Trader Joe's Salmon Pinwheels with Feta and Spinach

Trader Joe’s Salmon Pinwheels are a delicious and convenient dinner that can easily be cooked in the oven or air fryer. Their cheesy herb filling and elegant presentation make an elevated yet fuss-free meal that’s great for special occasions and casual weeknight dinners!

Why You’ll Love This Salmon Pinwheels Recipe:

• Convenient: No other ingredients or prep work is necessary before popping these salmon pinwheels into the oven or air fryer, making them perfect for busy weeknights when extra hassle is the last thing you need. 
• Fast: When cooked in the air fryer, this easy dinner can be ready to eat in just 10 minutes—great for evenings when you’re short on time but craving a home-cooked meal. 
• Versatile: With this recipe, you’ll learn how to easily air fry, oven roast, or steam these pinwheels so you can enjoy them according to your personal preference. 

Let’s Get Started! Here’s What You’ll Need:

Ingredients

Trader Joe’s Salmon Pinwheels - The salmon pinwheels Trader Joe’s sells come in a two-pack, so if you plan on cooking them both at the same time, try to buy a package that has similar-sized portions to minimize differences in cooking time.

Oil or cooking spray -  If you’re not steaming the pinwheels using the foil packet method, you’ll want cooking oil or non-stick cooking spray to prevent the salmon from sticking to the pan or air fryer basket.

Lemon (optional) - I like to garnish these with a wedge of lemon, so that everyone can squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice on top of the salmon if they'd like. If you want to be extra fancy you could even add some lemon zest.

Equipment: 

Air fryer or oven - If you’re looking for the fastest cooking time, I recommend making Trader Joe’s pinwheel salmon in the air fryer. Roasting them in the oven will offer the same results, but will take slightly longer. 

Aluminum foil (optional) - Aluminum foil can be used to make a foil packet, or for easy clean up. Steaming the salmon inside the foil will take longer, but lead to more tender fish depending on your preferred texture. You could also use parchment paper for easier clean up.

Meat thermometer - Important for making sure the salmon reaches an internal temperature of the USDA-recommended 145°F. 

How to Air Fry Salmon Pinwheels

This is the fastest method, and gives a nice finish to the filling where we have a slight crisp to the exterior with flaky salmon inside.

Place in the air fryer.

Lightly oil the tray or basket to prevent sticking. If you’re cooking multiple pinwheels, ensure they’re laid out in a single layer and not touching each other. If your air fryer model has a temperature probe, insert it in the thickest part of the fish, making sure the tip is reading the fish temperature, not the filling.

Cook at 375°F for 8-12 minutes.

Salmon pinwheels’ cook time will depend on their size – see the included temperature tables for reference. You can remove the salmon from the air fryer once it has reached at least 135°F in the thickest part, as it will continue to cook while it rests to reach 145°. 

Air Frying Temperature Chart - No Foil

Minutes	Temperature
2 minutes	55 degrees F
4 minutes	84 degrees F
6 minutes	111 degrees F
8 minutes	132 degrees F
9 minutes	143 degrees F
9 minutes 15 seconds	145 degrees F- turned off & opened basket
10 minutes	154 degrees F
12 minutes	163 degrees F
14 minutes	163 degrees F- started to fall after this

How to Cook Salmon Pinwheels (Air Fryer Foil Method)

A gentle ways to cook fish for a tender bite is by steaming it. You can do this in either the oven or air fryer, I used the air fryer here which is still a bit faster than the oven. The liquid the fish releases forms a steam pocket inside the foil pack and cooks it more slowly. This also means it won't rise in temperature significantly when resting once you open the foil, so make sure to cook it to a full 145 degrees F.

Prepare aluminum foil pack.

Fold the foil over the salmon and roll the edges together to form an enclosed packet, which will trap in heat to steam the meat. If you're using a meat thermometer during cooking place that in the fish before covering the fish so you can be sure it is in the thickest part of the salmon fillet. Then add the pack to the air fryer basket.

Cook at 375° for 15-20 minutes. 

Using this method, the air fryer's hot air circulation doesn't hit the fish directly because of the foil packet, so it takes longer. Also the salmon won’t continue to heat up as much while it rests, so make sure to let it cook until it reaches 145°F through the thickest part.

Air Frying Temperature Chart - Foil Packet

Minutes	Temperature
2 minutes	59 degrees F
4 minutes	68 degrees F
6 minutes	82 degrees F
8 minutes	95 degrees F
10 minutes	109 degrees F
12 minutes	122 degrees F
14 minutes	140 degrees F
16 minutes	145 degrees F- turned off air fryer & opened basket
17 minutes	149 degrees F - opened foil
18 minutes	150 degrees F
20 minutes	145 degrees F

How to Cook Salmon Pinwheels in the Oven

If you're cooking both pinwheels and have a smaller air fryer, or don't have one at all, the oven is another great option for cooking up this tasty meal.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

While the oven heats up, place the salmon pinwheels on a pan lined with cooking spray, parchment paper liner, or aluminum foil. Position the pinwheels in a single layer on the baking sheet and ensure they aren’t touching. 

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

How long to cook pinwheels in the oven will vary based on size, so remove them once a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the salmon reads 135°. The fish will continue cooking to 145° as it rests. 

Oven Baking Temperature Chart

Minutes	Probe 1 (7.64 oz after cooking)	Probe 2 (5.85 oz after cooking)
2 minutes	52 degrees F	63 degrees F
4 minutes	59 degrees F	81 degrees F
6 minutes	72 degrees F	102 degrees F
8 minutes	84 degrees F	120 degrees F
10 minutes	97 degrees F	136 degrees F
12 minutes	109 degrees F	149 degrees F
14 minutes	122 degrees F	160 degrees F
16 minutes	131 degrees F	169 degrees F
17 minutes	removed from oven- 136 F	removed from oven & plated- 171 F
18 minutes	140 degrees F	174 degrees F
20 minutes	145 degrees F	174 degrees F
22 minutes	149 degrees F	167 degrees F

Recipe Success Tips

• Check the temperature at the thickest part of the salmon. We want to ensure the salmon is fully cooked through, and that the thermometer is reading the temperature of the fish, not the spinach and feta cheese filling. 
• Cook to 145°F when using a foil packet. Because the salmon will steam in the foil packet, it cooks at a lower temperature than when air-frying in the open air, so it won’t continue to cook up as much while it rests.
• Adjust cooking time for size. Salmon Pinwheels are sold by weight, so the listed cooking times will vary with size. Increase the cooking time as needed and check the temperature frequently to avoid overcooking.

Serving Suggestions 

Trader Joe’s Salmon Pinwheels make a great main dish. Serve them with rice or any of the following sides to make them a well-rounded meal: 

• Easy Air Fryer Canned Green Beans
• Lemon Butter Garlic Pasta
• Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash

Storage Directions

• Refrigeration: You can refrigerate leftover pinwheels in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• Reheating: Thaw frozen pinwheels in the refrigerator overnight. Salmon pinwheels can be reheated in the microwave, warmed in the oven at 275° for around 15 minutes, or crisped up in the air fryer at 300° for 4-5 minutes. 

More Quick Dinner Recipes 

• How to Cook Costco Stuffed Salmon
• Leftover Steak Nachos
• Easy Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin Medallions
• 4 ingredient Pesto Salmon Recipe
• Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

Enjoy!

I hope you love this easy take and bake dish! If you found these instructions helpful, please come back and leave a review below.

📖 Recipe