Transform traditional tacos into a fun and easy-to-eat appetizer with these delicious Taco Pinwheels. Perfect for parties and game day gatherings, these pinwheels are sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
I don’t know about you, but anytime tacos are involved, I know it’s going to be a favorite! From this Taco Pinwheel recipe, to my Chicken Taco Casserole, Taco Crescent Rolls, Frito Taco Pie, and Taco Bowls, I love them all! Something about being able to customize your toppings, the simplicity, and of course, being family friendly!
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love this Taco Pinwheels Recipe
Whether you’ve heard of these as Taco Pizza Rolls, Mexican Pinwheels, or Taco Roll Ups, these easy taco pinwheels are sure to be a hit at every gathering!
- Customizable– add your favorite toppings and have fun with it!
- Quick and Easy– using only 4 ingredients, these are oven ready in under 10 minutes!
- Perfect for any occasion– serve these as an appetizer, for game day, a quick meal option, snack, or on the go! This taco pinwheels with ground beef are perfect anytime!
- A great way to use up leftover meat– if you have leftover meat from a previous meal, these roll ups are a great way to use it up!
Ingredients Needed to make Easy Taco Pinwheels
Below is a brief overview of each ingredient needed. To see printable recipe card with exact ingredient amounts, scroll to the bottom of this post.
- Beef– you’ll need about one pound ground beef unless using up leftover meat from another recipe. If using leftovers, make sure its about 2 cups or so. Any lean count on the ground beef works as you will drain the fat.
- Taco Seasoning– I love using my homemade taco seasoning so I can control the amounts added, however, if using store bought, you will need about 3 tablespoons.
- Pizza Crust– Pillsbury pizza crust is my go to as it tends to hold up a bit easier, however, you can also use crescent rolls rolled out into a sheet or puff pastry if desired.
- Cheese– shredded Cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese works great.
How to make Taco Pizza Rolls
- In a skillet, cook the meat on medium-high heat until no longer pink.
- Drain fat and add in the seasoning. Stir until meat is evenly coated.
- Open tube of pizza crust and lay dough flat.
- Sprinkle taco meat evenly around all of crust.
- Sprinkle cheese evenly over meat.
- Starting with the long edge of the pizza dough, roll dough tightly into a roll.
- Use a serrated knife and cut every 1 inch to create about 18 rolls.
- Place rolls on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated oven, 350, for about 10-13 minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve with desired toppings!!
Toppings
If you want to customize these to really enhance the flavor and make them your own, here are some great options:
- Sour Cream
- Diced Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Black Olives
- Black Beans
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Green Onions
- Additional shredded cheese
Variations of Mexican Pinwheels Recipe
- Chicken- use cooked chicken in place of the ground beef for Chicken Taco Pinwheels.
- .If you want the mixture to be creamier, add in 4 ounces cream cheese with the cooked meat to make a cream cheese mixture that gets spread onto the pizza dough.
- Use flour tortillas as the base of the recipe in place of the pizza dough. If using tortillas, I recommend using cream cheese with the ground beef to create a thicker, creamier mixture that spreads on the inside of the tortilla to roll up and slice. No cook time necessary.
- Stir in 4 ounces green chilies to the ground beef mixture for more flavor.
Storing Taco Pinwheels
- Allow to fully cool before placing in an airtight container and storing in refrigerator up to 5 days.
- To freeze, wrap individually in plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil and freeze up to 3 months. If you prefer freezing together, you can place in a freezer safe container or bag up to 3 months. Allow to thaw before reheating.
- To reheat, place in the microwave in 30 second increments until heated through. You can also use the air fryer to reheat at 380 degrees for about 5-10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What else can I use in place of the pizza dough?
If desired, you can use puff pastry or crescent roll dough. Puff pastry gives the pinwheels appetizer more of a crunch that can be tasty.
Can these pinwheels be made ahead of time?
Yes they can. You can prepare them and place them on the baking sheet and then cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil until ready to bake. Don’t store in fridge longer than 24 hours before baking. You can also freeze them at this stage as well, covered in plastic wrap and foil where they will keep frozen for up to 2 months then defrost and bake.
How do I make taco pinwheels with no meat?
Simply omit the meat or use a meat substitute. If going this route, add in some more veggies to make it filling. Good options are bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, etc.
Do you have any other pinwheel recipes?
Yes! Some of our favorites are my Burrito Roll Ups, Cheesy Crack Chicken Pinwheels, and Ranch Chicken Roll Ups. Roll Ups and Pinwheels are the same thing, just different labels!
More Easy Recipes to try
- Mexican Street Corn Dip– the perfect party appetizer! Made with sweet corn, spices, cream cheese and creamy Cotija cheese, it’s sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
- Easy Layered Taco Dip– perfect for parties and gatherings. With layers of refried beans, cream cheese, taco seasoning, salsa, and cheese, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
- Mexican Pizza (Taco Bell Copycat)– skip the drive-thru and make this Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza right at home! Crunchy, full of flavor, and a quick dinner the whole family will enjoy!
- Frito Taco Bake– ground beef combined with a cheesy sauce and Frito’s; this walking taco casserole is comfort food at its finest. Perfect for busy weeknights and lazy weekend meals!
- California Taco– a dish that includes layers of Frito’s, meat, cheese, and any topping desired! Flavorful and budget friendly!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Mexican Taco Pinwheels
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 tube Pillsbury pizza crust
- 1 cup cheddar cheese *shredded
- sour cream, cheese, salsa, lettuce, etc
Instructions
- In a skillet, cook the meat until no longer pink.
- Drain fat and add in the seasoning. Stir until meat is evenly coated.
- Open tube of pizza crust and lay dough flat.
- Sprinkle meat evenly around all of crust.
- Sprinkle cheese evenly over meat.
- Starting with the long edge of the pizza dough, roll dough tightly into a roll.
- Use a serrated knife and cut every 1 inch to create about 18 rolls.
- Place rolls on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated oven, 350 degrees, for about 10-13 minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve with desired toppings!!
Notes
Nutrition
Leave a Reply