Going through my calendar on Monday morning, I noticed there's a potluck at work on Wednesday. In retrospect, I wish I had thought of making these Tortilla chicken Pinwheels to bring to the potluck! These WW tortilla pinwheels are 1 WW point.
These are popular all year and are the perfect appetizer for a potluck, game days, game night, a light lunch, or an afternoon snack. They pair well with my other Healthy game day snacks!
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Ugh. I'm not usually one to take it for granted when others cook for me and I generally get excited about potlucks at work because it means that I don't have to pack lunch, but not this time. Not this one. Not on the day before weigh day.
Sigh....and I was doing so well on Weight Watchers, already having lost 15 lbs. A table of temptation was the last thing I needed when I was already trying to recover from a weekend of overindulgence. Wednesday is crunch time; my final attempt to get it together for the week before facing the scale the next morning. In retrospect
So, I turned to my online WW connect group for Weight Watchers appetizer suggestions. Most people said to bring something WW friendly so I'd have something to eat. But I was torn because... IT WASN'T MY TURN to bring anything and I honestly welcomed that break because I'm constantly preparing food for other people.
I really really didn't want to make anything. Plus, I convinced myself that I'd find something low points enough to eat and that I could do this by skipping both breakfast and dinner that day. So... I took my chances. Big mistake. I wish I had just sucked it up and made these.
🥘Ingredients
These cream cheese chicken pinwheels are really easy to make and you don't have to worry about heating them up when you get to the party or potluck. That's also why they make a great summer appetizer! You can even grill the chicken or use leftover rotisserie chicken so you don't have to heat up your house. So, if you are looking for easy pinwheel recipes, then give this Weight Watchers chicken appetizer a try.
For this easy recipe, you'll need the following simple ingredients:
- large tortillas - I use tomato flavor
- chicken breast
- red pepper
- red onion
- cream chees (light or fat-free)
*see recipe card for quantities
📖Variations & Substitutions
These Weight Watchers Tortilla Pinwheels are not only delicious, they are easy to make finger food and you can also use leftover rotisserie chicken or canned chicken breast if you are short on time.
- chicken breast - you can substitute canned chicken breast or leftover chicken
- cream cheese - use fat-free cream cheese instead of light
- peppers- you can use orange or yellow pepper instead of red bell pepper (green pepper would be too bitter, so I do not recommend it)
- onion- use green onions instead of red
- tortillas- use spinach, whole wheat, or any type you prefer
I got this pinwheel sandwiches recipe from a friend back around 2001. I think that was during my first Weight Watchers stint and I have brought it to many-a-party/potluck since that time. But I haven't seen it around for a while, so I thought it needed to be resurrected. I love to resurrect recipes! And especially recipes that are only 1 WW point on my plan.
Potlucks are not easy when you're on Weight Watchers...
Weight Watchers has changed a lot since I first started on it 20 years ago! This time 'round I have found the program so much easier, especially given that fish, chicken, and eggs are ZERO points! To date, I have lost 20 lbs and am keeping it off!
But it's still challenging to come up with Weight Watchers friendly potluck recipes that everyone will like, especially those that aren't on Weight Watchers. And that's why these Chicken Tortilla Roll-ups are the best! They don't taste like they are only 1 WW point! In fact, they are so good, that when I made them for this blog post, even my kids loved them so much that they ate them all up before I could take them to work!
🔢WW Points
These tortilla pinwheels are 1 WW point each.
🌡️Storage
These chicken cream cheese pinwheels can be made a couple of days in advance and can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
🦺Food Safety
- Cook chicken to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
When I got to the potluck that Wednesday, I was so starved from skipping breakfast that I ate way more than I should have. Plus, there really wasn't anything Weight Watchers friendly. And sadly, the scale was not my friend the next morning and I gained that week. So, the moral of the story is: if you are on Weight Watchers, bring at least one dish that's Weight Watchers friendly to the potluck, even if it's not your turn! And these chicken breast pinwheels are the perfect solution!
⭐ COMMENTS & REVIEWS
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📋Tortilla Chicken Pinwheels Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 - 10 inch soft flour tortillas *I use tomato flavor
- 2 cups shredded chicken (2 chicken breasts),or finely chopped * you can use rotisserie chicken or canned chicken breast instead
- 1 red pepper finely chopped
- ¾ cup red onion (1 medium red onion) finely chopped
- 8 tablespoon low-fat cream cheese * I use the spreadable (or substitute non fat cream cheese)
Instructions
- Grill chicken breasts and chop finely or shred. Mix onion, chicken and red pepper together in a large bowl.
- On a flat surface, such as a cutting board. spread 2 tbsps light cream cheese over each tortilla, as you would jam. Then spread a layer of the chicken mixture on each tortilla. Repeat until mixture has been used.
- Roll tortilla in half, as shown.
- Then gently pull back to the edge and start rolling from there
- Continue rolling tightly.
- Continue rolling until you get to the edge
- When you get to the edge, add a little more cream cheese, so it will stick together.
- Roll right up (tightly) place seam side down.
- Wrap rolled tortillas tightly in plastic wrap and place tortillas in fridge for one hour mininum. *I have found they stay together better if you roll them the night before.
- Cut off the ends (with no filling)
- Slice into ¾ inch slices and serve! * You can use a measuring tape to ensure you have equal sized pieces.
Lauren
Iam probably over looking the answer to my question, but is it 1 point per piece? I am Assuming so, but want to be sure.
Thanks!!
Terri Gilson
Hi Lauren, yes that’s what my WW calculator shows- 1 point per piece!?
Riz | Chocolates & Chai
Ahh!! I totally get how difficult potlucks can be when you’re on weight watchers, or just trying to adhere to any particular nutrition plan!
I love the pinwheel idea, I have tortillas fairly often but I’ve never thought to present them quite like this!
Terri Gilson
Hi Riz,
Thank you! Yes, it can be challenging! But weight watchers is probably the most flexible (you can eat anything). I just need to plan better 🙂
Bernice Hill
Been making these for years...my kids are even fans! Congratulations on your weight loss so far Terri, I hope you are feeling great and don't beat yourself up too much over the odd slip up. You're only human!
Thank you for showing me that weight loss CAN happen even to a food blogger!
Terri Gilson
thanks, Bernice! Yeah, try not to get too masochistic, as life happens and I'm in this for the long haul. Yes, it really is tough to keep the weight off as a food blogger!