These delicious Italian sausage pinwheels are the perfect appetizer or easy dinner recipe that bursts with flavor and are easy to make. Loaded with a savory blend of Italian sausage, onions, celery, garlic, all nestled in a creamy blend of cream cheese, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and wrapped in Pillsbury dough, and baked to golden perfection. These bite-size pinwheels are simple yet satisfying.
I love Italian sausage in anything, and I’m a big fan of pinwheels. They’re so easy and delicious to make. So, I combined the two to make these zesty, cheesy, meaty Italian sausage pinwheels. These little bites come together quickly, and everyone always loves their flavor. That’s why I’ve been making them for well over a decade. I got this recipe from a friend, and I never looked back. Her version was mild, but you all know I love a good kick of heat, so I started using hot Italian sausage and adding red pepper flakes for a kick of extra heat and flavor. I love to bring these to all kinds of special events and parties, and I’ll even make a batch for me and my guy when we’re planning a movie night!
Italian Sausage Pinwheels
These delicious pinwheels start with a spicy blend of hot Italian sausage, onions, celery, garlic, and Italian seasonings with a kick of red pepper flakes. I cook, drain, and add cheeses and breadcrumbs to make a delicious filling. Then, I roll it up inside Pillsbury rounds to create pinwheels and baked them until melty and golden brown. It’s an easy recipe that only takes about 45 to 50 minutes from start to finish, and when it’s all done, I have delicious Italian appetizers that have everyone coming back for more. They’re delicious, easy, and perfect for any occasion. The trifecta!
Why You’ll Love This Italian Sausage Pinwheel Recipe
- The combination of the hot Italian sausage and cheese mixture wrapped in pastry dough and baked to golden perfection is simply irresistible.
- They are super easy to make and are perfect for an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy.
- They are the perfect size and can be easily customized with different toppings or dipping sausage.
Italian Sausage Pinwheels Ingredients
This recipe packs a punch of flavor with simple ingredients that you can find in your kitchen and your local grocery store. Everything needed for these pinwheels is basic and simple. You have to love that.
- Pillsbury rounds
- Hot Italian sausage
- Yellow onion
- Celery stalk
- Cloves garlic
- Black pepper
- Basil
- Oregano
- Red pepper flakes
- Cream cheese
- Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Parmesan cheese, shredded
- Panko breadcrumbs
How to Make Italian Sausage Pinwheels
Making these pinwheels is as easy as pie, er pinwheels, I guess. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps, and even beginners will have no problem with this one!
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray (2) 9×13 or 7×11 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Step 2: Cook the Sausage and Veggies
Cook the sausage in a large pan over medium heat until almost completely cooked through. Then, add the onion, celery, and garlic and cook until the sausage is thoroughly cooked and the veggies are tender and fragrant. Add the seasonings and cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Drain the sausage mixture and let it cool.
Step 3: Make the Filling
Add the cooled sausage to a large mixing bowl, then mix in the cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs until well combined.
Step 4: Make the Pinwheels
Separate and unroll each round. Then, spread the filling over each strip of dough and roll them up, forming pinwheels. Place the pinwheels in the baking dishes as you go.
Step 5: Bake
Bake the pinwheels for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Spread butter over the rounds if desired, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Drain your sausage mixture to avoid greasy pinwheels.
- It’s important to mostly cook your sausage before adding the vegetables so they cook perfectly by the time the sausage is finished.
- Let your sausage mixture cool completely before adding the cheeses. This helps keep the filling bulky enough to remain in place while you roll up and place your pinwheels. They’ll get melty and gooey as they bake.
Variations
- Use mild Italian sausage and omit the red pepper flakes for a version with no heat.
- You can use provolone, fontina, burrata, and young gouda in place of mozzarella.
- For a Tex-Mex version, use chorizo, add diced jalapeno to the meat mixture, and add Taco or Mexican blend cheeses in place of the mozzarella and parmesan.
What to Serve with Italian Sausage Pinwheels
Serve these pinwheels with marinara sauce for dipping and pair them with tasty sides like Italian pasta salad, Italian-themed casseroles, and any of your other favorite Italian dishes. They also make an excellent addition to a larger spread with all of your favorite appetizers and finger foods.
Recipe FAQ
Italian sausage pinwheels are appetizers made with a filling of Italian sausage, onions, celery, and garlic rolled up in dough and baked until golden and melty.
There are several types of Italian sausage, not just the kind we think of for spaghetti sauce. The most common Italian sausages are:
Hot or sweet Italian sausage for spaghetti, lasagna, and the like
Ciauscolo – An Italian salami
Cotechino Modena
Genoa salami
Mortadella – Large Italian pork sausage
‘Nduja – Spicy spreadable sausage
Salami – Italian cured sausage
Serve sausage pinwheels with marinara sauce for dipping, French fries, onion rings, various dips, and your favorite appetizer options.
The meat mixture needs to cool before being turned into the filling, so feel free to make the filling up to a day in advance. Refrigerate it until ready to make the filling, then let it come to room temperature, mix in the cheeses and breadcrumbs, and bake according to the directions.
These pinwheels are freezer-friendly and will last for up to a month when stored properly.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Italian Sausage Pinwheels
Wrap the pinwheels individually in plastic wrap and place them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, wrap the pinwheels in plastic wrap, place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze them for up to a month.
To reheat the pinwheels, bake them at 350 degrees in a covered dish until heated through.
Try This Delicious Italian Sausage Pinwheel Recipe Today
These Italian sausage pinwheels are meaty, cheesy, and so easy to make! You can’t beat a combination like that! These tasty pinwheels come together quickly and make a great snack, appetizer, or treat for any occasion. Give them a try, and I know you’ll find yourself making them again and again. You’ll have to because once your family and friends try them, they’ll be asking for them nonstop!
More Delicious Appetizer Recipes
Here is a Pastrami and Swiss Pinwheel recipe that is easy to make and perfect as an appetizer for any party or gathering.
Italian Sausage Pinwheels
Ingredients
- (2) 8 count Pillsbury Place 'N Bake Original Rounds
- 1 pound hot Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare (2) 9×13 baking dishes by spraying with a non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large pan, over medium heat, cook sausage until almost completely cooked through. Add onion, celery, and garlic and continue cooking until sausage is completely cooked and veggies are tender and fragrant.
- Sprinkle in seasonings, stir to mix well, and let cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Once sausage mixture is cooled, add to a large mixing bowl.
- Add in cream cheese, mozzarella, ¼ cup Parmesan, and breadcrumbs. Mix until well incorporated.
- Separate and unroll each round.
- Spread sausage filling over each strip of dough and then roll up, forming a pinwheel.
- Place filled pinwheels into prepared baking dishes and place in preheated oven.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Top with melted butter, if desired.
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What are Pillsbury Place ‘N bake rounds?
Hi Pat,
They are like the refrigerated crescents but called rounds. They are in a sheet of 8 strips and can be separated and rolled up to create a “pinwheel.” I hope that helps.