This post contains affiliate links.
These chickpea pinwheels are perfect as a quick lunch, snack, or game day appetizer! They’re filled with protein and fiber, require no cooking, and take just 10 minutes to put together (all while tasting like your favorite jalapeno poppers).
save this recipe!For someone who cooks for a living, my lunches are always hit or miss. I’m either excited for a new recipe to test or too worn out to make anything, so I end up with just a tray of veggies and hummus.
To counter this, I’ve been meal prepping some grab-and-go lunches like these chickpea pinwheels! And with it being football season, I decided to go the jalapeno popper route, so they can also be a make-ahead vegetarian appetizer.
the easy party snack idea
- So Fast: Seriously, they take 10 minutes to whip up, and they store great!
- Simple Ingredients: You can find everything at any grocery store (that is, if you don’t already have everything on hand).
- Fiber and Protein: I feel like most game-day snacks lack fiber so they don’t make you feel the best. But, that’s where this chickpea pinwheel appetizer shines with protein and fiber!
Reader rating
“Made last night for a football watch party & they were a hit! Served with ranch and TJ’s tzatziki on the side. Will def be making again!!” —Kiley
grab these ingredients
Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Chickpeas: I use canned chickpeas that are drained and rinsed for convenience, but dried ones you cook yourself work great, too! Just be sure to dry the chickpeas well.
- Cheeses: Like any good jalapeno popper app, this one has cream cheese and shredded cheddar.
- Onion and Jalapeno: The key is to finely dice them so you get a little in every bite. This also helps the vegetarian pinwheels roll up nice and tight.
- Tortillas: I find the low-carb tortillas actually roll the best, which is key for cold tortilla roll-ups. Grain-free tortillas (like those from Siete) typically are not pliable at all unless heated, so you may need to warm them up a bit before filling and rolling.
Sarah’s tips for working with jalapenos
- Wear gloves! Seriously, your eyes will thank you (if you happen to rub your eyes after cutting the peppers).
- Remove the seeds so you get the flavor of jalapeno without it being overly spicy.
- Taste the jalapeno first because (especially in the summer) they can vary a lot in spice level.
if your tortillas are breaking
Tortilla brands and types all vary in how pliable they are. If yours seems to be breaking when rolling, heat it for 10 or so seconds in the microwave before rolling. If they keep coming unrolled, wrap them tightly in foil and leave them to chill in the fridge longer before slicing.
Let’s mix it up
If you want to take this recipe for a few spins, try one of these variations:
- Less Spicy: If you’re worried about the spice, swap the jalapenos for poblano peppers.
- Vegan Bacon: For a next-level vegetarian finger food idea, stir in some vegan bacon bits!
- More Protein: Try swapping some of the cream cheese for Labneh or blended cottage cheese to up the protein.
P.S. these are best served with a dip, like sour cream, yogurt tzatziki, or my kefir ranch dressing.
Jalapeno Popper Chickpea Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 2 15-oz cans chickpeas, drained, 425 g cans
- 4 oz cream cheese, 113 g
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, 56 g
- ¼ cup finely diced jalapeno, about 1 medium jalapeno
- ¼ cup finely diced red onion, about ¼ of an onion
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 to 3 large tortilla wraps
Instructions
- Mash: Add 2 15-oz cans chickpeas (drained) to a large bowl. Use a potato masher or forks to mash the chickpeas into a chunky puree.
- Mix: Stir in 4 oz cream cheese, ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, ¼ cup finely diced jalapeno, ¼ cup finely diced red onion, ½ tsp garlic powder, and ¼ tsp salt.
- Spread: Spread a thin layer of the chickpea mixture onto 2 to 3 large tortilla wraps.
- Slice: Roll each tortilla tightly*, then slice into 1 inch pieces. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!more no-cook chickpea recipes
Edible Chickpea Cookie Dough (Vegan)
10 minutes
Chickpea “Tuna” Salad
5 minutes
15-Minute Buffalo Chickpea Wraps
15 minutes
How much is a serving of the chickpea pinwheels?
Hi Bobbie! A serving of this recipe is one quarter of the entire batch. It will depend on how large your tortillas are and how thinly you slice them 🙂
With the chickpea pinwheels how much is one serving?
A serving of this recipe is one quarter of the entire batch. It will depend on how large your tortillas are and how thinly you slice them 🙂
They are awesome high protein and if you use vegan cream cheese and vegan grated cheddar cheese makes it even lower in cholesterol and fats. Works just as good using all vegan ingredients. Turned out great. If non vegan u can also use bacon bits in it for the meat lovers.
So thrilled to hear that you loved them, Dianna! 😀
Thank you for sharing this recipe, I adjusted to fit me and ohmygosh, super delicious 😋!
So thrilled to hear that you loved it, Angela. Happy eating!!
Looks yummy. Going to try for New Years. What’s the dipping sauce in the video?
Just ranch! Happy New Year!
Lots of saturated fat, is this healthy?
In moderation! 🙂
Absolutely delish!! Can’t wait to throw in different veggies.
Thanks for the kind words Judy, happy eating!
Fantastic app! Added some ranch to make the filling creamier and used pickled jalepenos.
So glad you enjoyed the app Catherine!
This is a new favorite for my home. It is an easy recipe to follow and I am excited to make some tweaks for our preferences.
I’m so thrilled to hear it’s a hit Jamie, happy eating!
These are awesome. You can add favorite veggies/seasonings and switch it up every time. I made it as stated and mixed mayo & sriracha sauce together and coated the sliced wheels really well and topped with a few avocado slices and it was amazing. I got 2 big wraps out of it and I ate one each time (usually 4 servings = 1.5 of mine 😋) This is so versatile as you can just mix it up, store in fridge and use smaller wraps etc if you just want a quick bite. THANK YOU ‼️ ‼️ ‼️
I’m so thrilled to hear that you loved the recipe! Thanks so much for letting us know how it went. Happy eating!