These wrapped little babies are great additions to your table this festive season. Watch them fly off the plates within minutes. Pig in a blanket is very easy to make at home using a few ingredients.
What makes this recipe great
Please tell me I am not the only one that makes and serves pigs in blankets any time of the year? They are not meant for Christmas alone. I think they are great all year long. You must know I love all things bacon-wrapped recipes, like this bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts and bacon-wrapped chicken breast. So any excuse to wrap bacon around food, you will find me there. This British classic is a must accompaniment for your Christmas turkey, chicken or lamb, or roast. If like me, you like to serve it as a stand-alone dish, then you will be happy to know that pigs in blankets make a great appetizer or snack to nibble on before the main dish on the big day. I like to use different flavored cocktail sausages, but you can use any type you like.
What is a pig in a blanket
If you are reading this from the US and you are wondering why my pig in blanket recipe looks nothing like the one you know, well, this is the British and Irish pig in a blanket recipe. It is basically cocktail or thin pork sausages wrapped with streaky bacon which is different from the US version that is wrapped with pastry. Mostly cooked cocktail hot dogs (smokies) wrapped in crescent or puff pastry dough are served as pigs in a blanket in the US.
This recipe is
Gluten-freeHomemade pig in a blanket is extremely easy to make, it can be made ahead of time and it is deliciousBudget-friendly and makes a great party foodCan be served as an appetizer, snack, or side dish to main Christmas dish
Ingredients to make pigs in blankets
Cocktail sausages: I used four different flavored cocktail sausages, triple chili, cheddar cheese & bacon, caramelized onion, and plain pork sausages Streaky bacon: I used smoked thin cut bacon for additional flavor but you can use an unsmoked one Honey and mustard: I added honey and mustard for additional flavor. this also doubles as a delicious dipping sauce for the pigs in blankets.
How to make pigs in blankets
Prep: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Bring the sausages and bacon out of the fridge 10 minutes before you cook so they come to room temperature. Preheat the oven at 200C/400F to a small bowl, combine honey and mustard, stir to combine, and set aside. Place the streaky bacon on a chopping board and cut them into two width-wise, and stretch out the bacon without tearing them Wrap bacon around each cocktail sausage and place them seam side down on the lined baking tray. Repeat the process until you have exhausted the bacon and sausages. Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and brush the honey mustard sauce all over bacon-wrapped sausages. Return it into the oven and continue to cook for another 5 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and sausages cooked through. Remove from the oven, transfer the pigs in blankets into a serving bowl with a tong and leave to cool for a few seconds before serving. Enjoy
Dipping sauce for pigs in a blanket
My go-to dipping sauce for these little beauties is honey mustard sauce as I find it complements the sausages and bacon beautifully. That said, I know dijon mustard is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you don’t want honey mustard sauce, then serve them with ketchup, bbq sauce, or just as it is. PS: make maple mustard sauce instead of honey mustard sauce.
How to store
I will be surprised if you have any leftovers. but if you do, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer before serving. Freezer: cooked sausages can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. Make sure you let the air out when storing them in bags or airtight containers to prevent ice crystals from forming inside the bag.
Tips
If you can’t find thin cut streaky bacon, you can use regular rashers of bacon, just make sure you cut them into thin strips
You can also make this recipe ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it before cooking. If you do decide to freeze them raw, make sure that it thaws completely in the fridge overnight before cooking to allow even cooking.
Watch how to make it
Can I make pigs in blankets with full-size sausages?
Yes, use regular size sausages and it is called jumbo pigs in a blanket. There is no need to cut them too to avoid the meat spilling out of the casing. All you have to do is wrap one streaky bacon per sausage and bake accordingly.
Pigs in blankets cooking time
This will depend on the temperature you cook them. Typically a cocktail-size pig in blankets cooked at 400F/200C between 20 to 25 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and the sausages cooked through. A jumbo-sized one would cook longer say 5 to 10 minutes more depending on the thickness of the sausage
Can I make pigs in a blanket with hotdogs
Yes, you can use Smokies (cocktail smoked sausages) to make pigs in blankets if you can find raw cocktail sausages in your region.
Can I substitute honey with maple syrup
Yes, you can substitute honey with maple syrup.
More appetizer recipes
Baked brie bites Baked apple slices Cranberry cream cheese dip White bean dip Baked artichoke dip If you made these pigs in a blanket recipe, don’t forget to leave me feedback. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
