Roll-ups with ham and pickle

Easy Ham and Pickle Roll Ups were introduced to our family by my sister Pam, and I’ve been making them ever since! This is a tasty ham and dill pickle appetizer that’s super low in carbs, but even kids will gobble it up.

PIN Ham and Pickle Roll Ups to make later!

Roll-ups with ham and pickle are my Friday Favorites pick this week, and I hope you make these as you watch the Super Bowl! These tasty snacks have appeared at almost every Denny family party since my sister discovered them! And they have also become a popular recipe in Kalyn’s Kitchen, thanks Pam!

And these tasty ham, cream cheese and pickles appetizers are a perfect low-carb option for a game dish. And in my family, even children or non-dieters will enjoy it. If you like the idea of ​​a family-friendly, low-carb appetizer, I bet Ham and Pickle Roll-Ups will be a hit with your family too!

What ingredients do you need?

(This is just a list of ingredients; scroll down for the full printable recipe. Or if you want the GO TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, which will take you directly to the full recipe with ingredient quantities.)

• dill pickles
• slices of deli ham
• cream cheese

Can you make the Ham and Pickle Roll Ups dairy-free?

If you want to make a version of this recipe that is dairy-free and even lower in calories, you can skip the cream cheese or use some type of non-dairy spread.

What type of ham do I use for Ham and Pickle Roll Ups?

For this recipe I use thinly sliced ​​deli ham; the kind that comes in plastic packaging is perfect.

Would you like more variations for a roll-up aperitif?

Many variations on this idea have popped up in my head over the years, so check behind the main recipe for more options. And apparently there are endless ideas for similar little rolled snacks like this, because readers have suggested so many different ones in the comments on this post. And in some families they have some pretty creative names too! If your family has a fun version of this, please share it in a comment!

How low in carbs are the Ham and Pickle Roll Ups?

Four pieces of this ham and pickles appetizer contain only 2 net carbohydrates and 5 grams of protein! Make sure you choose sliced ​​ham without added sugar if you want it to be low in carbs.

Want more low-carb appetizer recipes?

Check out 50+ Keto Appetizer Recipes or Keto Side Dishes, Appetizers & Salads for the Holidays for more tasty low-carb appetizer ideas!

This is how you make roll-ups with ham and pickle:

(This is just a summary of the steps for the recipe; scroll down for the full printable recipe. Or if you want the GO TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, which will take you directly to the full recipe.)

1. Start by cutting the dill pickles lengthwise into quarters or sixths, depending on how large the pickles are.
2. I had baby dills, so I bought smaller slices of ham to match the size of the pickles. If I were using my favorite dill pickles, I would just cut them crosswise.
3. The only part of this recipe that is somewhat labor intensive is spreading the cream cheese on the ham, and if you let it sit and soften, it’s quite easy. Spread it lightly, otherwise the extra will ooze out when you cut the ham!
4. Place a dill pickle spear on each slice of ham and prepare to roll them up. (If the ham was much wider than the pickle spear, I would cut it off before rolling it.)
5. Roll the slice of ham around the pickle spear.
6. Then place toothpicks in each roll and align them where you want to cut the ham. (With larger ham slices you can remove a maximum of 5 from a piece of ham, but with the smaller ham I only cut 3.)
7. Cut the rolls so that each piece has a toothpick in it, arrange on a plate and serve.
8. You can also make the Ham and Pickle Roll Ups without cream cheese if you have guests who cannot eat dairy, or if you want to reduce the carbs and calories even further.

More ideas for low-carb appetizers:

Suggestions for a low-carb diet / low-glycemic diet / South Beach diet:
When made with ham without added sugar, the Ham and Pickle Roll Ups are suitable for low-carb eating plans, including Keto. When made with lean ham and reduced-fat cream cheese, they are ideal for any phase of the Original South Beach Diet.

Find more recipes like this:
For more appetizer ideas like these, use Appetizers. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTokor on YouTube to see all the good recipes I share there.

Historical notes on this recipe:
My family discovered these ham and pickle snacks in 2011 when my sister Pam tried them as a food sampler, and we’ve been making them ever since! The recipe was last updated with more information in 2025.