Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups

Made with just 3 ingredients in just 15 minutes, these Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups are the Midwestern party snack you need in your life.

Aside from being super easy-to-make and addictively salty-delicious, these pickle roll-ups also happen to be gluten-free and keto-friendly. In other words, they’re perfect for sharing!

pickle slices rolled up with cream cheese and ham.

Table of Contents

Why We Love This Recipe
Ingredients For Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups
How To Make Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups
FAQs
Serving Suggestions + Pairs Well With
Variations
Storage
Expert Tips
More Bite Sized Snacks
Ham and Pickle Roll Ups Recipe

Why We Love This Recipe

These ham and pickle roll-ups are a Midwestern staple that are also known as “pickle wraps.” They’re delightfully salty, super satisfying, and a perfect appetizer to make all year round! Not only are they a hit at parties and tailgates, but they’re also simple enough to make as an after-school snack.

If you’re in the market for an easy appetizer that even your kiddos can help you make, you’ve come to the right place. This recipe for ham pickle roll-ups is:

Made with just 3 ingredients. Deli ham, whipped cream cheese, and pickles. How can you go wrong with that??
Versatile. Whether you swap in a different deli meat, add some flavoring to your cream cheese, or toss a tortilla into the mix, there’s plenty of ways to customize this easy appetizer to your liking.
So stinkin’ easy! Making these ham rolls with pickles is as simple as spreading the cream cheese on ham, rolling it up with a pickle in the middle, and cutting it into bite-sized pieces.

Ingredients For Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups

There are only 3 ingredients that you’ll need to make ham cream cheese roll-ups with pickles:

Deli Ham – Any type of ham will work here, but I prefer plain ol’ deli ham. Note that a thicker slice works best for spreading the cream cheese on.
Whipped Cream Cheese – This can be found sold in tubs, or you can easily make your own using softened block cream cheese and a hand mixer.
Dill Pickles – You’ll want to grab small pickles, but not baby dills (a.k.a. cornichons). Ideally, they should be about the same width as the slices of ham you’re using. I find the ones at Trader Joe’s are perfectly shaped.

How To Make Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups

Be sure to check the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions.

This simple recipe for pickle wraps is easy enough that you can enlist the help of your little ones. Here’s how they’re made:

Spread & Roll. Spread cream cheese on a slice of ham, and roll it up around a pickle. Set aside and repeat with the rest of the ingredients.
Slice & Eat. Slice into 1-inch pieces and arrange on a serving platter. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.
Optional. If desired, use toothpicks to stand roll-ups on their side and keep them together.

FAQs

Are ham cream cheese roll-ups healthy?

While I’m no nutritionist, these snacks are made with 3 simple, whole-food ingredients, so I feel great about serving them to my family. Depending on the pickles and the ham, they may lean a little salty though, so be sure to serve them in moderation.

What meat goes best on pickle wraps?

Traditionally, Midwesterners like to serve these pickle roll-ups with ham or dried beef, but I’ve found that cream cheese and pickles play nicely with pretty much every deli meat around. Feel free to experiment to find your favorite!

A hand holding a pickle roll up with ham.

Serving Suggestions + Pairs Well With

I like to serve these for after-school snacks, at tailgates, in picnics and packed lunches, or at parties. They’re serious crowd-pleasers! I suggest serving them on a platter with toothpicks for easy grabbing, with a bottle of mustard on the side in case anyone wants a little dipping sauce.

Pickle wraps also pair beautifully with other bite-sized snacks like:

Variations

While the pickle-cream cheese-ham combo is hard to beat in these pickle wraps, there’s always plenty of room for customization here at EasyAppetizers.com. Here are some of my favorite variations:

Use Honey Ham or Black Forest Ham. Adding a little sweetness or a gorgeous black edge is a fun way to switch things up without totally changing the formula.
Try Using A Different Deli Meat Altogether. Don’t eat pork? Try making these pickle roll-ups with deli turkey, chicken, or roast beef. You can also make a mini version using salami and baby dills, though you’ll definitely want to use toothpicks if you do.
Add A Tortilla Like In My Mexican Pinwheels. Turn them into a heftier, sandwich wrap-like app by adding a bit of starchy goodness.
Flavor The Cream Cheese. Sprinkle in some ranch seasoning, or use some fresh herbs like chopped dill, parsley, or chives.
Leave Them Whole. Instead of slicing them into coins, leave the cream cheese ham roll-ups whole so your hungry teenagers can devour them more efficiently! Trust me, I’ve been there.

Storage

Once rolled, the pickle roll-ups will keep covered in the fridge for 4-5 days. I don’t recommend freezing them.

Pickle ham and cream cheese roll ups on a wood cutting board.

Expert Tips

Making these midwestern cream cheese ham roll-ups is simple as can be, but you know I have a few tricks up my sleeve:

Cut in half first, then cut each half into 2 or 3 pieces. I don’t know why, but cutting from the center makes it easier to create evenly sized pieces. Alternatively, you can…
Use toothpicks as cutting guides. Once the pickle is rolled up in the deli meat deliciousness, line up toothpicks at even intervals. Use these as guiding lines to help you decide where to cut!
Use thick-cut meat. While I totally understand wanting paper-thin meat slices for your sandwiches, this is not the time or place. You want a thicker cut of meat so it can stand up to spreading on the cheese!

More Bite Sized Snacks

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