Pesto Pinwheels cooked in the air fryer make the ideal snacks or appetizers, made with only four ingredients: ham, parmesan cheese, basil pesto, and puff pastry.
Years ago, when I needed a quick appetizer for a birthday celebration, I made these 4-ingredient pesto pinwheels for the first time. They became popular right away.
Now that they are our family’s favorite appetizer, they are expected more frequently at parties and on game days.
Why you’ll love this Recipe?
Here are the aspects of this recipe that I believe you will enjoy the most:
- The recipe calls for simple, everyday ingredients.
- Suitable for all levels of cooking.
- The recipe is inexpensive and budget-friendly.
- You can always bring in the pinwheels early in time.
- Friendly to the freezer.
- Kids friendly.
- Ideal for a meatless appetizer.
Once you’ve mastered them, they’re fuss-free and effortless. Sometimes you need a recipe or two on hand that can pull out in a pinch.
It must use ingredients that you already have or can easily obtain, and it must be simple to put together. That’s what this recipe is!
You can easily modify the recipe to increase the quantity or add additional ingredients.
So, let’s get started.
How to make Air Fryer Pesto Pinwheels?
You will adore this recipe because it takes less than 15 minutes to make and requires little prep time. It will undoubtedly become one of your go-to dishes. The combination of ham and green pesto makes the ideal appetizer.
You only need a few basic items to make these air fryer pinwheels:
• Basil Pesto
• Black Forest Ham Slices
• Frozen Puff Pastry
• Parmesan cheese, grated or in pieces
Instructions
• The first step in making this recipe is to defrost one puff pastry sheet. Roll it out into a rectangle once it has thawed.
• Next, spread the basil pesto sauce as widely as you can over the puff pastry sheet. Meat slices should be laid out flat, and parmesan cheese should be added.
• Start rolling the pastry tightly from the long end. Slice the roll into 12-one-inch pieces, then arrange them in a single layer, cut side down, in the air fryer basket.
• The basket can be lined with air fryer parchment paper, lightly brushed with olive oil, or sprayed with cooking spray that is appropriate for air fryers.
• Cook for 13 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or until they are golden brown. When they’re done cooking, garnish them with some parsley flakes and serve.
Variations & Substitution
There are numerous variations and ways to make this recipe your own. Consider the following suggestions:
• Both grated and shredded Parmesan cheese is acceptable. These pinwheels can be filled with mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, or pesto cream cheese.
• You may leave out the ham in this recipe to make it vegetarian.
• Use lean meat or thin ham slices to make this a Weight Watchers dinner.
• Avoid cramming or overfilling the basket.
•To the pesto layer, add some chopped artichokes.
• Sun-dried tomato pesto with finely chopped roasted red peppers.
• Layer cream cheese on top of the pesto.
• Sprinkle cooked chopped bacon over the pesto layer.
• Before serving, drizzle some Greek yogurt over the pinwheels.
• Make a smooth ricotta cheese layer on top of the pesto.
Once you’ve made these a few times, you’ll discover that you can experiment with different combinations or stick to the tried-and-true method.
Nutritional Information
| Calories | 281 |
| Fats | 19g |
| Carbohydrates | 20g |
| Sodium | 411mg |
| Fiber | 1g |
What kind of Puff Pastry should be used?
The fresh puff pastry appears to cook more quickly, so you might need to shorten the cooking time to be safe.
Is the type of Pesto used important?
No, not at all. You can use any pesto as per your desire.
Simply use a high-quality store brand.
I recommend Kirkland or Delallo from Costco. You can also experiment with different pesto varieties. In these simple pastry rolls, a good sun-dried tomato will add a good twist.
How long does it take to cook Pesto Pastry in Air Fryer?
It takes approximately 6-8 minutes.
Please keep in mind that different brands of air fryers are available, and each one may have slightly different cooking times for the same foods.
The cooking time will also be determined by the thickness of your pastry and the size of your pinwheels.
How to store the Air Fryer Pesto Pinwheels?
Allow the pinwheels to cool before storing them in an airtight container. They can last for up to 5 days.
To Freeze: Remove the pinwheels from the oven and place them on a cooling rack to freeze. Place them in a sealed, airtight container and freeze them for up to 1 month when they are no longer warm to the touch.
To Reheat: It is best to reheat the pinwheels in the Air Fryer or oven. Both of these will keep the pastry crisp and fresh. While the microwave will warm the scrolls, it will not warm the pastry.
As a result, the contents would be warm, but the pastry would be soggy. So, it would be good to avoid using microwaves to reheat them.
Is it possible to make these ahead of time?
The answer is both yes and no.
They can be made ahead of time but should not be baked for the best results. To lighten your load and prepare them before serving, follow these directions:
Wrap them in cling wrap once you’ve rolled them into logs. The ‘logs’ can then be refrigerated overnight or until ready to finish the next day.
Simply unwrap, slice, and bake as directed.
Conclusion
In summary,
- Air fryer Pinwheel is an easy and budget-friendly recipe that is served as an amazing appetizer in uncalled situations and parties as it only takes 10 minutes to cook.
- The recipe has many variation options so you can add or skip anything you want and be creative as you want.
- The cooking time of pinwheels may depend upon the type and model of your air fryer so adjust accordingly.
Conclusion
Air Fryer Mozzarella Balls (Let’s Go Cheesy)
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders (Keto-Friendly Meal)