Healthy Vegetarian Tortilla Roll Ups

If you ask me, tortilla roll ups are one of the best party foods around.

These vegetarian bites are packed with fresh ingredients and creamy spreads, making them perfect for any gathering or quick lunch. Cream cheese mixed with zippy seasonings creates the base, while crisp vegetables add nice crunch and color.

They’re rolled up tight in soft flour tortillas, sliced into perfect finger-food portions that everyone can grab and enjoy. A sprinkle of cheese and fresh herbs gives them that extra touch of flavor.

It’s an easy-to-make appetizer that always disappears quickly, especially on warm afternoon get-togethers.

What Kind of Tortillas Should I Use?

For these roll-ups, regular flour tortillas are your best bet, but you’ve got some options to play around with. The standard 8-inch size works perfectly for appetizer-style portions, though you could go with 10-inch tortillas if you want bigger rolls. While white flour tortillas are traditional for this recipe, whole wheat tortillas can work too – just keep in mind they might be a bit less pliable. The most important thing is to make sure your tortillas are fresh and at room temperature when you’re rolling them up – cold tortillas tend to crack and split, which can make for a messy presentation. If your tortillas feel stiff, try warming them briefly in the microwave under a damp paper towel to make them more flexible.

Options for Substitutions

This easy recipe is super adaptable and you’ve got plenty of options for switching things up:

• Cream cheese: Need a lighter version? Try Neufchatel cheese or light cream cheese. For dairy-free options, use dairy-free cream cheese alternatives – just note the mixture might be slightly less firm.
• Mayo: You can swap mayo with Greek yogurt or sour cream for a tangier taste and fewer calories. Vegan mayo works great too if you’re avoiding eggs.
• Ranch seasoning: Out of ranch? Mix 1 teaspoon each of dried parsley, dill, and garlic powder, plus ½ teaspoon each of onion powder and dried chives as a quick substitute.
• Cheddar cheese: Feel free to use any shredded cheese you like – pepper jack adds some heat, while mozzarella keeps things mild. For dairy-free needs, vegan shredded cheese alternatives will work.
• Flour tortillas: Spinach or sun-dried tomato tortillas add nice color and flavor. For gluten-free options, use corn tortillas or gluten-free wraps, but warm them slightly first so they’re more pliable.
• Vegetables: The veggie mix is totally up to you – try cucumber, corn, red onion, or even chopped spinach. Just make sure to chop everything very finely and squeeze out any excess moisture.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making tortilla roll ups is spreading the filling too thick or too thin – aim for about 1/4 inch thickness across the entire tortilla, leaving a small border at the edges to prevent spillage. Working with cold cream cheese is another common mistake that leads to lumpy, hard-to-spread filling, so make sure your cream cheese is properly softened at room temperature for at least 1 hour before starting. To prevent soggy roll ups, it’s crucial to pat your chopped vegetables completely dry with paper towels before mixing them into the filling, and avoid vegetables with high water content like tomatoes or cucumbers. For the best results, wrap your finished rolls tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight) before slicing – this helps the filling firm up and makes for clean, picture-perfect cuts.

What to Serve With Tortilla Roll Ups?

These creamy tortilla roll ups are perfect for parties and potlucks, and they pair really well with a variety of simple sides. I like to serve them alongside some crunchy potato chips or crispy tortilla chips for extra texture contrast. Since these roll ups are on the richer side, adding some fresh raw vegetables with ranch dip helps balance things out – think celery sticks, baby carrots, and cucumber slices. For a complete party spread, you might want to add some fresh fruit like grapes or strawberries to provide a sweet contrast to the savory rolls.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These roll ups are perfect for making ahead! Place them in an airtight container lined with paper towels to absorb any excess moisture. They’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days. Pro tip: keep them wrapped in plastic wrap until you’re ready to slice and serve to maintain their shape.

Make Ahead: You can prep these roll ups up to 24 hours before your event. Just wrap the whole rolls tightly in plastic wrap and wait to slice them until you’re ready to serve. This actually helps the filling set up nicely and makes them easier to cut!

Serve: When it’s time to serve, take them out of the fridge about 10 minutes before slicing – this helps prevent the tortillas from cracking. Cut off and discard the ends (chef’s treat!), then slice into 1-inch pieces. Arrange them on a platter and they’re ready to go!

Preparation Time	20-30 minutes
Cooking Time	0-0 minutes
Total Time	120-180 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2400-2600
• Protein: 60-70 g
• Fat: 200-220 g
• Carbohydrates: 220-240 g

Ingredients

• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 1 cup mayo
• 1 packet (1 ounce) ranch seasoning mix
• 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced)
• 2 cups finely chopped assorted vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, bell peppers, or olives)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 8 flour tortillas (8-inch size)

Step 1: Make the Filling

In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, ranch dressing mix, and dill weed until smooth and well-combined.

Gently fold in the chopped vegetables and shredded cheese, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Step 2: Assemble the Tortilla Rolls

Take one tortilla at a time and spread about ½ cup of the prepared cream cheese mixture evenly over the surface, making sure to cover it all the way to the edge.

Carefully roll the tortilla up tightly to ensure the filling stays inside.

Wrap each rolled tortilla in plastic wrap to secure them.

Step 3: Chill the Assembled Tortillas

Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas until all are assembled and wrapped in plastic.

Place the wrapped tortillas in the refrigerator and chill them for at least 2 hours, or leave them overnight for the best results.

This step will help the flavors meld and the rolls to firm up.

Step 4: Slice and Serve

When you’re ready to serve, use a sharp knife to trim any unfilled ends from each tortilla roll.

Then, slice each wrapped tortilla into 8 equal pieces.

Arrange the slices on a platter and enjoy your delicious and creamy veggie tortilla pinwheels!