Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket
Air Fryer pigs in a blanket are one of my favorite appetizers for a crowd. They’re super easy to make, very budget-friendly and I know they’re always a hit and one of the first things cleared off of any platter!
They’re a versatile finger food that can fit in with a fancy holiday gathering as much as they can for a casual game day party. My kids also LOVE them as a quick and easy after-school snack and dipping them into ketchup is their favorite part!
We’re taking plenty of shortcuts in this recipe and that’s part of what makes these so accessible. Store-bought crescent roll dough, along with hot dogs or cocktail franks, and an air fryer is all you need to make a batch.
A soft pillowy pastry wrapped around a salty, smoky wiener dipped in your favorite dipping sauce, is an addicting bite-sized finger food that makes it so hard to stop at just one!
Why This Recipe Works
- A simple appetizer that everyone loves is great for easy entertaining. Try this ham and cheese crescent ring if you’re looking for another amazing appetizer.
- They’re so cheap that you can make a lot at a low cost.
- Pigs in a blanket are great for little hands, and the kids will love to help make them, too!
- Making them in the air fryer is much faster than the conventional oven but results in the same great taste and texture.
Ingredients Needed
Just 2 simple ingredients are needed for this recipe!
- Crescent rolls – Readily available in your local grocery store in the refrigerated section. They come in a tube, and will typically already come cut in pull-apart sections for convenience.
- Cocktail wieners – Little smokies are a perfect size but you can also use hot dogs and just cut them into thirds.
How to Make Pigs in a Blanket in the Air Fryer
Please scroll ⬇️ to the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts and instructions.
Step 1: Unroll the can of dough, following the directions on the package. You’ll notice that the dough is already sectioned off into triangles so you’ll cut each one of those triangles into three narrow triangles.
Step 2: Take a cocktail wiener and place it at the base of each triangle. Roll it up to the tip and place the seam side down into the air fryer basket/tray. Repeat with all cocktail wieners and leave about 1” of space in between each one. As it bakes, the dough will puff up.
Step 3: Air fry at 325 degrees for 4 minutes. Flip and then continue cooking for another 3 minutes. Keep an eye out for it to turn golden brown.
Step 4: Remove from the basket and serve warm. Enjoy!
Tips
- You can skip cutting the crescent triangles into thirds and use full-sized hot dogs for a change. They’re no longer mini but they’re great for packing in school lunches as an alternative to a sandwich.
- You do not need to preheat your air fryer for this recipe.
- The second batch won’t need as much time in the air fryer because it will already be hot.
- To save a bit of time, while your first batch is in the air fryer, get to rolling the remaining batches!
- Use the perforated air fryer parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Leave enough space in between each pig in a blanket so that they cook evenly and there is room for the dough to expand.
Honestly, there is probably no direct substitute that will get you the exact type of dough you’re used to (unless you’re making homemade crescent dough), but you could try! People have tried biscuit dough, like a Bisquick mix, pretzel dough, puff pastry, or even a pie crust, and succeeded.
Let me know if you try something different and how it turns out.
If you happen to have hot dogs in your fridge or can’t seem to find cocktail weenies (little smokies) by all means use hot dogs instead. You can cut them up into thirds to have enough for the amount of crescent dough.
These air fryer mini appetizers are always great for a party platter. For the holidays, add them to a special charcuterie board. Serve them alongside some ramekins of various sauces, whether it’s simple ketchup and mustard, honey mustard, horseradish sauce, or a cheese dip. It’s all about the presentation.
Lastly, you want to make sure to serve them warm. Provide extra napkins and toothpicks; no one will ever know how easy they were to make!
Make Ahead
Preparing these up to 2 hours ahead of time can save a ton of hassle especially if you’re preparing to host a larger crowd! Assemble them and lay them on a tray. Cover with plastic wrap and add them to the air fryer when you’re ready to cook them.
Storing & Freezing
Once they are completely cooled, any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For any longer than that, you’ll want to transfer them to a freezer-friendly bag lay them in a single layer, and freeze them for up to 1 month. If you have more than enough for multiple layers, separate them with parchment paper.
To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer until warmed through.
RECIPE
Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 (8-oz) can refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1 (14-oz) pack cocktail wieners (little smokies) or hotdogs (about 24)
Instructions
- Unroll the can of dough and separate the triangles. Cut each triangle into 3 narrow triangles.
- Place a cocktail wiener at the base of each triangle and roll it to the opposite point. Place the pointed side down on the air fryer basket/tray. Leave some space between each one. Repeat steps for all the cocktail weiners.
- Air fry at 325°F for 4 minutes; use tongs to flip and air fry for another 3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the basket and serve warm.
Notes
- Preheating is NOT required.
- If using hotdogs, cut into thirds.
- To save time, prep 12 pigs in a blanket and place them in the air fryer. While that is cooking, make the other 12.
- Use air fryer parchment paper for easy clean up.
- Leave space between each one so that it has room to expand and it can cook evenly.
- To make ahead: Follow the steps as directed and place on a tray but do not bake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Once ready to air fry, remove the plastic wrap and air fry as directed.
- To freeze ahead: Follow all the steps and air fry. Let it cool down for 10-15 minutes. Place the cooked pigs in a blanket in a single layer in a 1 gallon plastic freezer storage bag. Freeze for up to 1 month.