Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels

Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels are seriously tasty, buttery puff pastry bites filled with crispy bacon and melty cheese. They make an easy snack or appetizer everyone loves.

Perfect for last-minute entertaining, Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels come together fast with store-bought puff pastry, a swipe of BBQ sauce, and a handful of savory toppings.

What You’ll Need for Irresistible Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels

• Frozen puff pastry sheets – Buttery, flaky, and perfectly crisp, puff pastry is the golden foundation of these pinwheels.
• BBQ sauce – Adds smoky-sweet flavor that pairs beautifully with bacon and cheese.
• Diced bacon – Salty, crispy bacon pieces bring rich, meaty depth and satisfying texture.
• Parmesan cheese – Sharp and nutty, it melts into the filling for bold, savory flavor.

How to Make Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels: Quick & Simple Steps

Start by thawing your puff pastry until it’s soft enough to roll without cracking. Spread BBQ sauce over each sheet, leaving a small border.

Sprinkle on a generous layer of parmesan cheese, followed by the diced bacon. Roll the pastry tightly into a log, then chill it briefly in the freezer to make slicing easier.

Cut the chilled log into 1 cm slices and arrange them scroll-side up on a baking tray. Bake until puffed and golden, then serve warm, optionally topped with extra herbs or sauce.

Flavor Boosts & Smart Tips for the Best Pinwheels

For maximum crispness, don’t skip the freezer step—chilling the rolled log helps the pinwheels hold their shape and makes slicing neat and mess-free. If you’re short on time, you can skip freezing, but be prepared for looser slices.

Switch things up by swapping the BBQ sauce for pesto or tomato paste. Love cheese? Try a cheddar-parmesan combo or even mozzarella for a gooey center.

If you’re making these for a crowd, double the batch and use different fillings in each roll—spinach and feta or ham and cheddar are easy winners.

Keep Them Fresh: Storing and Reheating Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels

To store leftovers, let the pinwheels cool completely, then keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze them in a single layer until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag.

To reheat, bake straight from the fridge or freezer at 180°C (350°F) until hot and crisp—usually 5–10 minutes. This brings back the puff pastry’s flakiness without drying it out.

Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels

Cheese and Bacon Pinwheels deliver a deliciously savory bite ideal for entertaining or quick snacking. Utilizing store-bought puff pastry, these treats are effortless to prepare and bake to golden perfection.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Freeze Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Ingredients

  

• ½ cup parmesan cheese preferably bold and sharp
• 200 grams diced bacon pre-packaged, ready to use
• 2 sheets puff pastry thawed
• Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
• Additional parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
• 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 180°C (350-375°F), Gas Mark 4-5.
• Allow the frozen puff pastry sheets to thaw at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator until soft and pliable. Place one sheet onto a chopping board.
• Evenly spread a layer of BBQ sauce over the pastry using a butter knife, ensuring to leave a 1 cm border on all sides. Sprinkle parmesan cheese uniformly across the sauce.
• Distribute the diced bacon evenly atop the cheese layer.
• Starting from the bottom edge, roll the pastry tightly into a log, drawing it towards you while keeping it firm. Wrap the log in cling wrap and freeze for 30 minutes to firm up.
• Unwrap the chilled pastry and trim the ends. Slice the log into 1 cm thick rounds using a sharp knife.
• Arrange the pinwheel slices scroll-side up on a silicon baking mat lightly sprayed with cooking oil. Optionally, mist the tops with additional cooking spray.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until golden and crisp. Turn off the oven, let the pinwheels cool slightly, then transfer them to a cooling rack.
• For serving, garnish with extra parmesan, chopped parsley, a drizzle of BBQ sauce, and a dollop of Greek yogurt if desired.

Notes

Thawed puff pastry becomes supple and easy to work with—avoid handling it while still frozen to prevent cracking.
Alternate sauces like tomato paste, tomato sauce, or pesto can be used as substitutes for BBQ sauce.
Pre-diced bacon saves prep time and ensures uniform distribution in the pinwheels.
Sharp parmesan is recommended, but cheddar or mozzarella are viable alternatives.
If short on time, skip freezing before slicing—expect a slightly messier result, though flavor remains intact.