These Pickle Cream Cheese Roll-Ups offer a spicy twist to your average cream cheese pickle roll-up with the addition of pickled jalapenos. It's an easy pickle appetizer you can whip up for everything from potlucks to BBQs.
If you’re a Minnesotan (or fellow Midwestern neighbor), you already know. You’ve eaten dozens of these things, and you LOVE them (at least I hope you do).
Picture it. A Minnesota kitchen, a jar of pickles, a package of cream cheese, and some thinly sliced deli meat, and the ambition to make a truly magical snack. That snack is the beloved Pickle Cream Cheese Roll-Up!
My dream is to one day prepare these beauties, curlers in hair, alongside That Midwestern Mom. Because they make an oh-so-wholesome snack don't cha know!
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Why You Will Love Pickle Roll-Ups
- Twist on a Midwestern Classic: If you crave spicy foods like I do, I know you’ll love these Pickle Wraps. Just look at 'em. Weirdly delicious. 100%.
- No-Cook Appetizer or Snack: No need to turn to any kitchen equipment to prepare! These cream cheese pickle roll-ups come together easily in just a few minutes. They make the perfect chilled snack, especially when you don't want to heat up the kitchen.
- Enjoy Any Time of Year or Day: These pickles are perfect for any occasion or just because you have a craving!
If you love snacks with a little kick you've got to try my Jalapeno Cucumber Sandwiches and this Spicy Pico de Gallo with some chips!
What is a Pickle Roll-Up?
Or maybe you know it by the dill pickle wrap, the pickle dog, or my personal favorite, Minnesota sushi! Spread deli meat with cream cheese, plunk a pickle in the middle, wrap it up, and there you have it - a cream cheese pickle roll-up! Simple, humble, delicious; it's one amazingly delicious pickle appetizer. A tacky, tongue-in-cheek nod to actual sushi (maybe... probably?).
Most of the time you'll see ham used to make dill pickle wraps, but you can use whatever deli meat you wish. I decided to use pastrami in this recipe to mix it up.
That’s a Midwestern home cook for you though. Take a few humble ingredients, put ‘em together, and transform it into something weirdly delicious.
I love the weirdly delicious cream cheese pickle roll-up. Even though they cost like $7 bucks at the Minnesota State Fair (where they call ‘em pickle dogs), I always get one. The tart vinegary-ness of the pickle against the cool, rich cream cheese, neatly wrapped up in pastrami is inexplicably refreshing when you’ve been eating fried food all day.
But it should go without saying that pickle wraps are good any day. Like days like today. When it’s mid-March and you’re ready for the snow to melt so you can ditch the clunky boots and shed some layers.
Ingredients
Add pickled jalapenos to the traditional dill pickle wrap recipe and you get a zesty twist on Cream Cheese Pickle Roll-ups. Literally, 4 ingredients to achieve pickle appetizer greatness.
Since there are so few ingredients, I encourage you to use the best quality you can find for each. I’m all about:
- Claussen pickles - I will die on this hill: Claussen pickles are easily in the top 3 best mass-produced pickles. I use them almost exclusively to make pickle roll-ups. BUT, I would be remiss if I didn't also suggest using Gedney pickles to get your Minnesota sushi fix. If you love Claussen pickles as much as I do, you've got to try this Pickle de Gallo recipe.
- Philadelphia cream cheese - Go full fat here or go... somewhere else. Just kidding! You can use a lower-fat cream cheese if you'd like here. The results will still be dill-icious.
- Boar's Head Deli Pastrami - Traditionally the Midwest pickle roll-up calls for using deli ham, but peppery-edged pastrami is seriously amazing here.
- San Marcos pickled jalapenos - Pickled jalapenos bring the heat, plus you can use a splash of the juice to help "loosen" up the cream cheese and make it more easy to spread.
As for the pickled jalapenos, I’m obsessed with the San Marcos brand. What separates these from your standard pickled jalapeno is the canola oil they add to the mix. It gives the jalapeno juice a slightly oily quality that pairs beautifully with the cream cheese. Also, it makes a great homemade vinaigrette base.
Variations on the Pickle Roll-Up
- Skip the Jalapenos: You can of course leave the pickled jalapeno out of these pickle roll-ups, but I love the mild heat it adds. Just follow the recipe as listed sans jalapeno.
- Swap the Pastrami: I used pastrami here because I wanted to try something different than the usual ham, but sliced deli ham is the OG meat to use on a cream cheese pickle rollup. It's fantastic with honey or smoked ham. You can use whatever deli meat you like - try smoked turkey or chicken.
- Cream Cheese Mix-ins I enjoy mixing in pickled jalapenos, but you can also try a little horseradish and Worcestershire sauce, banana peppers or olives, green onion, mustard, or shredded cheese, like pepper jack.
How to Make Pickle Cream Cheese Roll-Ups
- Pulverize the pickled jalapenos in a food processor.
- Mix the cream cheese, pulverized jalapenos, and jalapeno juice together until well combined.
- Lay out a piece of pastrami, slather it with jalapeno cream cheese, and place a pickle in the middle.
- Roll the pastrami up around the pickle.
Top Tips for the BEST Pickle Roll-Ups
Tip 1. Choose your pickle wisely! I LOVE Claussen and they are my go-to for pickle roll-ups. But Gedney pickles are also great - and a Minnesota favorite.
Tip 2. Store dill pickle roll-ups in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to three days. I recommend making them 4-24 hours in advance before serving for the best results; it gives the flavors time to meld and affords you time to prepare ahead.
Tip 3. Add the jalapeno juice a little at a time. A little jalapeno juice helps loosen up the cream cheese to make it more spreadable. You could also use pickle juice instead. For more ideas to help use up pickle juice, check out these creative ways to reuse leftover pickle juice.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
There are many names for the beloved Pickle Rollup. I've heard them called everything from Dill Pickle Wrap, Ham and Pickle Rollups, Pickle Dog, Minnesota Sushi, Lutheran Sushi, Pickle Roll-Ups, to Pickle and Ham Pinwheels.
You betcha! Pickle Wraps are a Midwestern appetizer, especially popular in Minnesota and Iowa. If you go to a summer potluck or two in Minnesota you're bound to see them.
I think pickle rollups make excellent sides to serve with grilled meats like hamburgers and hot dogs, and pulled meats like this Instant Pot Pulled Pork. They also go great with other appetizers like these Salsa, Ham, and Egg Roll-Ups and Taco Cucumber Bites.
More Pickle Recipes
If you love pickles you'll also love these pickle-forward recipes:
If you tried this cream cheese pickle roll-ups recipe (or any other recipe on Midwexican), please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below!
Cream Cheese Pickle Roll-Ups
Ingredients
- 8 spears Claussen pickles
- 8 slices deli-sliced pastrami*
- 1 8 ounce package Philadelphia cream cheese
- 2 pickled jalapenos
- 3 teaspoons pickled jalapeno juice
Instructions
- Add softened cream cheese to a mixing bowl.1 8 ounce package Philadelphia cream cheese
- Lay 8 pickle spears on paper towels to remove excess liquid.
- Add 2 whole pickled jalapenos and 3 teaspoons of the pickling liquid and to a food processor. Process for around 20-30 seconds, until pretty much pulverized.2 pickled jalapenos, 3 teaspoons pickled jalapeno juice
- Add the pulverized jalapenos to the cream cheese.
- Mix until well incorporated. A hand mixer can be your friend here, getting you a light, creamy, and wonderfully spreadable texture with minimal effort. Or if it’s arm day, use a fork to mix.
- Lay out a slice of pastrami on to a cutting board. Spread a generous tablespoon of the jalapeno cream cheese mixture onto the pastrami (it’s okay to leave a bit of the edges unslathered, your goal is to focus on getting an even layer in the center).8 slices deli-sliced pastrami*
- Place one pickle spear in the center. Wrap one edge of the deli meat over the pickle and continue rolling until you can’t roll anymore.8 spears Claussen pickles
- Place your Pickle Roll Up in a container, seam side down. Repeat until you’ve used up all of the cream cheese.
- Refrigerate for a few hours, so the cream cheese has a chance to firm up.
Tino Marie
So easy and delicious! Love the heat from the jalapeno.