rolled into a soft flour tortilla.
To make this recipe more nutritious than the original version, I swapped out the cream cheese for hummus, which is lower in fat and more flavorful. The addition of carrots and spinach brings volume and fiber to every bite.
Even with the extra greenery, these turkey pinwheels still disappear quickly from the lunchbox. And if this recipe is a hit with your family, give the Avocado Bacon Pinwheels a try!
What are Pinwheels
Classic pinwheels consist of a cream cheese base, deli meat, and more cheese rolled up tightly in a tortilla, then sliced into rounds.
Pinwheels have a small, round shape, making them easy to pick up and eat with your fingers, which makes them a great option for party appetizers and, in this case, packed lunches.
If this recipe is a breath of fresh air, you’ll love what’s inside the 101 Packed Lunches eBook. You’ll find much more than sandwiches and wraps; it includes hot lunch ideas, soups, epic salads, and incredible power bowls- all of which anyone can enjoy from school or the office.
101 Packed Lunches eBook
All my best kid-friendly lunches from over a decade of creating meal plans. Add some variety to your child’s lunchbox with these epic lunches, plus receive my Pack Meals Like a Pro ebook, free with purchase!
Turkey Pinwheel Ingredients
The ingredients for these healthy turkey pinwheels are simple; you’ll need the following items:
- large tortillas: whole grain, white, spinach, whatever you keep on hand.
- hummus: acts as a “glue” and holds the pinwheels together.
- spinach: for extra fiber and vitamins.
- deli turkey: provides these pinwheels with satiating protein. Swap it out for deli ham or chicken.
- shredded carrots: for extra crunch and veg.
How to Make Turkey Pinwheels
Pinwheels are just as easy to make as the usual wrap and burrito. The only extra step is slicing them into the rounds or “wheels” let me show you how it’s done.
- Make a base
Spread the hummus over the tortilla. - Add the fillings
Top the tortilla with spinach, sliced turkey, and shredded carrots. - Roll and slice
Beginning on one end, tightly roll the tortilla. Slice in half, and then in 1-inch pieces.
You can also watch this quick video to see the entire process from start to finish:
Can You Make Turkey Hummus Pinwheels Ahead?
Pinwheels are a great lunch to make the night before, and I find they taste even better the next day. Over time, the tortilla absorbs the hummus flavors while the ingredients ‘meld’ together.
If you want to make this recipe ahead, don’t slice the wrap until you are ready to pack it into a lunch container. The sliced pinwheels will dry out overnight. Instead, cover the wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the next morning.
How to Pack Pinwheels for Lunch
To keep pinwheels fresh and intact, pack them into a small compartment of a lunch container. Otherwise, it’s easy for them to get smashed or jostled when packed in plastic bags or large containers.
Easy Lunchboxes or bento boxes come with compartments and are what I typically use to pack this recipe and all sorts of lunches.
PrintEasy Turkey Pinwheels
Try these turkey pinwheels made with fresh veggies and hummus for a healthy packed lunch!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1
- Category: Lunches
Ingredients
- 1 large whole grain tortilla
- 1 tablespoon hummus
- Handful spinach or mixed greens
- 2–3 slices deli turkey
- Shredded or matchstick carrots
Instructions
- Place the tortilla on a flat surface. Spread hummus, top with field greens, place turkey slices on top and sprinkle carrots over the turkey.
- Beginning on one end, roll the tortilla tightly. Slice in half, and then in one-inch pieces.
Equipment
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Notes
You can make the wrap the night before, refrigerate, and reserve slicing into pinwheels prior to packing the lunchbox in the morning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7-8 pinwheels
- Calories: 247
- Sugar: 4.9 g
- Sodium: 738.9 mg
- Fat: 6.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29.8 g
- Fiber: 6.7 g
- Protein: 18.3 g
- Cholesterol: 25.1 mg
Leah
I put lots of different kinds of fresh fruit in my son’s lunchbox. He loves it and I love that he’s eating something nutritious, but still getting that sweetness he likes. I also cut his sandwich into shapes or draw a smiley face in it with a toothpick and ketchup. He loves that.
Liza
I would Love to win the Bentology lunch box!! An easy lunch recipe I do for my daugher are Jelly Roll Ups.
2 pieces of whole wheat bread with crusts cut off, then roll then out flat with a rolling pin.
Smear a layer of cream cheese
Add about 1 tsp jelly/jam
Then roll up and enjoy
Nicole
I have both your cookbooks and appreciate the incorporation of fresh fruits and veggies with fantastic ideas for school lunches. Last year my daughter was cycling between 3 different lunch options…boring! May favorite so far is hawaiian pinwheels, oatmeal muffins, grilled italian. I am just getting started and so excited to make more creations. And my daughter seems to appreciate the variety as well!
Christina Struik
My kids discovered cucumbers when they were from the garden and sprinkled with black pepper and Parmesan cheese. This works well in a lunch box. Kitchen tip: if you need to eat gluten free and vegetarian (or vegan) you can wrap your lentil “sausages” in those round rice paper wraps to fry them and keep their shape without affecting the flavour much. These work well in a lunch box too! I think your recipe would work well with nori wraps instead of wheat wraps as well.
★★★★★
Adriane Fitzhugh
I use these to lunch prep for my husband. Then he can just grab and go in the morning and is ready for lunch time!!
Carole S
Our 5 year old loves seeing pictures we took during our summer break. I print a few out for the week and slip them in her lunch box along with her favorite foods.
Stacy
I love using the silicone muffin cups and the silicone ice pop makers. Some of my three boys favorites are ‘apple sandwiches,’ wraps and frozen organic peas.
Alicia
My 7yr old still enjoys nutella sandwiches cut with different shaped mini cutters.
Karen
One of my kids favorite this past year was what we call the “Nacho box.” I would give them frozen pre-cooked chicken strips from Trader Joes, frozen corn, beans, shredded cheese and salsa. By lunch time all the frozen items were room temp, and with a bag of tortilla chips on the side, it was a total success! They also really enjoyed having quesadillas instead of the chips.
Thank you for what you do. Your book and blog have given me the desire to branch out from a very boring lunch routine! My kids are so grateful and excited to see what are in their lunch containers now.
Heather Benes
Hello. I like to fill my kids lunchboxes with homemade “Lunchables”. I find the food in the pre-packaged/pre-made lunchables gross (texture and ingredients) so I make up my own. My kids love it because I can customize the crackers, cheese and meat to what my children like. I also include some sort of cookie or small piece of candy because that is the treat they can have after they’ve eaten the rest of the meal (at least I hope they eat the rest of the meal first!). I really need to invest in some new lunch containers because right now I’m using some leftover plastic boxes from deli meat to put my lunches in. I would like to invest in ones that have the dividers so that it will keep the food apart from each other and fresh. I really like what you use on your website…I have them added to my Amazon wish list. Thank you!
Arissa
I like making mini pizzas with spinach and pepperoni on a whole wheat mini pita. Of course we use fresh mozzarella. I buy an eight pack of pitas and make them all at once. I freeze them separated by wax paper and then take them out the night before. I think the Easy Lunch box would work so well with our family. Thanks Laura for all your ideas!
Andrea
So excited about your give away! I am overweight and REALLY trying to eat healthy, sensible meals. I like divided containers for portion control. I love filling my container with cut up fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese or yogurt, and leftovers.
Sara
baby bagels with cream cheese & strawberry jam. Kiwis are always a big hit.
Molly
I love to make octo-dogs: Hot dogs cut in half then each half gets 4 cuts in the bottom half. When you boil them they cuts curl up into legs. My kids have loved these for years.
Kathy
My daughter loves fried rice (eggs, ham and lettuce) and tortilla. Combine the two and it’s a fried rice burrito.
Stephanie
I put little notes in their lunchboxes. There is always alot to choose from – and I’ve found that even leftovers work well. It’s gotten to the point now that even if I say I’ll give the kids money for lunch they don’t want to buy it because they like mine better. YEA! a win in my book 😉
Amy
My favorite lunch tip is using toothpicks…..just plain…. to create kabab picks! My kids are not big sandwich people so I will make stacks of meat, veggies, and cheese on toothpicks and they love it. And so many opportunities for variety:)
lemon
My kids love wraps. I use different fun themed plastic tooth picks (inserted at an angle so lids close) to keep them closed
Erica K.
I am a teacher and my lunch time is actually brunch, so I love breakfast. I make a big batch of breakfast taquitos, freeze them, and then they are easy to grab and go. I bake them so they are healthier, and I can mix up the ingredients, so I won’t get bored. Plus the egg is a great source of protein and fills me up.
★★★★★
Tara
When something calls for shredded zucchini, I use my spiral funnel slicer, and then cut it smaller with a knife. Then I don’t have juice or little pieces of zucchini making a mess on my counters and floors.