Pigs in a Blanket (Oven + Air Fryer Instructions!)

These easy Pigs in a Blanket are a party classic! Made with just two ingredients - crescent roll dough and cocktail sausages - they're always the first to disappear. Whether you're baking them in the oven or using an air fryer, this simple appetizer is perfect for game day, holidays, or anytime you're feeding a crowd.

Why You'll Love These Pigs in a Blanket

• Ridiculously Easy - Just two main ingredients and a few minutes of your time is all it takes.
• Oven or Air Fryer Friendly - Great for a quick snack in the air fryer, and when you're feeding a crowd, you can bake them in whichever appliance isn't already in use.
• Perfect for Any Occasion - Game day, holidays, potlucks, or just a snack… these little bites are always the first to disappear (no exaggeration-we can't make them fast enough at parties!).
• Endlessly Customizable - Add jalapeños, bacon, or tuck in a slice of cheese, then pair them with your favorite dip. Gooey cheese sauce? Always a win.
• Make-Ahead & Freezer Friendly - Assemble them early, freeze for later, and just toss them on a sheet pan when it's time to reheat. No extra effort required.

Ingredients to Make Pigs in a Blanket

• Crescent roll dough (any brand)
• Lit'l Smokies (or other cocktail sausages)
• Optional: poppy seeds, cheese, jalapeños, bacon

How To Make Pigs in a Blanket with Crescent Rolls

Oven Method

It is so incredibly easy to make pigs in a blanket! There are really just two steps:

Cut: Cut the crescent roll dough into small strips that are slightly smaller than the mini hot dogs. Roll the mini hot dogs in the dough just until the dough goes around once. Cut off any excess dough and press the ends together.

This image is the perfect example as to why they're called "Pigs in a Blanket"!

Bake: Place them on a sheet pan and bake them at 350F for about 15 minutes or until they're golden brown. then pop them in the oven until they're golden brown. Keep an eye on them since you want them to be nicely browned but not too done or the mini hot dogs won't be as juicy and tender.

Air Fryer Method

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Spray your air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.
2. Slice each crescent dough sheet into thirds and wrap the crescent dough thirds around each sausage.
3. Place the pigs in a blanket into the air fryer basket (one layer - do in batches if necessary).
4. Air fry for 3-4 minutes, flip, and then air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the crescents are golden brown.

What to Serve with Pigs in a Blanket

Whether you're serving them at a party or just need a fun snack, pigs in a blanket pair well with all kinds of sides and dips. Here are some ideas:

Dipping Sauces

We serve ours with a small dish of yellow mustard - it's just how we've always served them and we've never swayed from the tradition. If you're also a mustard lover, try adding a small amount of hot sauce to it! Here are more dipping sauce ideas:

• Classic yellow mustard or Dijon
• Ketchup
• Cheese Sauce (especially for the kids-or the adults who eat like kids)
• Hot Sauce
• Buffalo Wing Sauce
• Barbecue Sauce
• Honey Mustard
• Ranch Dressing
• Maple Syrup
• Sweet Chili
• Garlic Aioli
• Fry Sauce
• Marina Sauce

Party-Friendly Sides

If you're making pigs in a blanket for a game day or holiday party, try adding a few of these to the menu (you can also check out our collection of family-friendly air fryer recipes):

• Veggie tray with ranch dip
• Deviled eggs
• Air fryer tater tots or fries
• Chips and guacamole
• Macaroni and cheese
• Baked beans
• Coleslaw or pasta salad
• Easy brats in the air fryer
• Try cooking wings from frozen in the air fryer

Drinks That Work Well

Keep it simple with:

• Cold beer (always a hit with salty apps like these)
• Sparkling lemonade or soda for the kids
• A casual cocktail like a margarita or sangria

Pigs in a Blanket Variations

• Sausage: While this recipe calls for miniature cocktail sausages (or beef or turkey) you can use any pre-cooked sausage that you prefer including any smoked sausage, andouille, kielbasa, bratwurst, chicken or turkey sausage, or even vegan sausage. If you use a regular sized sausage simply use a whole triangle for each sausage (you may need to slightly increase the cooking time).
• Toppings: Add poppy or sesame seeds prior to baking. Add everything bagel seasoning and you have a bagel dog! If you forget to add them beforehand, just brush them with a little melted butter to give them something to stick to.
• Spicy: Prior to wrapping in crescent roll add a slice of jalapeño or your favorite pepper.
• Bacon: Similar to the jalapeño, add a slice of bacon or both!
• Sweetness: Roll the mini hot dogs in a cinnamon and sugar mix before wrapping and drizzle with icing after baking.
• Butter or Garlic Butter: After baking, brush the pigs in a blanket with butter.
• Pigs in a Blanket with Cheese: Add a thin slice of your favorite cheese inside such cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack.
• Pigs in a Blanket with Hot dogs: To use regular sized hot dogs simple use one triangle dough per hot dog (you may need to slightly increase the cooking time).

Make-Ahead, Freezing & Reheating Tips

Make-Ahead

You sure can, and they can be both refrigerated or frozen. They're easy to make ahead of time so you can keep a few trays in the fridge then keep the hot pigs coming during the game.

When refrigerating, it's best not to make them more than two hours before baking. For best results, assemble your pigs and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet, then cover them tightly with plastic wrap. Remove the plastic wrap before baking.

Freezing

Pigs in a Blanket can also be frozen, but in this case you'll want to bake them first. Allow them to cool completely, then put them in freezer bags in a single layer. They'll keep for up to 6 months in the freezer.

Reheating

To reheat pigs in a blanket, follow the same steps as when you baked them, just reduce the heat to 325°F so they gently reheat, and pull them out once they're hot all the way through (about 15 minutes).

Continue to Content

Pigs in a Blanket (Oven and Air Fryer)

Yield: 6 servings (4 each)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

This Pigs in a Blanket recipe is a classic that everyone loves. Double or triple the batch, these always go fast!

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Ingredients

• 1 tube crescent roll dough (I used Pillsbury)
• 24 mini hot dogs (I used Iitl' Smokies)
• poppy seeds, optional
• yellow mustard, for serving

Instructions

Oven Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Carefully unroll crescent roll dough. Make four rectangles out of dough (two triangles each), pressing seams together. Slice each rectangle in half crosswise, then each half in half, giving you eight strips per rectangle.
2. Roll one strip of dough around a lil' smokie, place on ungreased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough and lil' smokies.
3. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately with mustard on the side.

Air Fryer Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Prepare the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray, or add parchment paper prior to placing the crescent dogs in the basket.
2. Slice each crescent dough sheet into thirds and wrap the crescent dough thirds around each sausage.
3. Transfer the crescent dogs into the air fryer basket in a single layer with an inch or two spacing between each crescent sausage. You may need to cook in batches.
4. Air fry for 3-4 minutes, flip, and then air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the crescents are golden brown.Carefully remove from the air fryer basket and serve with your favorite dipping sauces.

Notes

For the serving size, I estimated 4 pigs per person since these are usually served as an appetizer alongside many others. Adjust this number based on what you're serving. Any leftover pigs can be frozen for up to one month, then reheated at 325°F for 15 minutes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 195Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 199mgCarbohydrates: 22gNet Carbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.

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Kristy Bernardo

Kristy Bernardo is a five-time cookbook author, travel writer, and culinary instructor who has been developing recipes for national brands since 2009. A former personal chef, she learned to cook from her mother and grandmother before refining her skills at the Culinary Institute of America’s Boot Camp.

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