My aunt brought a platter of these to the cookout and the men completely demolished them before we even sat down. You only need 3 ingredients to make them.
This Southern 3-Ingredient Ham Roll Ups recipe (frequently celebrated across the South as “Lariat Pinwheels” or “Minnesota Sushi”) is a magnificent, ultra-savory, and crisp appetizer masterpiece that elevates classic deli ingredients into a legendary party snack. By layering thin, smoky deli ham directly with velvety cream cheese and wrapping it tightly around a crisp, pungent green onion, you construct a flawless contrast of smooth dairy lipids and sharp, refreshing crunch. Requiring absolutely zero cooking and engineered to assemble in minutes, it delivers premium, crowd-pleasing results with absolute minimal active kitchen tracking.
Southern 3-Ingredient Ham Roll Ups – Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 bunch green onions, trimmed and finely chopped
- 12 thin slices deli ham, cut in half
Step-by-Step Directions:
Step 1: Smooth the Cream Cheese Adhesive: Place your 8 ounces of softened cream cheese into a small bowl. Using a sturdy spoon or rubber spatula, stir it vigorously until it is completely smooth, lump-free, and effortlessly spreadable.
Step 2: Apply the Uniform Layer: Lay your 24 half-slices of deli ham flat across a clean cutting board or work surface. Using an icing spatula or butter knife, spread a thin, perfectly even layer of the smooth cream cheese over the entire top surface of each piece of ham.
Step 3: Anchor and Roll the Cylinder: Place one trimmed green onion directly along the short end of each cream-cheese-coated ham piece. Roll the ham tightly around the onion stalk, working your way to the opposite end to create a neat, firm cylinder.
Step 4: Execute the Structural Chill: Transfer the assembled logs onto a tray or plate. Place them in the refrigerator to chill for 20 / to 30 / minutes.
Tip: Do not skip the refrigeration step! Cold temperatures lock the cream cheese fats back into place, acting as a firm mortar that prevents the ham and onion layers from slipping or unrolling when you slice them.
Step 5: Segment and Present: Remove the chilled logs from the refrigerator. Using a very sharp chef’s knife, slice each roll crosswise into bite-sized pinwheels (about 1/2 / inch to 3/4 / inch wide). Arrange the rounds cut-side up on a clean serving platter and serve immediately.
