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Tag Archives: easy appetizers

Ham and Cheese PinWheels

Ham and cheese pinwheels are one of those appetizers that always look so fancy, but they are really super easy to make if you use Crescent Roll dough sheets. I love crescent rolls, and this is a great way to use up your leftover holiday ham. These warm buttery treats are great to serve as a snack for all those armchair quarterbacks in your house who like to cheer on their favorite football team from home. They are sure to be a favorite any time of year!

Ham and Cheese Pinwheel Ingredients:

  • 1 8 oz. tube crescent roll dough
  • 1/2 lb. deli-sliced ham (or leftover baked ham)
  • 8 oz. Swiss cheese sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 4 Tablespoons butter melted
  • 1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

Ham and Cheese Pinwheel Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray a 8 x 8 ” baking pan with cooking spray.
  • On a lightly floured surface, unroll dough and cut the sheet into 4 long triangles. Spread mustard onto each rectangle.
  • Top with sliced ham then cheese.
  • Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle. Pinch edges to seal.
  • Cut each roll into 3 slices. Place cut side up in the baking pan.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, garlic powder, and parsley. Brush over pinwheels, then sprinkle poppy seeds on top.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until rolls are golden brown.
I used leftover Honey Baked ham for these ham and cheese pinwheels.
Brush melted garlic butter over the ham and cheese pinwheels before sprinkling with parsley and poppy seeds.
Ham and cheese pinwheels
Place the pinwheels close together in the pan.

You can use deli-sliced ham or baked ham. I used Swiss cheese, but you could also use Gouda or any other cheese of your choice. Now that you know how to make the pinwheels you can get creative and try your own variations. Try spinach, cream cheese, and turkey. Or cranberry sauce and turkey. The sky’s the limit! You do not have to divide the dough either. If you want to make one long roll then slice it, you can. I find it easier to slice in smaller rectangles. It seems to get squished when it is in one long roll.

Let me know if you try it and how it turns out. I’d love to read your comments below. Also, please rate my recipe and pin it on Pinterest.

Hot Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Hot Ham and Cheese Pinwheel Appetizer
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Appetizer, dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: appetizer, crescent roll recipes, ham and cheese pinwheels, pinwheels, recipes for leftover ham
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 180kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 8 oz. tube crescent roll dough
  • 1/2 lb. deli-sliced ham (or leftover baked ham)
  • 8 oz. Swiss cheese sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 4 Tablespoons butter melted
  • 1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray a 8 x 8 " baking pan with cooking spray.
  • On a lightly floured surface, unroll dough and cut the sheet into 4 long triangles. Spread mustard onto each rectangle.
  • Top with sliced ham then cheese.
  • Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle. Pinch edges to seal.
  • Cut each roll into 3 slices. Place cut side up in baking pan.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, garlic powder and parsley. Brush over pinwheels, then sprinkle poppy seeds on top.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until rollas are golden brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcal
Creamy Pimento Cheese Spread Recipe

Who doesn’t love pimento cheese? Well, maybe folks who are not from the South. But us Southerners, we love us some pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes!

Creamy Pimento Cheese Spread Dip
The cream cheese makes it stick together for a great dip.

This recipe is so easy, and there are so many creative ways that you can change it up. You can make it spicy, tangy, or plain. I may be boring, but I like mine plain. My husband likes the spicy taste of jalepenos in his pimento cheese.

Creamy Pimento Cheese Spread Recipe
Jalepenos and cayenne pepper spice up this pimento cheese spread.

This recipe only takes about 10 minutes to make, and everybody loves it. It makes a great dip for crackers or vegetables, so you can serve it as an appetizer. But it also makes a great grilled cheese sandwich. And how about grilled pimento cheese and bacon sandwiches? What?! Yes! That’s what I’m talking about.

Grilled pimento cheese and bacon sandwich
Grilled Pimento Cheese and Bacon Sandwich

This recipe is so easy. All of the ingredients go into the bowl at the same time, then you just stir it up. That’s it!

Stir all ingredients together for creamy pimento cheese spread
All the ingredients go in the bowl together, and you just stir.

You can serve it right away or refrigerate it for later. I think you will love this delicious recipe.

Creamy pimento cheese finger sandwiches
Cut the crust off the bread and make finger sandwiches.
Grilled creamy pimento cheese and bacon sandwich
Grilled pimento cheese and bacon sandwich
Creamy Pimento Cheese Spread Recipe
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Creamy Pimento Cheese Spread

This is the ultimate pimento cheese spread. It is great for dips and grilled cheese sandwiches. Super easy too!
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: appetizer, creamy pimento cheese spread, dips, easy
Servings: 12
Calories: 208kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 8 oz. cream cheese softened
  • 1 4 oz. jar diced pimentos drained
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder or ground cayenne (optional)
  • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced (optional)
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients above in a large bowl and stir with a large spoon. That's it!
  • Use as a dip for crackers or vegetables, as a finger sandwich appetizer, or as a grilled cheese sandwich meal.

Nutrition

Calories: 208kcal

Let me know if you make this, and if you like it please pin it to Pinterest and share it. Leave a comment below.

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

This is one of the easiest recipes ever, and yet it is so delicious and can be served in so many different ways. So this week we’re traveling with our taste buds again. This time to Mexico!

This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn commission when you click these links at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

This chicken is so tender and juicy it just falls apart as it soaks in the flavors of salsa and taco seasoning. It is one of those meals that takes only a few minutes to prepare, then you just walk away and let it cook in the slow cooker all afternoon while you do other things.

It is easy to shred, because it becomes very tender in the salsa. It can be served over rice with or without cheese, in tacos or lettuce cups, or my favorite: chicken nachos! Spritz a little lime juice on it right before serving, and you have yourself a perfect crowd pleaser for a meal or appetizer. Just in time for Cinco de Mayo too!

Slow cooker salsa chicken makes great chicken nachos.
Slow cooker salsa chicken makes great chicken nachos!

Here’s How to Make It:

Ingredients

2 – 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used 2 in my pictures. You may want to adjust the amount of salsa to taste. We like a lot!)

1 envelope taco seasoning (mild or hot)

1 16 oz. jar or larger of chunky salsa

1 cup Mexican style blend shredded cheese for topping

Instructions

1. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.

2. Sprinkle taco seasoning over all sides of the chicken.

3. Pour half the jar of salsa over the chicken.

Sprinkle taco seasoning over the chicken breasts.
Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the chicken breasts first.
Then pour half the jar of salsa on top.

4. Cover and cook on high 3 hours (or on low 6 hours).

5. Shred the chicken in the slow cooker.

The chicken will fall apart and be easy to shred.
The chicken will be falling apart and very tender, making it shred easily.
Use two forks to shred the chicken in the slow cooker.
You will not need to remove the chicken to shred it.
Using two forks, you can just shred it right in the slow cooker.

6. Pour the remaining salsa over the chicken and toss to coat. Cook 10 more minutes before serving to heat the salsa.

Serve over rice, in tacos, in lettuce cups, or as a nacho plate. Let me know if you try this and how it turned out. I think you will really like how easy it is.

Salsa chicken can be served over rice.
There are so many different ways you can serve salsa chicken.
Salsa chicken makes great chicken nachos
My favorite way to serve salsa chicken is a chicken nacho plate as an appetizer or meal.

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Easy fall apart Mexican chicken you can serve on rice or nachos
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
After cooking, shred the chicken and pour on remaining salsa and cook 10 more minutes10 minutes
Total Time3 hours 15 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: quick, easy, Mexican, slow cooker,chicken recipes,easy dinner recipes
Servings: 6
Calories: 235kcal
Author: Cindy Baker
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 2 – 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 envelope Taco seasoning mix
  • 1 16 oz. jar Chunky tomato salsa
  • 1 cup Mexican style blend shredded cheese

Instructions

  • Place the chicken breats in the slow cooker.
  • Sprinkle taco seasoning mix on both sides of the chicken breasts.
  • Pour half of the jar of salsa over the chicken.
  • Cover and cook on high for 3 hours (or on low for 6 hours).
  • Use two forks to shred the chicken in the slow cooker.
  • Pour in the rest of the jar of salsa and toss to coat.
  • Cook 10 more minutes to heat the newly poured salsa.
  • Serve on rice, in tacos, or on nachos with melted cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 235kcal