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School lunch doesn’t get any easier than these turkey pinwheel sandwiches! You get greens, protein, and a whole lot of yum. It’s a different way to repurpose tortillas and everyday ingredients into something you can feel good about packing in the lunchbox.
Turkey Pinwheels with Spinach
You’re looking at a pinwheel recipe filled with a yummy combination of hummus, fresh spinach, and turkey, and unlike a regular sandwich, you can make this one the night before!
In fact, pinwheels taste better when made ahead- it gives the tortilla time to absorb the flavors from the hummus and all the ingredients to meld into one delicious bite.
Of course, if you don’t have turkey or spinach on hand, you can swap them out for another deli meat and chopped lettuce, it’s the same concept, but with different flavors.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to assemble this turkey pinwheel for the school lunchbox:
- Large flour tortilla: it’s pliable and easy to roll.
- Red pepper hummus: or any hummus you prefer.
- Deli turkey: sliced thin, could also be ham or chicken.
- Spinach: a good dose of nutrients and crunch.
- Fruit salad: chopped kiwi, blueberries, and raspberries, or swap out for sliced fruit of choice.
- Snacks: this lunch has yogurt with a swirl of jam as well as raw almonds.
I’m all for packing great-tasting and nutritious lunches, and while I have plenty on this site, you’ll find even more ideas here:
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How to Pack Turkey Pinwheel Sandwiches for Lunch
The following directions will show you how to pack these turkey pinwheels in the lunchbox so they stay intact while in transit from the classrooms to their final destination: the cafeteria.
- Roll it up
Spread the hummus onto the tortilla, add the remaining ingredients and roll it up. This step is important because hummus acts like glue and holds the pinwheels together. - Wrap it
Leave the roll uncut, wrap it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. In the morning, remove the plastic wrap and cut it into pinwheels. - Slice and pack
To keep the pinwheels fresh, it’s best to pack them in a compartment away from other ingredients. Place the almonds in an empty compartment. - Divide the snacks
Wet ingredients like fruit and yogurt should be packed separately from the pinwheels and any dry ingredients. - Time to pack
Close the lunch container and pack it into a lunch bag with an ice pack.
Need a container to help you pack lunches this year? I’ve compiled a list of my favorite lunch boxes for kids here to help you choose the best ones.
How to keep pinwheel sandwiches fresh until lunch
Before assembling these tasty pinwheel sandwiches, check out these packing tips so they stay fresh and neat for hours:
Choose the right container
Pack this lunch in a sturdy lunch container to keep the pinwheels from being flattened in the lunch bag or backpack.
Avoid sogginess
If you’re making this lunch ahead, don’t cut the pinwheels until you’re ready to pack them for school in the lunch bag. This keeps the filling in its place and sogginess away.
Keep it cool
Keep the pinwheels in the fridge until it's time to pack them in the lunch bag. Add an ice pack to keep the temperature inside stable and your lunch fresh.
More Turkey Wraps for School Lunch
Looking for more healthy school lunches with turkey? Try this turkey bacon wrap or this epic turkey club wrap next. You can also make the lunchbox greener with this spinach lunch wrap with turkey or this turkey avocado lettuce wrap. So good!
Turkey Pinwheel Sandwiches with Hummus
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons red pepper hummus
- 1 large flour tortilla
- 2- ounces deli turkey or ham
- Handful baby spinach, chopped
- Yogurt + 1 teaspoon jam, optional
- ¼ cup almonds, optional
- 1 cup fruit of choice, optional
Instructions
- Spread the hummus over the tortilla. Top with turkey and spinach.
- Starting at one end, tightly roll the tortilla into a roll. Wrap the entire roll with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. If making this the morning of, skip this step and proceed with the recipe.
- When you're ready to pack, remove the plastic wrap and cut the roll into 1-inch pinwheels.
- Add the pinwheels to a compartmentalized lunch container, keeping them separate from the fruit and almonds.
- Place the yogurt in a mini sauce container and top with the jam, close and pack into a lunch bag with the lunch box and an ice pack.
- Close the container and pack it into a lunch bag with an ice pack.
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