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Ham and Pickle Roll Ups take just three ingredients and about five minutes to make. Spread cream cheese on deli ham, roll it around a crunchy dill pickle, and slice into bite-sized pieces. This easy pickle roll ups recipe is a no-cook snack or party appetizer, sometimes called pickle wraps.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I’ve made these for years with Claussen Pickles and everyone enjoys them.
I get requests to make and bring to different occasions. They’re Great!” – Carol“This recipe is simply delicious! My husband loved them! Thanks for a simple recipe that everyone in my household loves!” – Kimmie
“I would have NEVER considered this combo but I love the ingredients by themselves, so I decided to try it. It’s now a favorite in my home!” – Laurie
Why I Love Making These with My Kids
As a busy mom, I’m always looking for snacks that don’t take much time or a long list of ingredients. My kids love helping roll these up, which makes them even easier to put together. When I’m making lunches or looking for a quick afternoon snack, I can pull out the ham, cream cheese, and pickles and have something ready in minutes.
I even served these at a little tea party I threw for my girls, right alongside the finger sandwiches. They were a hit! I love that the same simple snack works for a special little party and for an ordinary afternoon at home.
🩷 Erica
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Deli ham: I usually use Black Forest ham, sliced just a little thicker than regular sandwich slices. It should be flexible enough to roll without tearing.
- Cream cheese: Plain cream cheese works great. Let it soften enough to spread easily over the ham. Reduced-fat cream cheese is also an option.
- Dill pickle spears or baby dill pickles: I usually use pickle spears, but baby dills work too. Pat them dry so the cream cheese sticks instead of sliding around.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Seasoned cream cheese: Try chive-and-onion cream cheese, or mix a little dry ranch seasoning, garlic salt, or everything bagel seasoning into plain cream cheese.
- Other deli meats: Turkey, roast beef, or salami can stand in for ham. Choose slices large enough to wrap around the pickle.
- Other pickles: Sweet pickles, spicy pickles, or garlic dill pickles will change the flavor. Sweet pickles are a useful option if you’re avoiding dill, provided their ingredients meet your dietary needs. Pickled asparagus is another variation suggested in the comments.
- Extra crunch: Add a thin strip of bell pepper or cucumber, or a little shredded carrot, as long as you can still roll the ham snugly.
- Gluten-free: There are no tortillas or bread in the basic recipe. Check the labels on the deli ham, pickles, cream cheese, and any added seasonings to make sure the ingredients you use are gluten-free.
How to Make Ham and Pickle Roll Ups
- Spread the Cream Cheese: Take a slice of ham and pat it dry with a paper towel. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese all over it. Be sure to get it to the edges so every bite has that creamy goodness.
- Add the Pickles: Place a pickle spear or a baby dill pickle on one edge of the ham slice. I usually go for a whole pickle spear, but baby pickles work great too!
- Roll It Up: Now, just roll up the ham and cream cheese around the pickle. Try to keep it nice and tight so it doesn’t fall apart.
- Slice and Serve: Slice the roll-up into bite-sized pieces and you’re done! So simple, but oh-so-delicious.
Recipe Tips
- Chill the assembled rolls briefly before slicing if the cream cheese is especially soft. They’ll be easier to cut into neat pieces, but you can skip this if you’re serving them right away.
- Place each roll seam-side down when you cut it. Wiping the knife between cuts can also help keep the cream cheese from smearing.
- For a party, set out a smaller platter and keep the remaining roll ups refrigerated until you need to refill it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! These classic pickle wraps use just ham, cream cheese, and pickles. You don’t need tortillas. Tortilla-based pickle pinwheels are a different variation, so these are a good option if you’re looking for a lower-carb appetizer.
One batch makes five whole rolls, which gives you about 20 bite-sized pieces. If you’re serving other appetizers, plan on two to three pieces per person. For a party of 20 people, I would make two or three batches.
Absolutely! If you’re making them for a quick snack or lunch, you can leave the rolls whole. I like slicing them into smaller pieces for parties because they’re easier to serve and eat.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make ahead: Assemble the rolls the day before, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Slice shortly before serving for the neatest pieces.
Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days, provided the deli ham was fresh when you made them and remains within its safe storage period. The pickles may release moisture as they sit, so the texture is best in the first day or two.
Serving: Serve chilled. Don’t leave the rolls unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F.
Freezing: I don’t recommend freezing these. The cream cheese and pickles can become watery when thawed.
More Fun Appetizer Ideas
If you’re looking to round out your snack table, here are some more delicious appetizer recipes that pair perfectly with Ham and Pickle Roll Ups:
- Kielbasa Appetizer – Simple, savory, and satisfying.
- Koolickles (Kool-Aid Pickles) – A fun twist on the classic pickle.
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings – A quick and tasty way to do wings.
- Cranberry Brie Bites – bite sized snacks that are sweet and savory.
- Turkey Pinwheels – Quick to prepare, customizable, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Have you made these ham and pickle roll ups? Let me know what kind of pickles you like to use, and leave a star rating if you try the recipe! 🥒💛
Ham and Pickle Roll Ups
Video
Ingredients
- 5 slices deli ham, I like it sliced slightly thicker than sandwich slices
- 3-5 ounces cream cheese
- 5 dill pickle spears, (or 10 baby dill pickles, use 2 per roll up)
Instructions
- Lay out each slice of ham on a cutting board and pat dry with a paper towel. Pat the pickles dry as well.
- Using a butter knife, spread an even layer of cream cheese on each slice of ham.
- Place a dill pickle spear at one end of each slice (or two baby dills) and roll up snugly.
- Use a sharp knife to cut each roll crosswise into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces. Secure with toothpicks if needed, and serve cold.
Notes
- These are also called pickle wraps or Midwestern pickle roll ups.
- For cleaner slices, chill the assembled rolls briefly before cutting. This is optional and isn’t included in the 5-minute prep time.
- For make-ahead snacks, refrigerate whole rolls and slice shortly before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator and use within 3 to 4 days if the ham was freshly opened.
- Check deli ham and seasoning labels when making these gluten-free.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I have not made this yet, but they sound very similar to an appetizer a coworker makes using pickled okra. Delicious and craveable!
You can definitely sub any pickled veggie in this, it’s great with pickled asparagus.
Simple, easy, fun at a party 😹. Pickles are on a huge upswing. These always disappear.
I’ve made these for years with Claussen Pickles and everyone enjoys them.
I get requests to make and bring to different occasions. There Great!
Ooh they are so good with Claussens, so crisp! So glad they are a hit with you and your friends!
I have also been making this for years and only use Clausen pickles and Philadelphia brand cream cheese. Nothing generic. These are top-notch one of the best appetizers ever.
i have an allergy to dill could i use a sweet pickle to make these? sounds like a good item to service at mexician train even
You definitely can make it with a sweet pickle!
This recipe is simply delicious! My husband loved them! Thanks for a simple recipe that everyone in my household loves!
Thanks so much!
I would have NEVER considered this combo but I love the ingredients by themselves, so I decided to try it. It’s now a favorite in my home!
I made this as a low-carb snack for my 6yo, who has T1D. He loved it! But, as soon as my hubby saw it, he called it “redneck sushi.” 🤦🏽♀️ LOL
It is the perfect low-carb snack! I’m glad your son enjoyed it. Sorry your husband isn’t on board – haha.
Das good Ukraine dish