• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Dishes & Dust Bunnies
  • Nav Social Menu

Dishes & Dust Bunnies

Dishes & Dust Bunnies

Good Home Cooking and The Magick of Modern Homemaking - Recipes and lots of good stuff!

Italian Steak Pinwheels (Roll Ups)

by Michelle Dunster

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our discloure policy.

These Italian steak pinwheels are easy to make with only a few ingredients and taste amazing! They're great for any occasion and will quickly become one of your favorite beef recipes. With tender flank steak, fresh basil, sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella cheese you'll have an amazing dinner that tastes like it came from the finest restaurant in town! Perfect for a dinner party at home when friends come over!

Italian Steak Pinwheels (Roll Ups)

I hope you enjoy this recipe! ❤️ If you give it a try, please let me know how it turned out for you in the comments section at the bottom of the page or share a pic of your om noms on Instagram and tag @dishesanddustbunnies! ❤️

Italian Steak Pinwheels (Roll Ups)

What is a stuffed flank steak roll up/pinwheel steak?

A stuffed flank steak roll up, also known as a pinwheel steak, is a type of steak dish that is made by rolling a slice of butterflied flank steak around a stuffing made from cheese, herbs and other ingredients. The flank steak is then secured with kitchen twine, then pan fried or baked in the oven.

What are pinwheel steaks made of?

Pinwheel steaks can be stuffed with a variety of different ingredients, usually cheese and herbs. In this recipe, I've used fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella and a bit of salt and black pepper.

How do you butterfly flank steak for pinwheels?

Butterflying a steak is a technique for cutting the meat so that it is thinner and more even in thickness. This makes it more likely to cook evenly and results in a more tender finished product. To butterfly flank steak for pinwheels, start by cutting the steak in half horizontally, then open it up like a book. Finally, roll the steak up into a pinwheel shape (along with the other ingredients) and secure with kitchen twine.

When butterflying your flank steak, be sure to use a sharp knife! Using a dull knife will make it more difficult to cut thinly.

Italian Steak Pinwheels (Roll Ups)
Flank steak pinwheels being prepared on the cutting board

Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!

How to Make the Best Flank Steak Pinwheels Recipe – Overview

Although steak pinwheels look quite impressive and complicated, they're actually very simple to make! At the bottom of this post, you'll find the full recipe including the ingredients used along with detailed instructions.

To start, you'll need to butterfly your flank steak. Essentially you want to cut your steak, so that it's thin enough to roll up with ingredients on the inside. This is actually quite simple to do – see the details in the recipe at the bottom of the page.

Next, take your butterflied flank steak and lay out the filling ingredients on top. For this recipe I used fresh basil leaves, sun-dried tomatoes, then slices of mozzarella. Once the fillings have been laid out, the steak is rolled up into the shape of a log and secured with kitchen twine. Segments of the rolled steak log are then cut in between each section of tied twine.

Finally, the steak pinwheels are either cooked in a frying pan or skillet or baked in the oven.

How do you cook steak pinwheels in the oven?

To cook the steak pinwheels in the oven, first make sure your oven is preheated at 350°F. In a glass baking dish, drizzle a little olive oil or canola oil on the bottom, then place the steak rolls, pinwheel side down on the bottom. On top drizzle a little more oil, then sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Bake for about 25 minutes, then serve.

How to cook steak pinwheels in a skillet or pan?

This is my typical method for cooking steak pinwheels as I find it adds a great flavour from the browned bits which have been seared in the pan. The oven method is tasty too though, so use whatever works best for you!

Begin by adding a little oil to a large skillet or frying pan. To the pan, add the steak roll ups, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, and cook for about 7 minutes per side or until slightly browned and the cheese inside gets a bit melty. Make sure when cooking, that the spiral sides are what touches the surface of the pan. Once cooked, remove each from the pan and set aside on a serving plate.

You can serve them right away or alternatively, you could also place pinwheels in a baking dish with a lid and put it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes to keep the cheese melty before serving. This is usually what I do and it's super yummy!

How to Serve Steak Roll Ups/Pinwheels

If having for dinner, serve along with rice or potatoes and some veggies on the side. I find that the steak roll ups are best with some kind of side that will soak up the juices and flavours from the sun dried tomatoes and other ingredients used. This way is my favourite! Please don't miss out on those delicious juices at the bottom of the skillet or baking dish! Drizzle the juices over top of the served steak rollups and the rice/potatoes – it's soooo good this way!

If serving as an appetizer or at a party, you can place the steak roll ups on a tray and guests can take them as they please. 

Italian Steak Pinwheels (Roll Ups)

Recipe Variations

There are so many different ways to stuff your steak pinwheels and make them absolutely delicious! Below are a few ideas on how you can change up this recipe to make it your own. As I make more variations of this recipe, I'll add the ideas here!

Different Cheeses – you can use practically any kind of cheese you like when making flank steak pinwheels, but I find the best options are sliced mozzarella, provolone cheese, and Parmesan cheese.

Different Herbs – You could use any number of herbs in this flank steak recipe, such as fresh rosemary, fresh parsley, thyme, or oregano. Some other great options include mint, and cilantro. No matter which herbs you choose, the end result will be a delicious and flavorful dish. Enjoy!

Different Fillings – Some other possible fillings for flank steak pinwheels include:

  • Roasted red peppers
  • Pesto sauce
  • Spinach
  • Tomato sauce
  • Sliced ham, salami, prosciutto or pepperoni
  • Bacon strips
  • Artichoke hearts
Italian Steak Pinwheels (Roll Ups)

Can you prepare steak pinwheels ahead of time?

These steak pinwheels are also perfect for a party or as an appetizer. You can prepare them ahead of time according to the recipe, and then cook them just before serving. They're sure to be a hit with your guests!

Can you freeze flank steak pinwheels?

Yes, you can freeze flank steak pinwheels. Just make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before freezing in an airtight container. They will keep in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

To cook frozen steak pinwheels, place them in a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. You can also thaw them in the fridge overnight before cooking.

What to serve with Italian Steak Pinwheels

Steak pinwheels are great served with any potatoes; mashed, baked or fried. They're also great with rice and a side of steamed veggies. Here are a few more yummy recipe ideas to pair with your steak roll ups:

  • Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
  • Scalloped Potatoes
  • Coleslaw
  • Couscous Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Feta
  • Potato Wedges
Italian Steak Pinwheels (Roll Ups)

Make sure you don’t miss a thing! Follow Dishes & Dust Bunnies on:
 Instagram | Twitch | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook
For NEW RECIPES delivered straight to your inbox, signup for my email list! 

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Italian Steak Pinwheels (Roll Ups)


  • Author: Michelle Dunster – DishesAndDustBunnies.com
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6–8 steak roll ups (depends on the size of your steak) 1x
Print Recipe
Save Recipe Recipe Saved

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb. skirt or flank steak, butterflied (cut so it's a large flat piece – see pics in the post)
  • 6 or more slices of Mozzarella cheese, or enough to cover the steak (I used a sliced up mozzarella ball because I find it tastes best with the sun dried tomato, but you could also use mozzarella sliced from a cheese brick)
  • 8+ basil leaves
  • sun dried tomatoes in oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Grated Parmesan (Optional)
  • Canola Oil

Other Items Needed

  • Kitchen twine/string – to tie the steak

Instructions

Prepping the Steak Roll Ups

  1. Using a sharp knife, butterfly the steak. This means to cut the steak, horizontally through the center, then stopping before you get to the other side. Then, open up the steak like a book and lay it flat. Essentially they call this “butterflying” because you're opening up the meat like “wings”, but personally I think comparing it to opening a book makes more sense. lol  For reference, please take a look at the pictures in the body of this post to see how I butterflied my steak. It's super easy to do, so don't worry! You should end up with a nice flat piece of steak that's easier to roll up. 
  2. On top of the steak, lay out basil leaves, then sun dried tomatoes, then slices of mozzarella. If you're using grated parmesan, sprinkle some at this point.
  3. Next, roll up the steak so it's the shape of a log. Using the kitchen twine/string, tie the steak in segments. I separated the one in this post into 6 segments, but this might be different for you depending on the size of the steak you're using. 
  4. Next, using a sharp knife, cut the steak log between the tied parts, so you have little steak rolls. Make sure to leave the twine on these pieces so they hold their shape. 

How to Cook Steak Roll Ups 

Frying Pan/Skillet Method

  1. Add a little oil to a large skillet or frying pan. To the pan, add the steak roll ups, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, and cook for about 7 minutes per side or until slightly browned and the cheese inside gets a bit melty. Make sure when cooking, that the spiral sides are what touches the surface of the pan. 
  2. Once cooked, remove each from the pan and set aside on a serving plate. Alternatively, you could also put them in a baking dish with a lid and put it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes to keep the cheese melty before serving. I usually do this and it's super yummy!

Baking in the Oven

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Drizzle a little oil in the bottom of a glass baking dish and arrange all the steak roll ups, spiral side down. Drizzle a little oil over top and sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Put the lid on the baking dish and bake for about 25 minutes.
  3. Once finished, remove the lid, allow to stand for a couple minutes, then serve.

How to Serve Steak Roll Ups

  • If having for dinner, serve along with rice or potatoes and some veggies on the side. I find that the steak roll ups are best with some kind of side that will soak up the juices and flavours from the sun dried tomatoes and other ingredients used. This way is my favourite! Please don't miss out on those delicious juices at the bottom of the skillet or baking dish! Drizzle the juices over top of the served steak rollups and the rice/potatoes – it's soooo good this way!
  • If serving as an appetizer or at a party, you can place the steak roll ups on a tray and guests can take them as they please. 

Notes

In the pictures for this post, you'll notice that in addition to kitchen twine/string, I also secured my steak with wooden skewers – I found that this isn't necessary so long as your twine is secured tight enough. Using only twine should be enough to hold everything!

Depending on your guests or who you're serving the steak pinwheels to, you may want to remove the kitchen twine for them. My son loves this recipe, but needs me to remove the string for him first. If you serve them with the twine still intact, just remind your guests to remove it before eating. I find that they look quite nice with the twine still on when served, but it's up to you!

If making these as appetizers, you can make smaller sized steak roll ups and secure them with toothpicks to make them (a little bigger than) bite sized. If doing this, to save on time, I recommend baking them in the oven rather than in the skillet or pan.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Main
  • Cuisine: Italian Inspired

Did you make this recipe?

If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear about it!
Tag @dishesanddustbunnies on Instagram and hashtag it #dishesanddustbunnies,
and I'll share your pic in my Instagram stories! ❤️

_________________________
Hi there! I'm Michelle!
Welcome to Dishes & Dust Bunnies where I share recipes, tips and hints to help make this messy chaotic life as a mom just a little easier! Learn more >>
_________________________

Primary Sidebar

Hi there, I'm Michelle!

Welcome to Dishes & Dust Bunnies where I share recipes, tips and hints to help make this messy chaotic life as a mom just a little easier! Learn more >>

Subscribe to get a free eCookbook with my Top 30 Recipes!
____________________________
Get the latest from Dishes & Dust Bunnies delivered right to your inbox :)

Footer

Follow me!

Dishes & Dust Bunnies

About
Sponsored Content
Media Mentions
FAQs
Contact

Explore

Recipes

For Bloggers

Blogging
Dishes & Dust Bunnies

Privacy Policy - Disclosure
Copyright © 2023 DishesAndDustBunnies.com

Sign up for email updates and get a free eCookbook with my top 25 recipes!
Sign up for email updates and get Top 25 Recipes from Dishes & Dust Bunnies eCookbook FREE!
We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe.
Subscribe to get a free eCookbook with my Top 25 Recipes!
____________________________
Get the latest from Dishes & Dust Bunnies delivered right to your inbox :)
GET IT NOW
.
Did you make this recipe?

Tag @dishesanddustbunnies on Instagram and hashtag it #dishesanddustbunnies

Hi there! This is a message to my readers about the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle. Please check out my post 10 Reasons Why you NEED The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle
Enter your name and email below and I'll send you my free printable Cooking Conversions Chart!
Plus, you'll get FREE email updates whenever a new post is published to Dishes & Dust Bunnies!
Thanks so much!
Your free printable is on it's way!
If you don't see an email from me (Michelle Dunster) within a couple of minutes, be sure to check your spam folder just in case it landed in there!
Subscribe to get a free eCookbook with my Top 25 Recipes!
____________________________
Get the latest from Dishes & Dust Bunnies delivered right to your inbox :)
Get the latest from Dishes & Dust Bunnies delivered right to your inbox!

As thanks, I'll send you a free eCookbook with my Top 25 Recipes! :)

This training has ended. No worries though, I'd love to let you know when new ones are available.
If you don't want to miss out on future trainings or webinars enter your email below and I'll make sure you're the first to know when any new ones are available!
Unfortunately this year's Genius Blogger's Tool Kit sale has ended. The good news is that a new Tool Kit becomes available each year (and occasionally, the current year’s Tool Kit will be offered up again during a flash sale).

If you don’t want to miss out on future opportunities to purchase the Genius Bloggers Tool Kit, enter your email below and I’ll make sure you’re the first to hear when future Tool Kits go live!
Unfortunately enrollment for Elite Blog Academy is currently closed. In order to best serve their students, the doors to EBA are only open for a short time each year.

So you don’t miss out on future opportunities to join EBA, enter your email below and I’ll make sure you’re the first to hear when registration opens again!
Don't forget to like us on Facebook!
Subscribe to get a free eCookbook with my Top 30 Recipes!
____________________________
Get the latest from Dishes & Dust Bunnies delivered right to your inbox :)
_________________________
Hi there! I'm Michelle!
Welcome to Dishes & Dust Bunnies where I share recipes, tips and hints to help make this messy chaotic life as a mom just a little easier! Learn more >>
_________________________
Subscribe to get a free eCookbook with my Top 30 Recipes!
____________________________
Get the latest from Dishes & Dust Bunnies delivered right to your inbox :)
Subscribe to get a free eCookbook with my Top 30 Recipes!
____________________________
Get the latest from Dishes & Dust Bunnies delivered right to your inbox :)
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Need more a bit more help getting started? No worries!
I'm in the process of updating this page to give you more info on getting your blog up and running! I'd love to let you know when I update this page!
Enter your email below and I'll let you know when this page is updated!