Dinner

Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels Recipe

ByMaya Arden February 1, 2026February 1, 2026

Introduction

Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels are a deliciously spicy and creamy appetizer that’s perfect for game day or casual gatherings. These bite-sized rolls combine shredded chicken, tangy wing sauce, and melted cheese, all wrapped up in a soft tortilla and crisped to perfection.

The image shows a white round plate with eight tortilla roll-ups arranged loosely in a circle. Each roll-up has two layers: a light beige outer tortilla wrap and an orange cheesy filling inside with a slightly shiny texture, rolled up tightly, showing spirals. Small green chive pieces are sprinkled on the roll-ups and around the plate. Above the plate is a white bowl filled with creamy white dip, also sprinkled with chopped green chives. The whole scene is set on a white marbled surface with a green and white striped cloth on the right side and some chive stems on the left. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup cooked shredded chicken
3 tablespoons wing sauce (more for dipping or drizzling)

2 tablespoons cream cheese (room temperature)
1 teaspoon ranch seasoning

2 large flour tortillas
¼ cup shredded cheddar

Instructions

Step 1: Add the chicken, wing sauce, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning to a bowl and mash the mixture together with a fork until well combined.
Step 2: Divide the mixture evenly between the 2 tortillas and spread it out to the edges.
Step 3: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar evenly over each tortilla, then roll each one up tightly.

Step 4: Use a sharp knife to trim the edges of the tortillas, then slice each roll into 5 pinwheel pieces.
Step 5: Arrange the pinwheels in an air fryer basket sprayed with oil or lined with parchment in a single layer. Cook at 370°F for 5 minutes, or until crispy to your liking.
Step 6: Serve immediately with extra wing sauce for dipping or drizzling.

Tips & Variations

For extra crispiness, brush the pinwheels lightly with melted butter before air frying.
Swap cheddar for mozzarella or pepper jack to add different flavors.
If you don’t have an air fryer, bake at 400°F for 8–10 minutes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Storage

Store leftover pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in an air fryer or oven at 350°F for 3-5 minutes to restore crispiness. They are best enjoyed fresh but can also be served at room temperature.

How to Serve

The image shows several cheese roll-ups standing vertically in a black baking tray. Each roll has two main layers: a light beige tortilla wrap on the outside and a bright orange melted cheese filling spiraled inside. The cheese is smooth and creamy with some stretchy, gooey spots. Small green chive pieces are scattered and placed on top of the cheese swirls, adding color contrast. The texture of the tortilla is soft and slightly toasted at the edges, with a slight shine from the melted cheese. The black tray beneath has round indentations holding each roll tightly. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these pinwheels ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the pinwheels a few hours ahead and refrigerate them before cooking. Just air fry or bake right before serving for the best texture.

What type of wing sauce works best?

Classic buffalo wing sauce works great, but you can use your favorite hot sauce or a milder wing sauce depending on your spice preference.

Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 55 reviews

Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels are a tasty and easy-to-make snack or appetizer that combines spicy wing sauce with creamy ranch and cheddar cheese, all wrapped inside a soft tortilla and crisped to perfection in the air fryer. Perfect for game days or casual get-togethers, these pinwheels deliver bold flavor with a satisfying crunch.

Author: Maya
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 10 pinwheels (5 per tortilla) 1x

Category: Appetizer
Method: Air Frying
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Filling

1 cup cooked shredded chicken
3 tablespoons wing sauce (more for dipping or drizzling)
2 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature

1 teaspoon ranch seasoning

Assembly

2 large flour tortillas
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the cooked shredded chicken, wing sauce, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning. Use a fork to mash and mix the ingredients together until thoroughly combined and creamy.
Assemble the pinwheels: Divide the chicken mixture evenly between the two flour tortillas, spreading it out evenly to cover the entire surface, reaching the edges.
Add cheese and roll: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over each tortilla, then roll each tortilla up tightly from one edge to the other, forming a log shape.

Trim and slice: Use a sharp knife to trim off the edges of each rolled tortilla to neaten the pinwheels. Slice each rolled tortilla into 5 equal pieces to create the bite-sized pinwheels.
Air fry the pinwheels: Arrange the pinwheels in a single layer in an air fryer basket that has been sprayed lightly with oil or lined with parchment paper. Cook at 370°F (188°C) for 5 minutes, until the tortillas are crisp and golden to your preference.
Serve immediately: Remove from the air fryer and serve the buffalo chicken pinwheels hot with extra wing sauce for dipping or drizzling if desired.

Notes

For a spicier kick, add extra wing sauce or hot sauce to the filling.
If you don’t have an air fryer, baking the pinwheels in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes will also yield crispy results.
Use gluten-free tortillas if you need the recipe to be gluten free.

The cream cheese should be softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
These pinwheels are best served fresh and warm for optimal taste and texture.

Keywords: Buffalo chicken pinwheels, buffalo chicken appetizer, air fryer snacks, party appetizers, chicken pinwheels, buffalo wing snacks

Maya Arden

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