If you ask me, tortilla roll ups are one of the best party foods around.
These creamy, zesty green chili roll ups have become my go-to appetizer whenever I’m hosting friends or need to bring something to a potluck. The combination of cream cheese, diced green chilies, and fresh herbs wrapped in soft flour tortillas just works.
Each bite-sized piece is loaded with southwestern flavors, and the best part is you can make them ahead of time. Just slice them up right before serving, and watch them disappear from the platter.
It’s a no-fuss appetizer that always gets people asking for the recipe – perfect for any gathering, big or small.
Why You’ll Love These Tortilla Roll Ups
- Make-ahead friendly – These roll ups are perfect for preparing a day in advance, letting the flavors meld together and saving you time when you need them.
- Party-perfect appetizer – They’re easy to serve, portable, and can be cut into bite-sized pieces that guests can grab and enjoy while mingling.
- Simple ingredients – You’ll only need a handful of basic ingredients that you can find at any grocery store, making shopping a breeze.
- No cooking required – Just mix, spread, roll, and chill – no oven, stovetop, or special equipment needed beyond a mixing bowl and spreading knife.
- Customizable filling – The basic cream cheese mixture works great with different add-ins, so you can adjust the ingredients based on what you have or prefer.
What Kind of Green Chiles Should I Use?
Canned diced green chiles are perfect for this recipe, and you’ll typically find two main varieties at the grocery store – mild and hot. Mild green chiles (usually made from Anaheim peppers) are the most common and give you that classic green chile flavor without too much heat, making them perfect for these roll-ups. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can swap in the hot variety, which often uses hotter peppers like jalapenos. Just make sure to drain the chiles well before adding them to your mixture – excess liquid can make your filling runny and harder to spread. And while fresh roasted green chiles can work too, the canned variety actually saves time and provides a more consistent flavor that works great in this recipe.
Options for Substitutions
This easy appetizer recipe is pretty flexible and allows for several substitutions:
- Cream cheese: You can use Neufchâtel cheese for a lighter option, or try dairy-free cream cheese if you need a vegan alternative. Just make sure it’s well-softened for easy spreading.
- Sour cream: Greek yogurt makes a great substitute here – it’ll give you the same creamy texture with extra protein. You can also use Mexican crema or dairy-free sour cream.
- Cheddar cheese: Feel free to swap in Monterey Jack, pepper jack for extra kick, or a Mexican cheese blend. For dairy-free needs, use your favorite plant-based shredded cheese.
- Green chiles: If you can’t find canned green chiles, you can use fresh roasted poblanos or even jalapeños (use less if you want to keep the heat down). In a pinch, you could use mild salsa verde, just drain it well.
- Flour tortillas: While flour tortillas work best for rolling, you can try spinach or sun-dried tomato flavored wraps for a pop of color. Just avoid corn tortillas as they’ll crack when rolled.
- Black olives: Not an olive fan? Skip them entirely or replace with diced red bell peppers or pickled jalapeños for crunch and flavor.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making
The biggest challenge when making tortilla roll ups is working with cream cheese that’s not properly softened, which can lead to lumpy filling and torn tortillas – leave it out for at least an hour before starting, or microwave in 10-second bursts until perfectly soft. Another common mistake is overfilling the tortillas, which makes them difficult to roll and can cause the filling to squeeze out the sides – stick to about 1/3 cup of filling per tortilla and spread it evenly, leaving a small border around the edges. To prevent soggy roll ups, make sure to drain the green chiles thoroughly and pat them dry with paper towels before mixing them into the filling. For the best results, wrap your rolled tortillas tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight) before slicing – this helps the filling firm up and makes for clean, neat cuts with a sharp knife.
What to Serve With Green Chili Tortilla Roll Ups?
These creamy, cheesy roll ups are perfect party food and pair really well with a bunch of other Mexican-inspired snacks! I like to serve them alongside some fresh pico de gallo and guacamole for dipping, plus a bowl of crispy tortilla chips. For a more complete spread, add some Mexican rice or black beans on the side – they help balance out the richness of the roll ups. If you’re hosting a bigger gathering, throw in some chicken wings or meatballs to round out your appetizer table, since these roll ups work great as part of a larger snack buffet.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These tasty roll ups are perfect for making ahead! Place them in an airtight container, making sure to put a piece of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. They’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days – which makes them great for party prep or quick snacks throughout the week.
Make Ahead: You can prepare these roll ups up to 24 hours in advance. Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap before slicing and keep them in the fridge. This actually helps the filling firm up, making them easier to cut into neat pinwheels when you’re ready to serve.
Serve: For the best texture and flavor, take them out of the fridge about 10-15 minutes before serving. If you’ve made them ahead, wait to slice them until just before serving – this keeps the edges from drying out and helps maintain that fresh-made look.
| Preparation Time | 15-20 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 0 minutes |
| Total Time | 120-140 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2200-2500
- Protein: 40-50 g
- Fat: 150-170 g
- Carbohydrates: 200-220 g
Ingredients
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces)
- 1 small can (4 ounces) diced green chiles, drained
- 1/2 cup chopped black olives, pitted
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 8 flour tortillas, 8-inch size
Step 1: Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture
In a medium bowl, add cream cheese and sour cream.
Stir them together until they are well combined and smooth.
Next, incorporate the cheddar cheese, diced green chilies, olives, green onions, garlic powder, and seasoned salt into the mixture.
Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the cream cheese base.
Step 2: Assemble the Tortilla Rolls
Take one tortilla at a time, and spread approximately 1/2 cup of the cream cheese mixture evenly over the surface of the tortilla.
Make sure to spread the mixture all the way to the edges to ensure even coverage.
Roll the tortilla tightly from one end to the other, creating a log shape.
Wrap the rolled tortilla securely in plastic wrap.
Step 3: Chill the Tortilla Rolls
Repeat the assembly process with the remaining tortillas until you have used up all the cream cheese mixture, and all tortillas are wrapped in plastic wrap.
Place the wrapped tortilla rolls in the refrigerator, allowing them to chill for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
This step helps to firm up the filling, making it easier to slice later.
Step 4: Slice and Serve
When ready to serve, remove the tortillas from the refrigerator.
Unwrap and trim any unfilled ends from each roll to create a neat finish.
Slice each tortilla into 8 equal pieces.
Arrange the slices on a platter, and serve your delicious tortilla roll-ups as a tasty appetizer or snack.