Chicken Pinwheels (Tortilla Roll-Ups)
چکن پن وہیلز (ٹورٹیا رول اپس)
Pinwheels are the lunch-box trick that makes children open their box with a smile: a soft wrap spread with a creamy filling, rolled tightly and sliced into neat spirals that show off the colourful layers. They use leftover chicken and need no cooking, and the spirals are easy for small hands. Make the rolls the night before, wrap them in cling film and slice in the morning.
- ⏱ Total: 15 min
- Prep: 15 min
- Easy
- Serves 3
Method
Tap a step when it is done.
Mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, shredded chicken, pepper and salt into a smooth, spreadable filling.
Lay a tortilla flat and spread a thin, even layer of filling right to the edges. Add a cheese slice, a lettuce leaf, a line of grated carrot and a few cucumber sticks across the lower third.
Roll up tightly from the filled end. The filling at the far edge seals it. Wrap firmly in cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
Unwrap and slice with a sharp knife into 2 cm spirals, trimming off the uneven ends. Pack tightly side by side so they don't unroll.
Kitchen notes
Spread the filling right to the edges: it acts as glue and stops the spirals unrolling.
Warm rotis for a few seconds before rolling so they're soft and don't crack.
Vegetarian version: replace the chicken with grated paneer or mashed chickpeas mixed with a little chaat masala.
A lunch box that looks fun
Children eat with their eyes. A box of colourful spirals looks like a treat, even though it’s just bread, chicken and vegetables. Pinwheels are also tidy: no sauce leaks, no crumbs, and each piece is a single bite.
Rolling them tight
The secret is a thin layer of a thick, sticky filling (cream cheese or hung yogurt) spread to every edge. Put the vegetables in the lower third so they end up in the middle, roll as tightly as you can, and chill. Cold rolls slice neatly; warm ones squash.
Use what you have
Leftover roast or tandoori chicken, boiled chicken from yakhni, or chicken tikka all work. Swap lettuce for spinach, add red capsicum strips for colour, or spread a little green chutney for older children.
More lunch ideas
Rotate with pasta salad, chicken mayo sandwiches and egg muffins. See our school lunch box collection.
Questions people ask
How long do pinwheels keep?
Up to 24 hours wrapped in the fridge. Slice on the day; once sliced, eat within 4–5 hours and keep cool.
Can I use a paratha?
A paratha is too thick and flaky to roll tightly. Use thin rotis, chapatis or tortillas.
Nutrition (estimate, per serving)
- Calories
- 330
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
