Cheesy Ham Roll Ups

These cheesy ham roll ups are addictive and perfect for any occasion. Easy ham and cheese roll ups can be eaten as a ham and cheese tortilla wrap or cut up into bite-size pieces for party platters or just a fun change of pace. We serve it as an appetizer, snack, for lunch or brunch and these cheesy ham roll ups never disappoint!

These cheesy ham roll ups take very little time to prepare, and I always figure the easier the better!  Especially in the summer months.  Sometimes our kitchen gets so hot with the ovens going!  I always prefer a delicious small meal or snack that requires little or no cooking at all!  I am sure you feel the exact same way!  

These ham and cheese roll ups always disappear so quickly!  My son will take a ham and cheese tortilla wrap from the refrigerator, that is not cut, and eat the entire wrap!   But then he does that with all of our wraps!  They are that tasty!  I might just try that myself sometime!

No matter which sandwich meat you decide to use, this cheesy mixture works beautifully with all of them!  My son loves salami and makes these roll ups for his lunches regularly.  These are that good! 

Whether you use ham, chicken, salami, pastrami, or some other meat, this delicious tortilla wrap recipe is perfect as a full wrap or cut up into roll ups, and everyone always loves them. 

How We Got to Roll Ups

Roll ups are made it two ways. You either literally roll up a sandwich or you take a whole tortilla wrap and cut it into thick slices to create them. However, without both roll ups and wraps, we'd never have this variation. So how did we get here? I'm about to tell you. Don't worry, it's brief. It's also interesting!

History of Pinwheel Sandwiches

Pinwheels are just another kind of sandwich, but where and when was the idea to roll a sandwich instead of just slap two pieces of bread around fillings thought up? The pinwheel is an English creation dating back all the way to the 10th century. Back then, the English enjoyed pinwheel sandwiches as snacks that they paired with a hot cup of tea. According to history, these pinwheels were likened to the French canape. 

When these sandwiches were first invented, people use simple ingredients like butter or cream cheese as the filling and rolled them up with bread slices. Of course, over the centuries, more and more unique ingredients were tried for both the filling and the wrapping itself. Over time, people created all kinds of pinwheels, which is how we came to the modern version of pinwheel sandwiches that so many of us enjoy today!

History of Wraps

People in Mexico, the Mediterranean, and South Asia have been eating wraps since before the 1900s. Perhaps the most recognized pre-Americanized wrap is the burrito which originated in Mexico. In fact, the burrito is the inspiration for the modern-day wrap. However, the wrap as North Americans know it today was developed sometime in the early 1980s. There are two disputed theories on where it was actually invented first.

Some claim that wrap as we know it, an Americanized version of Mexican and Tex-Mex burritos, was invented at a southern California chain called “I Love Juicy”. However, Bobby Valentine, sports icon and owner of The Bobby Valentine Sports Gallery Cafe in Stamford, Connecticut claims to have invented the wrap at about the same time.

There’s really no way to know where the wrap originated, but does it really matter? I don't think so. What matters is how good they are!

Ham Roll Ups

These delicious cheesy ham roll ups are super simple to make. The ingredient list is simple as is the construction of these delicious ham and cheese roll ups. It takes next to no work at all to make a delicious ham and cheese wrap that you can eat as an entire tortilla wrap or cut into slices for that classic pinwheel look. However you decide to serve them, you and your family will love them. 

Ingredients

It only takes a few ingredients to make these delicious roll ups, and chances are you have most of the ingredients you need in your kitchen already. In fact, I would venture to say that the only thing you'll have to buy especially for this recipe is lunch meat and maybe - maybe- cream cheese. 

• cream cheese
• parmesan cheese
• mayo
• relish or chopped sweet pickles
• mustard
• green onions
• pepper
• baby romaine lettuce or baby spinach, or romaine lettuce with the spine removed
• black forest ham, salami, pastrami, turkey, roast beef, or chicken, thinly sliced
• flour tortillas

Look at that. What did I tell you. It's a super simple list of ingredients. 

Making Cheesy Ham Roll Ups

Making these delicious ham and cheese roll ups is just as simple as the ingredient list. All you'll be doing it basically laying ingredients for this ham and cheese wrap, rolling it up, and then cutting it into slices. You'll find more specifics in the recipe card at the end of the post, but here are the highlights. I'm sure you'll agree after you read it that this is one easy recipe. 

• In a bowl, whip together cream cheese, parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, relish, green onion, pepper and hot sauce.
• Divide and evenly spread on each tortilla, almost right to the edge.
• If using, remove the spine from romaine lettuce, or place baby romaine or baby spinach all over the entire tortilla.
• Top with black forest ham, salami, pastrami, turkey, roast beef, or chicken to cover and hold down the greens.
• Roll tortillas as tightly as possible and wrap them in plastic wrap or parchment paper and then tinfoil. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, if not overnight. When serving, unwrap and cut into ½ inch slices.  

Variations

One of the best things about this ham and cheese tortilla wrap recipe is how easy it is to change things up. I used ham, but there are so many more options that you can use. And it doesn't just stop at meats. You can put almost anything you can think of in this tortilla wrap and slice it into medallions to create roll ups!

Use Different Meats

Any deli meat will work in this roll up recipe. You can even use shredded meats in this roll up. As long as you can roll up the tortilla it will work! Some great options include:

• Ham
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Roast beef
• Salami
• Pastrami
• Shredded chicken
• Shredded turkey
• Shredded pork 
• Shredded beef

Use Different Greens

The most common green used in any kind of tortilla wrap is lettuce, but you don't have to stop there. Any sort of green that you enjoy will work in this wrap. The only thing I would stay away from is iceberg lettuce. It's so watery that it can make your wrap soggy. Otherwise, the sky's the limit. Some excellent options include:

• Any lettuce variety outside of iceberg lettuce
• Spinach
• Mustard greens
• Kale

Add Vegetables

These ham roll ups are so good just as they are, but you can also add in some veggies if you like. Almost any vegetable that can be slice into strips will work in this ham and cheese tortilla wrap recipe. As the name implies, if the veggie can be rolled up, it will work here. Some of my favorites for roll ups include:

• Bell pepper
• Bean sprouts
• Avocado
• Mushrooms
• Carrots
• Celery
• Shredded cabbage

Try Different Spreads

This ham and cheese roll ups recipe uses a mayo-based condiment, but you can feel free to get creative. All you really need is something to add a bit of moisture to keep your tortilla wrap from being too dry and also to add a bit of flavor. Some excellent choices include:

• Hummus
• Guacamole
• Ranch dressing
• 1,000 island dressing
• Salsa

Serving Ham Roll Ups

These cheesy ham roll ups are a complete meal in and of themselves. With protein, veggies, and carbs, you get everything you need in a meal in one convenient, hand-held wrap or pinwheel, depending on whether or not you cut it up. 

It's a simple recipe that is best served simply. I like to serve my ham and cheese wrap on their on or with a dipping sauce that compliments the sandwich ingredients. That's it. Simple always works best with this recipe. 

Storing the Ham and Cheese Roll Ups

You can store these cheesy chicken bacon ranch pinwheels in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to four days. I want to caution you, however, that just because you CAN store these pinwheels doesn't mean that you SHOULD store them. 

These pinwheels are best served the day you make them. Over time, these pinwheels will get soggy as the dressing seeps into the layers of tortilla surrounding it. 

Get These Cheesy Ham Roll Ups into Your Life 

These cheesy ham roll ups are so delicious and so easy to make. It only takes a few ingredients to create this ham and cheese tortilla wrap, and from there, you can eat it as a whole wrap or cut it into slices for classic pinwheels. It's up to you. However you choose to serve these up, the simple ingredient list and super easy recipe make them a must-try. They're so simple, there's no reason not to try them. 

 

More Easy Lunches To Try

Tuna Egg Salad Roll Ups

Cheesy Honey Mustard Turkey Roll Ups

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels

Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Easy Crispy Chicken Salsa Wraps

Slow Cooker Chicken Salad

Cheesy Tuna Bombs

Easy Smoked Salmon Tortilla Roll Ups

Easy Chicken Salad Snack Wraps

The Best Roast Beef Sandwich

Turkey Club Wrap

The Best Toasted Reuben Sandwich

I couldn't help but make a video to show you just how simple this delicious roll up is to make!  Take a peek below!

Cheesy Ham Roll Ups Video