Dried Beef Pickle Roll-Ups Recipe: Quick Party Appetizer

This recipe for Dried Beef Pickle Roll Ups is an easy three-ingredient appetizer everyone will love — perfect for holidays and family gatherings. Make ahead with baby dill pickles, cream cheese, and dried beef. Make a double batch: they disappear fast!

Dried Beef Pickle Roll Ups

Pickle roll ups were first introduced to me when my husband and I had just started dating — his step-mom Lisa made them and I was hooked. I’ve always loved pickles, and combining them with cream cheese and dried beef became a holiday staple in our house.

This version is simple and slightly different from other online recipes. I prefer using baby dill pickles rather than large spears so the roll-ups are already bite-sized and require no slicing. Just roll and serve.

For the dried beef, seek out a good-quality product. In my experience, a familiar brand makes a noticeable difference. Use thinly sliced dried beef that wraps easily without tearing.

Pickle Roll Ups Recipe

Ingredients:

4 oz plain cream cheese, softened (half a package)
16 oz baby dill pickles (jarred)
5 oz container dried beef, thinly sliced

Instructions:

Drain the pickles well. Pour them into a bowl and pat each pickle with a paper towel to remove excess juice — the drier the pickle, the better the cream cheese will adhere.
Using a butterknife, spread a thin, even layer of softened cream cheese over one side of a dried beef slice.
Place a baby dill pickle at the center of the cream cheese-topped beef slice. Gently roll the beef around the pickle, using the cream cheese as glue and overlapping if possible.
Repeat until you’ve used all the pickles. Serve whole or slice in half with a serrated knife for smaller pieces.

step by step pictures of cream cheese being spread on the dried beef

showing step by step how to roll the dill pickle in the dried beef

tall stack of dried beef pickle roll ups on a white plate

Notes on Pickle Roll Ups with Dried Beef

Ingredient amounts may not match perfectly: depending on your pickle size and count, you may have leftover dried beef and cream cheese. Adjust quantities if you need to make more.
If you have leftover dried beef, consider using it in a dip or another appetizer.
For a crowd, buy extra pickles and use the whole container of cream cheese to scale up easily.
Make sure the cream cheese is well softened. If it’s too firm it can tear the dried beef when spreading.

overhead shot of the finished displayed pickle roll ups with the ingredients next to it

Can you make Pickle Roll Ups The Night Before?

Yes. These roll-ups keep well refrigerated overnight in an airtight container, which makes them an ideal make-ahead appetizer. I often assemble them the evening before and store them in the fridge until serving.

single pickle roll up with a bite out of it in a hand

How to Serve Pickle Roll Ups

Keep it simple: stack them on a small plate for the appetizer table. No need for toothpicks or fancy prep unless you want to. For a larger spread, add them to an appetizer platter or sheet-pan snack board as a salty, tangy bite alongside cheeses and crackers.

stack of the finished dill pickle roll ups with dried beef

pickle roll ups with cream cheese and dried beef in a white bowl

Yield: 6 servings

Dried Beef Pickle Roll Ups

Dried Beef Pickle Roll Ups are an easy three-ingredient appetizer that’s great for make-ahead entertaining. Baby dill pickles, cream cheese, and dried beef combine for a salty, tangy bite that disappears quickly.

Prep Time
10 minutes

Total Time
10 minutes

Ingredients

4 oz plain cream cheese, softened
16 oz baby dill pickles
5 oz dried beef

Instructions

Drain pickles and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess juice.
Spread a thin layer of softened cream cheese on one side of a dried beef slice.
Place a pickle in the center and roll the beef around it, overlapping to secure.
Repeat until finished. Serve whole or halved. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator if making ahead.

Notes

Pickle counts vary by jar size and brand, so you may have leftover cream cheese or dried beef. If serving a crowd, increase the number of pickles and use the full package of cream cheese.

Softened cream cheese spreads more easily and prevents tearing the dried beef.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

2.5

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 111
Total Fat: 7g
Cholesterol: 38mg
Sodium: 1330mg
Carbohydrates: 4g
Protein: 9g

Nutritional data is an estimate; final values depend on specific ingredients used.

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Peace & Love

Lauren, The Schmidty Wife