3-Ingredient Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket Recipe

I’ve made a lot of pigs in a blanket, and these air fryer ones are by far the easiest and quickest. With just three main ingredients and a few optional toppings, you can have a flaky, buttery appetizer ready in about 20 minutes. Serve them with a hot honey mustard or your favorite dip and watch them disappear at any gathering.

A white platter of air fryer pigs in a blanket and a white bowl of honey mustard on a beige terrazzo counter next to a brown bowl of toothpicks and green plate.

Full disclosure: I often say I don’t like hot dogs, but little smokies are an exception — especially when wrapped in buttery dough. Maybe it’s the bite-sized format, maybe it’s the carb wrap, or maybe it’s the dip. Whatever the reason, these always get scooped up first at parties. I started making them in the air fryer when my oven was taking too long to heat, and the results were faster and just as delicious as oven-baked versions.

The recipe is intentionally simple: little smokies, crescent roll dough, and an egg for an optional egg wash. That’s it. If you want a little extra flair, sprinkle sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning on top before cooking. You can also freeze a batch for quick entertaining later.

Crescent rolls

I often use store-bought crescent rolls for convenience. They’re buttery and flaky and make a perfect wrapper for mini sausages. Different brands can bake at slightly different speeds — I’ve noticed some cook faster than others — so keep an eye on them so they don’t brown too quickly.

Tip: Some smaller or thinner crescent dough cooks faster, so check the first batch early to determine the best cook time for your brand and air fryer.

Make these in 20 minutes

A hand using a pizza cutter to cut rolls on a wood board. — Cut each crescent triangle into three strips; a pizza cutter makes this quick and tidy.

A hand rolling a mini sausage in dough on a wood board. — Roll the sausage toward the pointed end so the dough stays sealed while cooking.

A pastry brush brushing egg wash on raw pigs in a blanket. — Brush the tops with egg wash for a glossy finish; avoid the bottoms to prevent sticking.

Before wrapping, pat the little smokies dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture; this helps keep the dough crisp and prevents sogginess.

Raw air fryer pigs in a blanket with sesame seeds on a wood board. — Add sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning before cooking, if desired.

Raw pigs in a blanket in an air fryer. — Air fry at 350°F (177°C) for 4–5 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden.

A hand dipping a pig in a blanket in mustard on a white platter of air fryer pigs in a blanket. — Serve hot with honey mustard, whole grain mustard, beer cheese, or ketchup.

Freeze & fry later

These pigs in a blanket freeze exceptionally well, which makes them a great make-ahead snack. Arrange the wrapped sausages on a parchment-lined sheet pan in a single layer and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and store for up to 3 months. You can air fry from frozen — just add 1–2 minutes to the cooking time and check for even browning.

A white platter of air fryer pigs in a blanket on a white terrazzo counter next to a green plate of pigs in a blanket, glass of beer, brown bowl of toothpicks, and brown bowl of ketchup.

Easy Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket

Yield: 24 pigs in a blanket

Prep Time: 15 mins • Cook Time: 5 mins • Total Time: 20 mins

Three ingredients and 20 minutes are all you need to make flaky, buttery pigs in a blanket in the air fryer. These are perfect for parties, game day, or a quick snack. A simple hot honey mustard is a delicious accompaniment, but ketchup, beer cheese dip, or whole grain mustard also work well.

Ingredients

Pigs in a Blanket

24 little smokies sausages (beef or pork)
8 ounces crescent rolls (one regular package, about 225 g)
1 egg (for egg wash, optional)
Sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning, for sprinkling (optional)
Cooking spray or a little neutral oil to grease the air fryer basket

Hot Honey Mustard

1/4 cup hot honey (or regular honey, warmed with a dash of hot sauce)
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon red wine or apple cider vinegar
1–2 teaspoons hot sauce, to taste

Equipment

Air fryer

Instructions

Pigs in a Blanket

Pat the little smokies dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Unroll the crescent dough and separate the perforated triangles. Cut each triangle lengthwise into three narrow strips so you have 24 strips total.
Place a sausage at the wide end of a dough strip and roll toward the pointed end, sealing the dough so it won’t open in the air fryer. Repeat with remaining sausages.
Whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon water. Brush the tops of the wrapped pigs with egg wash, avoiding the bottoms to prevent sticking. Sprinkle seeds or seasoning if using.
Grease the air fryer basket lightly. Arrange the pigs in a single layer with a little space between each. Cook at 350°F (177°C) for 4–5 minutes, flipping halfway, until the pastry is golden brown. Work in batches if necessary.
Serve immediately with hot honey mustard, whole grain mustard, ketchup, or your preferred dip.

Hot Honey Mustard

Whisk together the hot honey, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, and hot sauce until smooth. Adjust sweetness and heat to taste.

Notes

Mini hot dogs can be used in place of little smokies if you prefer.
If you skip toppings, the egg wash is optional; it mainly adds shine.
If cooking in batches, keep finished pigs warm on a sheet pan in a low oven (around 170°F / 77°C) while you finish the rest.
Air fryer temps and times vary — check a test piece after 3 minutes to determine the perfect timing for your unit.

Nutrition (per pig in a blanket)

Calories: 41 kcal • Carbohydrates: 4 g • Protein: 1 g • Fat: 3 g • Saturated Fat: 1 g • Cholesterol: 3 mg • Sodium: 97 mg • Sugar: 1 g

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out — leave a review or rating and share any tweaks you made.