Pickle Roll Ups Recipe

These delicious pickle roll ups are the perfect appetizer for any gathering! Only 3 ingredients, 10 minutes of prep time and guests will be raving! These pop in your mouth so easily and will be gone in no time.

Original post: March 2020 | Updated: October 2023

Why This Recipe Works

During my first year in college, my roomie and I had a few foods that we ate all the time: vanilla ice cream, grilled cheese sandwiches made with Texas toast and these totally delicious pickle rollups (aka Midwest Sushi or Minnesota Sushi).

Here’s why you will love them, too:

• These tasty little bites require only 3 simple ingredients and 10 minutes of your time. That’s it!
• When these are served, guests rave every single time. It’s one of the best appetizers you’ll make all year.
• The salty-sweet combination is so simple yet so tasty.
• Cream cheese pickle roll ups are easy, guest-pleasing appetizers that are great for family get-togethers, football games or literally any type of gathering.
• It’s the perfect make ahead appetizer! Prepare as directed and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.

Recipe Ingredients

Corned beef – Use thinly sliced lunch meat to create this recipe.

Thinly sliced deli ham slices can be used in place of corned beef to create a ham roll up. Or use salami to create salami pickle roll ups. Sliced roast beef can be used, as well.

Literally any thinly sliced deli meat tastes delicious! Avoid thick slices of meat when possible.

Cream cheese – Use full fat spread cream cheese spread or brick cream cheese.

Allow the cream cheese to sit at room temperature prior to preparing your roll-ups up to an hour ahead for easier spreading.

If you don’t remember to do this, simply soften it in the microwave for just a few seconds before spreading. 

Dill pickles – Either use small or medium whole pickles or large dill pickle spears.

How To Make Pickle Roll Ups

Step 1

Lay four stacks of corned beef slices (2 per stack) on a flat work surface or cutting board. Using a butter knife, top each slice with a thick layer of cream cheese (it does not have to be pretty).

Step 2

Now place a dill pickle in the center of each stack.

Roll the corned beef slices around the pickles, wrapping as tightly as possible. The cream cheese will act as the delicious glue that holds everything together.

Step 3

Using a sharp knife, cut each pickle cream cheese roll into four equal slices and place on a serving plate.

Recipe Notes

• Cream cheese roll-ups are the perfect gluten-free appetizer to serve at parties.
• Pat each pickle dry with a paper towel before rolling to avoid it slipping around.  
• Once you have sliced your pickles into roll-ups, place them back in the fridge right on the serving tray. This will allow the cream cheese to firms up around pickles, creating perfect bite-sized appetizers. 
• Wrap leftovers in plastic wrap and snack on them the following day!
• If you want to increase indulgence points, serve alongside a small bowl of ranch dressing to act as a dipping sauce.
• Dress up the cream cheese roll ups by sprinkling bagel seasoning or ranch seasoning over the cream cheese mixture before rolling.

What Kind of Pickles For Pickle Roll Ups

Use small or medium whole dill pickles or large dill pickle spears to create corned beef pickle roll ups. If the pickles are too big, the sliced meat won’t be able to wrap around it the whole way.

Best Pickle Recipes

• Create a bloody mary with food! Add pickles, cheese and salami to the savory drink.
• Pickle de Gallo
• Combine cream cheese, sour cream, fresh dill weed and chopped pickles to create a delicious pickle dip. Serve with veggies and crackers or spread onto flour tortillas to create a savory tortilla roll (aka pinwheels).
• Pickle pizza
• Save time by making quick sweet refrigerator pickles!
• Pickle relish
• Dill pickle pasta salad

How Long Do Pickles Last Unrefrigerated

If you have a jar of pickles staring at you and you are wondering whether to toss or eat, read this post about how long pickles can be left out of the fridge. You will learn everything you need to know about diving into a batch of pickled cucumbers safely.

Are Pickles Vegetables

Pickles can be considered both a fruit and a vegetable. Since they are made by bathing cucumbers in a brine liquid, they are a vegetable. However, technically speaking cucumbers are considered to be a fruit because of their seeds.

Where Did Ham and Pickle Rollups Come From

I’ve always known corned beef or ham and pickle roll-ups to be a Midwestern “thing.” It is believed that this delicious little finger food may have originated from an old German recipe, according to this article in the Des Moines Register.

Easy Holiday Appetizers

These pickle wraps are one of my favorite party foods ever, but if you need other ideas check out these yummy party food ideas:

• Air fryer fries with seasoned sour cream
• Hot ham and cheese sandwiches
• Veggie sheese stromboli
• Easy peanut butter cookies
• Slow cooker mac and cheese
• Best ever chili

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