Although traditionally pigs in blankets are a staple for any Christmas dinner or festive meal, who’s to say you can’t have them on occasions other than Christmas time? The ultimate British classic, my whole family would have them at any given opportunity. Eat homemade pigs in blankets as an appetiser or snack, dipped in tomato ketchup – a perfect treat for parties or get-togethers.
Or if you want to elevate a Sunday roast dinner with all the trimmings including roast potatoes and gravy, then let me tell you these air fryer pigs in blankets are the perfect extra accompaniment.
What are pigs in blankets?
In the UK, pigs in blankets are small pork sausages (usually chipolatas) wrapped in streaky bacon and then roasted. They are traditionally served with dinner on Christmas Day or as a side dish to Sunday roasts. They are not wrapped in puff pastry (much like sausage rolls), which is how they are prepared in the USA.
But you can buy pigs in blankets readymade!
I know – and you don’t have to do anything except cook them! But while you can easily buy them during the festive period as they’re so widely available, I think it’s better to make them from scratch as you’ll get more bang for your buck – and they taste even better when they’re homemade and you can whip them up easily and quickly without any fuss.
You can’t go wrong with combining crispy bacon and pork sausage – it’s the dream. But I add an extra depth of flavour by brushing them with a honey mustard glaze. This sticky sauce compliments the saltiness of the bacon and the sausage. While you can also make these in the oven, making these in the air fryer requires less time and less energy, and you’ll get great results every time.
Ingredients you’ll need
You won’t need many ingredients to make this pigs in blanket air fryer recipe.
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Streaky bacon
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Chipolata sausages (regular sausages are too large)
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honey
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Dijon mustard
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cooking spray
How to make this pigs in blankets air fryer recipe
There isn’t too much to do when making these pigs in blankets. The hardest part is wrapping them. So first, gather all your ingredients.
Prepare the sausages – Get your chipolata sausages ready by laying them out on a board or clean work surface.
Wrap them in bacon – Take a piece of streaky bacon, and starting from one end of the chipolata wrap it as tightly as possible and put it to one side as you continue to wrap the others.
Make the sticky glaze – In a small bowl, mix together honey and Dijon mustard until well combined.
Brush the pigs in blankets – Using a pastry brush, dab the honey mustard glaze over the top of the pigs in blankets.
Preheat the air fryer for five minutes – some air fryers have pre-settings for this and different temperatures. I set mine to 200°c (390F). Either use an air fryer liner or spray the air fryer basket with some vegetable oil. Add the pigs in blankets in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to cook the first batch and keep warm before air frying the rest.
Air fry to perfection – Cooking time can vary depending on your type of air fryer. Larger models may cook them more quickly, or you may want to reduce the cooking time or temperature. I like to air fry mine for 10 minutes at 180°c (320F) until crispy, and check them halfway and turn – adding more glaze if you want, and making sure they’re cooking evenly.
Serve and enjoy – Serve with your favourite roast dinner or as a snack with dipping sauces like ketchup, mayonnaise or mustard.
Do you have to use pork sausages?
While traditional pigs in blankets are made with pork sausages, you may want to substitute with your favourite type – from turkey sausage or chicken sausage. The choice is entirely yours.
What if I don’t have honey?
You can swap honey for maple syrup or even golden syrup.
How to cook frozen pigs in blankets in air fryer?
If you have leftovers – place them in a single layer in a freezer container or freezer bag then freeze them for up to three months (if you stack them on top of one another they’ll stick together). You can then pop them straight into the air fryer and cook at 200°c (390F) for around 12-13 minutes until they’re cooked through.
If you’d like to make these easy air fryer pigs in blankets ahead of time and freeze them, then it couldn’t be easier. You may want to consider this option if you’re cooking a big family Christmas or Thanksgiving meal and don’t want the hassle of preparing these on the day. Once you’ve wrapped the sausages with the bacon, place them in an airtight container, or in plastic wrap or clingfilm, then freeze them for up to three months. The day before you want to serve these, defrost in the fridge for 24 hours or at room temperature for around 3-4 hours until fully defrosted. Prepare the honey mustard glaze as above and then continue to follow the recipe.
How to cook pigs in blankets in the oven?
If you don’t have an air fryer you can still prepare the pigs in blankets the same way as the recipe card below. Lay the pigs in blankets in a single layer on a baking tray and cook in a preheated oven at 180°c (320F) for 15 minutes until they’re done.
Making pigs in blankets in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and delicious way to prepare this classic appetizer. With minimal ingredients and a few simple steps, you can enjoy perfectly crispy pigs in blankets that will be a hit at any gathering.
EASY air fryer pigs in blanket recipe
Ingredients
- 12 chipolata pork sausages
- 12 pieces of streaky bacon
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Wrap each sausage with one piece of streaky bacon. Start from one end and slowly wind the bacon around until the whole sausage is covered. Lay on a board or baking tray in a single layer.
- Preheat the air fryer at 200°c (390F) for five minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, add the honey and the Dijon mustard and mix well.
- Using a brush, dab the honey mustard glaze over the pigs in blankets.
- Spray the air fryer basket with a little oil, then carefully place the pigs in blankets in a single layer. You may have to air fry the sausages in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry at 180°c (320F) for five minutes, then open, and turn the pigs in blankets over, and brush the other side with honey mustard. Continue to air fry for a further 5 minutes, or a few minutes more if you think they need it.
- Serve and enjoy hot.
My absolute favourite and so happy I can make these in the air fryer now!
Delicious from Australia