Classic British pigs in blanket, but all done in the air fryer. Air fryer pigs in blankets not only give you the perfect crispy texture in less time than the oven, but they will save you room in the oven when making a roast dinner. Perfectly cooked sausages wrapped in crispy bacon in just 8 minutes. It's just not Christmas without pigs in blankets!
These are not the American pigs in blankets with mini hot dogs and Crescent rolls, these are classic British pigs in blankets which are chipolatas wrapped in bacon. Bacon wrapped sausages are simple, but the perfect side for a roast dinner.
Cooking pigs in blankets in the air fryer saves a lot of oven related stress at Christmas, when it's already bursting with dishes. I also think air fryer pigs in a blanket give the perfect crispiness that the oven just doesn't get.
These pigs in blankets take just 8 minutes in the air fryer and they get deliciously crispy. That's half the time they take in the oven. You can make these the night before and then keep them in the fridge until you are ready to cook them. A great Christmas get-ahead of time recipe.
If you are looking for some other air fryer recipes, then why not try our simple Air Fryer Chips, juicy Air Fryer Steak, versatile Air Fryer Mushrooms or our crispy Air Fryer Tortilla Chips?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Sausages - You need little cocktail sausages for this pigs in blankets recipe. You could use chipolatas if you wanted bigger pigs in blankets or just chop them up.
- Bacon - You need thin strips of streaky bacon for this air fryer pigs in blanket recipe. Anything thicker and it will be too wide for the little sausages. We like smoked bacon for extra flavour.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
How to Make Air Fryer Pigs in Blankets - Step by Step
- Step 1: Slice the bacon in half.
- Step 2: Place the sausages at one end of each of the bacon rashers.
- Step 3: Roll the bacon around the sausages.
- Step 4: Spray the air fryer basket with some oil and place the pigs in blankets into it. Air fry at 180°C for 8 minutes.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Pigs in Blankets
These are a must on any kind of roast dinner, but especially when it comes to a Christmas dinner. We have got you covered when it comes to everything you could possibly need for a roast dinner.
When it comes to roast meat, try our Slow Cooker Roast Beef, Slow Cooker Gammon or Slow Cooker Lamb Shoulder.
A roast is all about the sides in my opinion and we have plenty of those to share too. Air Fryer Roast Potatoes, Garlic Spring Greens, Honey and Mustard Parsnips and Sage and Onion Stuffing Balls are all a must. You could also just serve them on some Mashed Potatoes with gravy.
These don't just have to be for a roast dinner though. They go down really well at a party as a Christmas appetiser! Serve them up with a dip made of Dijon mustard and honey or just our homemade ketchup. So good!
Storage
Store: Any leftover air fryer pigs in blankets can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze these in freezer bags for up to 2 months.
Defrost: You can cook these from frozen - they will take about 11 minutes in the air fryer.
Reheat: You can either reheat them in the microwave for 30 seconds or in the air fryer for 4 minutes.
Extra Tips
- To make this gluten free, make sure you are using gluten free sausages.
- At Christmas time, when these are popular, cocktail sausages go up in price. So, you could buy chipolatas and then chop them in half and use them for this air fryer pigs in blanket recipe.
- To make these a little lighter, you can use Quorn cocktail sausages. You could use turkey bacon too, but it wouldn't have the same texture or flavour.
- For some extra flavour, you can brush these with maple syrup before cooking. You can also buy flavoured cocktail sausages.
- Cooking times may vary as every air fryer is different. If yours are not cooked through, then put them on for 2 minutes longer.
• You can use this cooking time to cook ready made, store bought pigs in blankets. - Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Air needs to be able to circulate all around so everything gets nice and crispy.
- To make honey and mustard sausages, glazed them the a honey and mustard mixture about 2 minutes before they have finished cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because you are wrapping up the pig (pork sausage) in a blanket (bacon).
Yes, you can. Wrap them up and then keep them in the fridge until the next day.
If you have some store bought pigs in blankets that are frozen, then these can be cooked in the air fryer. They will take around 12 minutes. Be aware that they will smoke a little more when cooking as they tend to be cheaper and have a higher fat content.
Yes, if you want to make these in the oven then you can cook them at 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°F/Gas 6 for 20-25 minutes.
More Sausage Recipes
If you’ve tried this pigs in blankets recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Air Fryer Pigs in Blanket
Ingredients
- 4 rasher Streaky bacon
- 8 Chipolatas
Instructions
- Slice the bacon in half.
- Place the sausages at one end of each of the bacon rashers.
- Roll the bacon around the sausages.
- Spray the air fryer basket with some oil and place the pigs in blankets into it. Cook on the Air Fry setting at 180°C/350℉ for 8 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- To make this gluten free, make sure you are using gluten free sausages.
- At Christmas time, when these are popular, cocktail sausages go up in price. So, you could buy chipolatas and then chop them in half and use them for this air fryer pigs in blanket recipe.
- To make these a little lighter, you can use Quorn cocktail sausages. You could use turkey bacon too, but it wouldn't have the same texture or flavour.
- For some extra flavour, you can brush these with maple syrup before cooking. You can also buy flavoured cocktail sausages.
- Cooking times may vary as every air fryer is different. If yours are not cooked through, then put them on for 2 minutes longer.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Air needs to be able to circulate all around so everything gets nice and crispy.
- To make honey and mustard sausages, glazed them the a honey and mustard mixture about 2 minutes before they have finished cooking.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Andrew Loudon says
Made this with British PIBs from Sainsbury's in my Instant Vortex 3.8L (1650W). Needed 11 minutes at 180c on Air Fry setting. Perfect - crispy bacon and well-cooked succulent sausages.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
Such a great way to make perfectly crisp pigs in blankets. They always try to weld themselves to the dish when I make them in the oven.
Beth says
I love this bacon-tastic take on pigs in a blanket! I cannot wait to make these.
Kathleen says
This British version of pigs in a blanket is calling my name! These look amazing!
kushigalu says
I love this air fryer version of pigs in a blanket. Thanks for sharing, Looks delicious.
Tayler says
My kids love pigs in a blanket, so I can't wait to try this air fryer recipe. They will love it!
Katherine says
Such a great idea to make these in the air fryer!