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There’s just something about pigs in a blanket that brings out the kid in everyone. These little sausage-wrapped bites are always the first to disappear at parties—and once you make them in the air fryer, you’ll never go back to the oven version again. The dough puffs up golden and flaky, the sausages get perfectly heated through, and the whole batch is ready in minutes!
I’ve been making these for game days, birthdays, and even lazy Friday nights when I want something fun and snacky. They’re retro in the best way—comforting, crowd-pleasing, and ridiculously easy to pull off.
The air fryer is honestly the perfect tool for these. You don’t have to preheat the oven or worry about soggy bottoms. Just wrap, air fry, and snack! Plus, they’re super easy to customize with cheese, spicy mustard, or different sausages.
Let’s whip up a batch—you’ll be amazed at how flaky and golden the pastry turns out. Perfect with honey mustard, ketchup, or your favorite dipping sauce.
🥕 Ingredients Overview
Cocktail Sausages – Also called lil’ smokies or mini hot dogs. You can use beef, pork, turkey, or veggie versions depending on your preference.
Crescent Roll Dough – Store-bought dough makes this super easy. Cut each triangle into smaller strips to fit the sausages.
Optional: Cheese, Mustard, or Seasonings – Add a little slice of cheese inside before rolling, or brush with mustard for extra flavor. You can also sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds before air frying.
Dipping Sauces – Honey mustard and ketchup are classics, but try spicy mayo or ranch too!
Pro Tip: Keep the dough cold until you’re ready to roll—it’s easier to handle and won’t stretch too much.
🔥 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep the Dough: Unroll the crescent dough and slice each triangle into 2 or 3 smaller strips, depending on how big your sausages are.
- Wrap the Sausages: Place a cocktail sausage on one end of a dough strip and roll it up. Optional: Add a small piece of cheese inside before rolling.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 375°F. Spray the basket lightly with oil if needed.
- Arrange in Basket: Place wrapped sausages in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Leave space between each to let the pastry puff up.Pro Tip: Don’t overcrowd! Give each pig in a blanket room to crisp up evenly.
- Air Fry: Cook at 375°F for 6–8 minutes until the dough is golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool & Serve: Let them cool slightly before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using too much dough: keep it thin so it puffs but doesn’t overwhelm.
- Overcrowding the basket: leads to undercooked sides.
- Not sealing the dough edge: it can unroll during cooking.
- Skipping the space between rolls: dough needs room to puff.
- Undercooking: make sure the pastry is golden and fully baked.
🎨 Variations & Add-Ons
- Cheesy Pigs – Add a small slice of cheddar or pepper jack inside each roll.
- Spicy Kick – Brush inside with Dijon or sriracha mustard before rolling.
- Everything Bagel Style – Sprinkle tops with everything bagel seasoning.
- Gluten-Free Version – Use gluten-free crescent dough if available.
- Vegan Option – Use plant-based sausages and vegan crescent dough.
📆 Make Ahead & Storage
You can assemble these up to 24 hours in advance. Just wrap, cover, and refrigerate until you’re ready to air fry.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2–3 minutes to re-crisp.
Freezing? Yes! Freeze wrapped but uncooked pigs in a blanket on a baking sheet. Transfer to a freezer bag and cook from frozen at 360°F for 8–10 minutes.
🥗 Nutrition Highlights
Kid-friendly, protein-packed, and easy to make dairy-free or gluten-free.
Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cut crescent dough into small strips.
- Wrap each sausage in a strip of dough. Add cheese or mustard if using.
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
- Place in basket with space between rolls.
- Air fry at 375°F for 6–8 minutes until golden.
- Cool slightly and serve with dipping sauces.
Notes
(An automated tool is used to calculate nutritional information. Accuracy not guaranteed.)
If you try these air fryer pigs in a blanket, let me know how you served them up! They’re a total crowd-pleaser and always vanish fast. Whether you go cheesy, spicy, or stick to the classic, they’re bound to be a hit. Want another party favorite? Check out my air fryer stuffed mushrooms—crispy, herby, and just as easy to make!
