Best Pigs in a Blanket Recipe

Fancy appetizers are great, but pigs in a blanket are always the first finger food that runs out at a party, right? Easy to make with only two main ingredients, these tiny sausages wrapped in warm, buttery bread are irresistible. So why fight it? This recipe ups the ante with a sprinkling of everything bagel seasoning and three different dipping sauces. Try just聽one of the party聽dips, or make all聽three and let your hungry guests choose their favorite.

The next time you're dreaming up your lineup of tailgate foods聽to serve a crowd, put these little piggies on the menu. But be sure to聽make plenty鈥攊t's impossible to eat just one!

Why are they called "pigs in a blanket?"

The first published recipe for pigs in a blanket is from a children's cookbook from the 1950's. But you don't have to be a kid to enjoy sausage (pigs) wrapped in dough (blankets) and baked until golden, crispy, and delicious!

How many pigs in a blanket does this recipe make?

You can count on this recipe making about 24 pigs in a blanket. A standard 14-ounce package of cocktail-sized smoked sausages typically has about 40 sausages in it, so if you'd like to use all the sausages, grab a second can of dough from the supermarket to wrap the rest. Or, do as Ree Drummond does and heat leftover sausages up with barbecue sauce and serve with toothpicks for the easiest聽snack!

What can you use instead of crescent roll dough for pigs in blanket?

Refrigerated biscuit dough works well for pigs in a blanket. Simply cut each piece of biscuit dough into strips to fit the sausages. Puff pastry is another good choice. It bakes up flakier and crispier than crescent roll dough and feels a bit more elevated. Puff pastry sheets聽are typically bought frozen, though, so you'll need to thaw them first. The bake time could change using different dough, so keep a careful eye on the pigs in a blanket, making sure they bake until the dough is puffed and golden brown.

What are pigs in a blanket called around the world?

Americans love their pigs in blanket, but dough-wrapped sausages are beloved around the world and called by many different names: In the Netherlands, they're called worstenbroodje; in Mexico, they're called salchitaco; in Estonia, they're known as viineripirukas; in Hong Kong, they're known as cheung jai baau. There are many, many more, but one of my favorites is the Israeli version, Moshe Ba'Tevia, which translates to "Moses in the basket."聽

Can you use hot dogs for pigs in a blanket?

You can absolutely use hot dogs for pigs in a blanket! For proof, check out one of our favorite Halloween recipes: mummy hot dogs! In fact, you can pretty much use any pre-cooked sausage that you like, including chicken sausage, andouille, or any smoked sausage. While we use miniature cocktail sausages for this recipe, you can use regular sized sausages; instead of cutting the crescent roll dough triangles into smaller triangles, simply use a whole triangle for each hot dog or sausage. No matter what size you make, just be sure leave about an inch of space between each piggy on the baking sheet.

How can you take pigs in a blanket to the next level?

There are many ways to upgrade your piggies. You can sprinkle them with tasting toppings like poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or everything bagel seasoning. You can even聽cut a slice into the cocktail sausages and tuck in a flavorful surprise, like half a pickle slice or half a jalape帽o slice.聽

What dips can you serve with pigs in a blanket?

This recipe includes three super delicious dipping sauces. There's an addictive聽spicy mayo that you can make with Sriracha or chili-garlic sauce, a quick ranch dip, and a tangy-sweet maple dijon mustard dip. You could also dip 'em in simple yellow,聽spicy brown mustard, or ketchup.聽