Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels (Easy Appetizer Recipe!)

Name: Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese (softened); ⅓ cup buffalo sauce; 1 1/2 teaspoons ranch seasoning; 2 cups shredded cooked chicken; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 3 green onions (thinly sliced (around 3 tablespoons)); 4 large (10-inch) flour tortillas

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Shredded chicken, spicy buffalo sauce, and tangy ranch and cream cheese are rolled into tortillas in this easy buffalo chicken pinwheels recipe. Prep these savory bites in about 15 minutes and let them chill for as little as an hour or as long as a day before slicing and enjoying. They’re the perfect tailgating snack or party appetizer!

Overhead view of buffalo chicken pinwheels arranged next to a ramekin of ranch dressing on a white platter.

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We love a good pinwheel around here. We’ve been obsessed with my grandma’s cream cheese ranch roll ups recipe for years, and I’ll never turn down a plate of pimento cheese pinwheels.

I’ve even gone the baked puff pastry route and made hot ham and cheese pinwheels.

There’s just something that feels quintessentially Midwestern about a pinwheel appetizer. Is it the most authentic use of a tortilla? Nope. Do we care when there’s cheese and/or ranch of any sort involved? No we do not.

These buffalo chicken pinwheels are the perfect way to combine two party favorites into one perfect bite. Not to mention that they’re quick and easy and perfect for prepping ahead of time.

Close up of buffalo chicken pinwheel slices stacked on a white plate next to celery sticks.

What are buffalo chicken pinwheels?

If you’re not from around here (*gestures vaguely at the Midwest*), you might not be familiar with the concept of tortilla pinwheels.

Pinwheels are what you get when you roll any combination of ingredients into a large tortilla. They’re most often savory, usually with some kind of cheese and/or meat involved. After rolling up the tortillas, you slice them into pieces that look like—you guessed it—pinwheels.

These buffalo chicken pinwheels turn everyone’s favorite buffalo chicken dip into a handheld, bite-size appetizer. You get all of the flavors of the dip and buffalo chicken wings—chicken, hot sauce, and cooling ranch—rolled into pinwheels for the perfect party appetizer.

Make this one for game day, movie nights, graduation parties, or just because.

Sliced buffalo chicken pinwheels arranged on a white platter.

Stephie’s testing notes

Use room-temperature cream cheese: It will mix much more smoothly with the buffalo sauce.
Finely shredded chicken is the way to go: It will distribute more evenly throughout the filling, so you get the perfect bite every time.
Avoid over-filling the tortillas: If you add too much filling, it’ll squeeze out while rolling.

Ingredients for buffalo chicken pinwheels arranged on a countertop.

Ingredient notes

For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card.

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Cream cheese: Make sure to set this out ahead of time so it can come to room temperature before mixing the filling.
Buffalo sauce: You can make homemade buffalo sauce, but you don’t need to. Your favorite bottled version works great.
Ranch seasoning: Use store-bought or use homemade ranch seasoning.
Shredded chicken: I typically use finely shredded rotisserie chicken, but canned chicken will also work in a pinch!
Shredded cheddar cheese: Shred your own or use the bagged stuff. Monterey jack, pepper jack, or mozzarella cheese would also be delicious.
Green onions: Thinly sliced. Fresh chives would also work.
Flour tortillas: Look for the burrito-size tortillas; these are usually around 10 inches in diameter.

Shredded chicken, shredded cheese, and sliced green onions added to a mixing bowl.

Large flour tortilla spread with buffalo chicken filling.

Make-ahead and storage tips

These buffalo chicken pinwheels need to chill for at least an hour for the filling to firm up, which makes slicing easier. But you can prepare them up to a day ahead of time and keep them wrapped in the fridge until you’re ready to slice and serve.

Leftover pinwheels can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I recommend separating layers with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.

I do not recommend freezing, as the cream cheese can separate during thawing.

Close up of buffalo chicken pinwheel slices, showing the pinwheel pattern in the roll ups.

Additions and flavor variations

Consider the recipe in the card below to be a starting point. You can make a few different or additions as desired:

For a lighter filling, replace 2-4 ounces of the cream cheese with plain Greek yogurt. Keep in mind that the filling won’t firm up as much during chilling.
Use spinach, whole wheat, or red pepper tortilla wraps for extra color and flavor.
If you enjoy celery sticks with your buffalo wings or buffalo dip, add up to 1/3 cup finely diced celery to the filling for added crunch.
If you prefer blue cheese to ranch, omit the ranch seasoning and add blue cheese crumbles to the filling.

White plater stacked with slices of buffalo chicken pinwheels.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make these buffalo chicken roll ups less spicy?

Yes. Reduce the buffalo sauce to 1/4 cup or mix in a few tablespoons of ranch dressing to mellow the heat while keeping the flavor.

Can I use a mixer to combine the filling instead of doing it by hand?

Absolutely. Use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment if desired. This also has the added benefit of further breaking down the chicken so it is very well distributed throughout the pinwheels.