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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.
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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.
Easy Turkey Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 large whole grain tortilla
- 1 tablespoon hummus
- 1 handful 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.
Leah says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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!!