Pigs in a blanket are great for a snack, appetizer, or even a quick dinner. With just a few ingredients, they come together quickly and are a crowd pleaser.
Whether you’re hosting a party for the big game or gathering a bunch of kids for a slumber party, pigs in a blanket are perfect for any occasion. With just 4 ingredients and some mild prep, they take under 20 minutes to pull together. Grab some honey mustard, ketchup, and BBQ sauce, and get ready to start dipping!
How to Make Pigs in a Blanket
Pigs in a blanket come together in just three simple steps. There truly couldn’t be an easier appetizer to have in your rotation.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Assemble the Wrapped Hot Dogs: Divide the dough into equal size pieces. Place a mini cocktail wiener on the edge of the crescent roll dough. Roll it up and wrap the hot dog within the dough snugly.
- Bake the Wrapped Hot Dogs: Scramble an egg in a small bowl and brush the tops of the rolls with the egg wash. Place the wrapped mini hot dogs on the lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve right away with your favorite dipping sauces!
Tips & Tricks for the Tastiest Pigs in a Blanket
A few tips and tricks will help you make the most perfect, golden-brown pigs in a blanket.
- Leave space in between each morsel. As the pigs in a blanket bake, they will puff and rise a bit. Leave about an inch of space in between each piece to prevent them from sticking together.
- Add some crunchy toppings. If you like, sprinkle some sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or even everything bagel seasoning on top of each pig in a blanket before you pop them in the oven.
- Add your favorite cheese. If you want a melty element to the wrapped hot dogs, add a small slice of American cheese, sharp cheddar, or pepper jack on top of the wieners before rolling them up.
Low-Carb Hack: If you want to skip the pastry and go low-carb, swap the dough for half a slice of thick-cut bacon. Wrap it snugly around the lil’ smokies, secure it on with a toothpick, and bake them in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 375°F.
Serving Pigs in a Blanket
Pigs and a blanket are perfect with just classic ketchup and mustard. To make them a more well-rounded meal, pair them with a caesar salad or a bowl of Instant Pot chili for an all-American feast. You can also add pigs in a blanket to your game day or BBQ spread.
Hot Tip: Can’t find cocktail wieners? No problem! You can use regular hotdogs. Simply cut them into 2-inch pieces or don’t cut them at all and make larger wrapped dogs.
Making Pigs in a Blanket In Advance
Pigs in a blanket are the perfect appetizer to make in advance. Depending on your needs, follow any of the three methods below to make your life that much easier.
- Bake & Freeze. After you pull the pigs in a blanket out of the oven, allow them to completely cool at room temperature. Once cooled, place the entire baking sheet in the freezer, allowing the pigs in a blanket to freeze in a single layer. Once frozen, remove and store in a freezer-safe plastic bag.
- Prep & Freeze (Great for Meal Prepping). Love having frozen snacks on hand, but hate buying processed foods? Double or triple the recipe and freeze the wrapped dogs on a lined baking sheet. Once frozen, you can place them in an airtight container.
- Make Ahead (Great for Party Prep). Make a large batch and keep it on a lined baking sheet in the fridge. Bake right before serving.
Reheating Tip: Reheat your pigs in a blanket in the oven or microwave. To get them extra crispy, reheat them in an air fryer for just a couple of minutes.
Serving Pigs in a Blanket
These wrapped mini hot dogs are perfect with just classic ketchup and mustard. To make them a more well-rounded meal, pair them with a caesar salad or a bowl of Instant Pot chili for an all-American meal. You can also add them to your game day or BBQ appetizer spread.
FAQ
Where did pigs in a blanket originate from?
No one knows where pigs in a blanket came from. There is speculation that the first pigs in blanket hailed from Czechoslovakia or Germany, although the first recorded version came from Betty Crocker’s 1957 cookbook Cooking for Kids.
What do pigs in a blanket refer to?
Pigs in a blanket is a fun play on words for an American snack of small pork sausages wrapped in puff pastry. Typically made with Little Smokies and Pillsbury Crescent Roll Dough it’s a popular snack that’s served during everything from kid’s birthday parties to Super Bowl get-togethers.
What can you use instead of Pillsbury Crescent Dough for pigs in a blanket?
Feel free to substitute Pillsbury Crescent Dough for puff pastry, pizza dough, or even pie crust for pigs in a blanket. You may have to alter the baking times slightly, but any of these butter-based doughs will do the trick.
What’s the difference between pigs in a blanket and a kolache?
While both pigs and a blanket and kolaches feature sausage wrapped in some kind of baked dough, there are some major differences between the two. Pigs in a blanket tend to be wrapped in a buttery, flakey biscuit dough, while kolaches feature sausage baked into yeast dough.
Are pigs in a blanket good eaten cold?
Pigs in a blanket are best eaten hot and fresh out of the oven. If you are eating leftovers, pop them back into the oven or the air fryer until they are warmed through and crispy again.
More Tasty Finger Foods
- Air Fryer French Fries – Guilt-free french fries
- Costco Chicken Bake – Costco copycat chicken pocket
- Garlic Knots Recipe – Buttery and garlicky bread knots
- Easy Crab Puffs Recipe (Crab Ragoons) – Crab and cream cheese stuffed wontons
Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz Pillsbury Crescent Roll Dough
- 12 oz mini cocktail wieners
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp water
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Divide the dough into equal size pieces that are large enough to wrap up each wiener snugly.
- Place a cocktail wiener on the edge of the dough and roll it tightly.
- Place pigs in a blanket on a lined baking sheet.
- Brush them with egg wash and sprinkle sesame seeds. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Great for makeahead! Made them up, flash froze then put in freezer bags. Will bake up just before guests arrive for Christmas party.
Hi Betty, that is such a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing your process. Happy holidays!
Thank you for the recipe. Super easy and delicious 😋
You're welcome, Ruslana! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Yum these were so good. I loved the marinara dipping sauce but my son dipped in queso dip. They are so versatile. I loved that we had them as a dinner along with a hearty salad. But love that they can also be for an appetizer.
Yes, queso is delicious with them!! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
My kids ADORE these! We actually made these for Thanksgiving last year and they were the star of the show! The kids have begged and begged to make them again ever since. Probably because, not only are they absolutely delicious, but it's so easy that they KIDS were the ones who put these together!
I love that you involved the kids and had them make the pigs in a blanket, makes it so much more fun for them.
So yummy and addicting. Loved by all in our house.
They are the best treat!!