These Crab Pinwheels are a deliciously creamy and savory appetizer, featuring tender crab meat blended with cream cheese and flavorful ingredients. Rolled in soft tortillas and sliced into bite-sized pieces, they’re perfect for parties, potlucks, or a quick seafood-inspired snack.

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Looking for the perfect make-ahead appetizer that’s as easy as it is delicious? These creamy, crab-filled pinwheels are a crowd-pleasing snack that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Ingredients Needed:

Cream cheese, softened
Imitation crab meat, chopped
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Red pepper, finely chopped
Green onions, sliced
Large flour tortillas

How to Make Crab Pinwheels

Finely chop the red pepper, green onions, and imitation crab meat.

Evenly spread one-fourth of the softened cream cheese onto each tortilla.

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the cream cheese, followed by the chopped crab, red pepper, and green onions.

Starting from one end, tightly roll each tortilla into a log. Wrap each log in plastic wrap. Chill the rolls in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until ready to serve.

Remove the plastic wrap and slice each tortilla into 1-inch pieces, discarding or snacking on the ends. Arrange on a platter and serve!

Tips for Making

Soften the Cream Cheese: Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for easy spreading and a smoother texture.
Finely Chop the Ingredients: Smaller pieces of crab, peppers, and green onions make rolling and slicing the pinwheels easier and prevent tearing.
Roll Tightly: Roll the tortillas as tightly as possible to keep the fillings from falling out when sliced.
Chill Before Cutting: Chilling the rolls for at least an hour ensures clean, neat slices.
Serve Fresh: While these pinwheels can be made ahead, they’re best enjoyed within a day to keep the tortillas from becoming soggy.

Substitutions and Variations

Spicy Crab Pinwheels: Add a dash of hot sauce or a sprinkle of chili flakes for a little heat.
Tropical Twist: Add finely chopped pineapple or mango for a sweet and savory combination.
Herbed Cream Cheese: Mix some dill, parsley, or garlic powder into the cream cheese for extra flavor.
Seafood Upgrade: Swap imitation crab for real crab meat if you’re looking to impress or prefer a richer taste.
Low-Carb Version: Use low-carb or spinach tortillas for a lighter option, or swap tortillas for thinly sliced cucumber sheets.

More Recipes You May Like:

Crab Pinwheels

Ingredients

1 lb imitation crab meat, chopped
½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 red pepper, finely chopped
2 green onions, sliced
4 large flour tortillas

Instructions

Chop your red pepper, crab meat, and green onions.
Spread one fourth of the cream cheese onto each tortilla.
Sprinkle cheese over the tortillas, followed by crab meat. Then arrange the red pepper and green onions.
Start from one end, and roll the tortilla into itself,until it meets the other end. Wrap in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until ready to serve.
Once ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap, then cut each rolled tortilla into 6 1 inch pieces, discarding (or snacking on) the ends.
Serve and enjoy!