These pickle wheels are so good. They're just ham, cream cheese, and pickle roll-ups, but they pack so much flavor into a single bite. They're keto, gluten-free, and low-iron.
This was a traditional holiday appetizer at my house growing up. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner included deviled eggs and pickle wheels. We just called them ham roll-ups, but I think pickle wheels are fun!
You can serve these as appetizers along with deviled eggs, fried cheese balls, charcuterie, or savory cheesecake bites at your next holiday party or dinner. I'm sure your guests will fall in love with these!
QUICK REFERENCE
📋 WHY THIS PICKLE WHEELS RECIPE WORKS
- Fits nearly every plate: keto, gluten-free, and low-iron, with an easy dairy-free option too.
- Three ingredients: nothing fancy, nothing hard to find.
- Ready in 10 minutes: no cooking involved.
- A holiday classic: the same appetizer that showed up on the table every Thanksgiving and Christmas growing up.
🥘 INGREDIENT NOTES
- Cooked Ham: Look for thin deli slices so they roll up easily.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese spreads much more easily than cold cream cheese. Leave it out at room temperature for a bit before assembling.
- Dill Pickle Spears: Slice the pickle spears into smaller spears to control the amount of pickle in each roll-up. You can also use a whole pickle.
📋 SUBSTITUTIONS
This recipe is already keto, gluten-free, and low-iron as written. Here's the swap for other dietary needs:
- Dairy-Free: These can easily be made dairy-free by swapping out the cream cheese for a dairy-free spread. Kite Hill and Miyoko's Creamery are two favorites that are both soy-free. If you can't find either of these brands, Daiya will do. It's not my favorite; it's a bit weird, but it'll work with the strong flavor of the ham and pickle, and it's also soy-free. All of these alternatives spread just like regular cream cheese and come in all the cream cheese flavors you're used to. You can use any of the savory flavors like plain, onion and chive, or everything.
If you need help with different dietary accommodations, let me know in the comments, and I'll try to help!
🔪 INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Lay the ham slices flat on a paper towel. Place a second layer of paper towels over the ham and pat dry.
Step 2: Spread cream cheese onto each ham slice with a butter knife.
Step 3: Place a pickle spear at one end of each slice, and roll the ham up around the spears.
Step 4: Enjoy!
🍴 HOW TO SERVE
Serve these as appetizers along with deviled eggs, fried cheese balls, charcuterie, or savory cheesecake bites at your next holiday party or dinner.
🥣 STORAGE
Store rolled ham and pickle roll-ups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Chilling them before slicing makes for a cleaner cut and a prettier pinwheel.
💭 TOP TIP
Chill the rolled ham slices in the refrigerator before slicing them into wheels. Slicing cold roll-ups gives you a clean cut and a much prettier pinwheel than slicing right after rolling.
👩🏻🍳 RECIPE FAQS
Thin deli-sliced ham works best since it rolls up easily without cracking or tearing. Look for organic, nitrate-free, and antibiotic-free ham for the best quality.
These can be rolled and refrigerated up to 4 days in advance, making them an easy make-ahead appetizer for a party or holiday gathering.
Unanswered Questions?
Ask AI for Answers Based On This Post
🍳 MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE!
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know what you thought in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Pickle Wheels
Ingredients
- 5 Slices cooked ham
- 8 Ounces cream cheese softened
- 5 Dill pickle spears
Instructions
- Lay the ham slices flat on a paper towel. Place the second layer of paper towels over the ham and pat dry.
- Spread cream cheese onto each ham slice with a butter knife.
- Place a pickle spear at one end of each slice, and roll the ham up around the spears.
Comments
No Comments