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    Home » Recipes » Appetizer Recipes

    Smoked Salmon Roll-ups with Cream Cheese

    Modified: Feb 19, 2025 · Published: Jan 24, 2017 by Ashley

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    This post may contain affiliate links, which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 3 reviews

    This easy make-ahead 5-ingredient appetizer recipe for smoked salmon tortilla roll-ups with cream cheese and dill is always a party favorite.

    Whether you're having a dinner party, birthday party, tea party, game day gathering, baby shower, bridal shower, or graduation party, these bite-sized pinwheels are always quick disappear.

    Small cutting board with sliced smoked salmon roll-ups on top.

    Smoked salmon tortilla roll-ups and veggie cream cheese roll-ups have been appetizer staples in my house for years. They're perfect little poppable bites that aren't messy to eat.

    Being able to prepare this recipe in advance and having it hold up well in the fridge is a huge bonus. Not only are these great for party spreads, but they also work beautifully packed in lunchboxes or picnic baskets.


    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

    "I made them, just added some “caviar” to make them more festive! It was a success! Thanks" -Celia


    Jump to:
    • 🧡 Why we love this recipe
    • 📝 Ingredients
    • ✅ How to make this recipe
    • 📌 Tips and variations
    • 💡 More bite-sized party food ideas
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    Bento-style lunchbox packed with tortilla cream cheese roll-ups, fruit, nuts, crackers, and veggies.

    🧡 Why we love this recipe

    • These beauties only require 5 ingredients.
    • It doesn't require any actual cooking or use of a stovetop or oven.
    • You can mix and match the things that you mix into your cream cheese.
    • They look impressive, but they really don't take a lot of work.
    • Kids have a lot of fun making tortilla roll-ups, and this is a great recipe for them to help with in the kitchen.
    Ingredients ready to assemble smoked salmon tortilla roll-ups.

    📝 Ingredients

    You only need 5 ingredients to make these easy smoked salmon wraps (see recipe card below for ingredient amounts and full directions):

    • Light cream cheese or Neufchâtel - you can also use full-fat if you prefer. If you're unfamiliar with Neufchâtel, here's an article that explains it and the difference between that and cream cheese.
    • Fresh dill - you could also use freeze-dried or dried dill (use less if not using fresh)
    • Green onions
    • Burrito-sized flour tortillas
    • Sliced smoked salmon
    A bowl of cream cheese topped with fresh dill and green onions, ready to mix for tortilla roll-ups.
    A bowl of cream cheese mixed with fresh dill and green onions, ready to spread on tortilla roll-ups.
    Spreading dill and scallion cream cheese on a large tortilla for smoked salmon roll-ups.

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

    "Can't make enough really they are simply easy and delicious."
    -Margaret


    ✅ How to make this recipe

    1. Mix cream cheese, dill, and green onions together in a medium bowl.
    2. Spread ¼ of the cream cheese mixture on each tortilla.
    3. Top with a single layer of smoked salmon.
    4. Roll the tortilla into a log shape.
    5. Wrap in plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to chill.
    6. Slice each log into discs and serve.

    See recipe card below for full instructions.

    Smoked salmon in a layer on top of a tortilla covered with cream cheese.
    Rolling up a flour tortilla coated with herbed cream cheese and smoked salmon.
    Flour tortilla with herbed cream cheese and smoked salmon rolled up into a log.

    📌 Tips and variations

    This is an incredibly easy recipe to put together, but a few tips will help ensure that you have success when you make them.

    • Look for large, 8-inch flour tortillas, usually marked as "burrito" sized. You can make these with smaller tortillas if you can't find the larger ones, but I've found this size is the easiest to work with.
    • Don't overstuff your tortillas. Go for a nice even layer of cream cheese and a single layer of smoked salmon.
    • Feel free change up what type(s) of mix-ins go in your cream cheese. Some great additions to this recipe include chopped capers, thinly sliced red onion, and lemon zest.
    • Divide your cream cheese mixture into fourths in the bowl and use one fourth for each tortilla. You could even change up the flavors in each fourth and have each tortilla get a different cream cheese mixture spread on top.
    • Leave a little bit of cream cheese around the edges of the tortilla. This acts as a bit of a glue to help seal the tortillas closed.
    Three rolled up tortillas wrapped in plastic wrap, labeled veggie, salmon, and ham.
    • Apply some firm pressure (without smushing) as you roll your tortilla. You want to make sure everything is compressed enough to hold together.
    • Wrapping the logs in plastic wrap and twisting the ends is helpful for keeping everything together while it chills. If you have a storage container that's the right size, you could lay them down in that, seam side down, while they chill.
    • If you're making a variety of flavors, it can be helpful to label them as you go so you know which is which.
    Flour tortilla with herbed cream cheese and smoked salmon rolled up into a log.

    Tips for cutting

    • If you're looking to get evenly sized pinwheels, I've found that the best method is to first cut the whole log in half, then cut each of those halves in half, then cut each of those four pieces in half.
    • I often trim the very end off of both sides of the log. The filling doesn't tend to get all the way to the end, so it's mostly tortilla. It makes a good snack for you to enjoy while you're cutting down the rest of the pieces!
    • Use a serrated knife when cutting, if possible. Cut in a sawing motion to keep your pinwheels from getting smushed and ruining the spiral design.
    Close up of smoked salmon roll-up tortilla bites.

    💡 More bite-sized party food ideas

    Here are a few more of our favorite make-ahead party bite recipes to serve alongside these smoked salmon roll-ups:

    • Overhead view of a platter of veggie cream cheese roll-ups.
      Veggie Cream Cheese Roll-ups
    • Overhead view of a round board full of pickle treat appetizers.
      Pickle Treats
    • Garlicky Goat Cheese + Herb Stuffed Peppadews
      Garlicky Goat Cheese + Herb Stuffed Peppadews
    • Close up of a few cucumber slices topped with a spiced chickpea purée.
      Falafel-Spiced Cucumber Bites

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    Print

    📖 Recipe

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Small cutting board with sliced smoked salmon roll-ups on top.

    Smoked Salmon Roll-ups

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
    • Author: Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen - Ashley Covelli
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    • Yield: 32 pieces
    • Category: Appetizer
    • Method: No Cook
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Smoked salmon tortilla roll-ups with cream cheese make for a great bite-sized app. This is an easy party pinwheel recipe that's always a hit!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 8 ounces light cream cheese or Neufchâtel, softened
    • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh dill
    • 2 green onions, finely chopped
    • 4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
    • 8 ounces sliced smoked salmon

    Instructions

    1. In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, dill and green onions. Spread ¼ of the mixture on one side of each tortilla. Top with a single layer of smoked salmon and roll tightly into a log shape. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
    2. Wrap each log with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator until well chilled, at least an hour or overnight.
    3. To serve, remove plastic wrap and slice each log into 8 equal slices.

    Equipment

    Image of condiment spreader

    condiment spreader

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    Image of serrated knife

    serrated knife

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    Notes

    I like using Neufchâtel or light cream cheese. Feel free to use your favorite or whatever kind is on sale!

    Look for large, 8-inch flour tortillas, usually marked as "burrito" sized. You can make these with smaller tortillas if you can't find them, but I've found this size is the easiest to work with.

    Feel free change up what type(s) of mix-ins go in your cream cheese. You can even divide it in fourths, and have each tortilla get a different cream cheese mixture spread on top.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 4 pieces
    • Calories: 122
    • Sugar: 0.5 g
    • Sodium: 824.3 mg
    • Fat: 3.9 g
    • Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
    • Carbohydrates: 13.4 g
    • Fiber: 0 g
    • Protein: 8 g
    • Cholesterol: 10.6 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @bigflavors on Instagram and hashtag it #cookbigflavors

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Allie R Taylor

      January 24, 2017 at 2:16 pm

      I received some Harry & David smoked salmon in a gift box for Christmas - had no ideas WHAT to do with it. Now I do! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration Ashley, these rollups look delicious!

      Reply
      • BigFlavorsFromATinyKitchen

        January 27, 2017 at 9:47 am

        Ooh! Let me know how they turn out if you end up making them. And how awesome are Harry & David gift boxes?!

        Reply
    2. Lori H

      January 24, 2017 at 8:57 pm

      The addition of the dill to the cream cheese looks really good.

      Finger foods are the best! My faves are bacon-wrapped water chestnuts and/or dates, hummus, dips...and wings, of course!

      Reply
      • BigFlavorsFromATinyKitchen

        January 27, 2017 at 9:48 am

        Thanks so much! And I agree - bacon wrapped ANYTHING is always a hit!

        Reply
    3. Holly C

      June 18, 2020 at 4:18 pm

      I added some greens and horseradish to the recipe. It turned out yummy. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Ashley

        June 18, 2020 at 5:28 pm

        Those sound like perfect additions!! Glad it was a hit for you, Holly!

        Reply
    4. Mandy

      March 23, 2021 at 8:14 pm

      I made a test run of these for my son's graduation party (I'm serving 4 varieties: smoked salmon, roast beef, chicken taco, and ham and cheese). My son wasn't sure about this one until he tried it. I got one piece. He even gave me a great idea to decorate the appetizers table: a chalkboard sign with a quote of him remembering me sending tortilla roll ups in his lunchbox in kindergarten. How perfect for a graduation party?!

      Reply
      • Ashley

        March 24, 2021 at 10:29 am

        Thank you so much for sharing this, Mandy! What a lovely story and such a fun memory for you and your son. I'd love to see photos of the table after the party! Congrats to him, and thank you for stopping by!

        Reply
    5. Celia

      December 26, 2023 at 1:26 pm

      I made them, just added some “ caviar” to make them more festive! It was a success! Thanks

      Reply
      • Ashley

        December 26, 2023 at 2:23 pm

        Oh I LOVE that idea, Celia. Thanks so much for sharing! Glad they were a hit

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Ashley and I’ve been writing about food & recipes here at Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen since 2006. I want to help you (yes, you!) gain confidence in the kitchen so you are excited to cook at home for yourself and your loved ones.

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