Air fryer pigs in a blanket with bacon (British) (2024)

These delightful air fryer pigs in a blanket with bacon are the British and Irish version of our beloved American pigs in a blanket. It’s that time of the year when desserts and appetizers flood the dinner table. If you haven’t tried this British pigs in a blanket, brace yourself folks cos these would knock your socks off and if you’ve been looking for how to make these without crescent rolls, then this is the recipe you’ve been searching for!

Air fryer Pigs in a blanket with bacon

This easy appetizer is very popular around Christmas in the Uk and Ireland. In the US we seem to eat our version all year round at least that’s how it looks to me because it’s readily available even in some fast food chains.

Making it in the air fryer amplifiers how easy it is. Common it’s simply breakfast sausages wrapped in bacon. The perfect beginner friendly recipe to get you started with air frying in the new year. Serve this as a delightful appetizer during dinner alongside your Christmas chicken, Potatoes, rice and everything else in between or enjoy it on its own no strings attached.

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Why you’ll love this

• Easy and beginner friendly with just a few ingredients needed.
• Gluten free
• Crowd pleasing: This is the perfect party food everyone enjoys.
• Family friendly: Kids and adults love this amazing appetizer.
• Low carb: Since this recipe shows you how to make pigs in a blanket without crescent rolls you will be cutting down on a lot of carbs.

Love bacon wrapped foods like we do? Check out our air fryer bacon wrapped pineapple bites, bacon wrapped shrimps and bacon wrapped asparagus.

American Vs British Pigs in a blanket what’s the difference?

When I shared the American pigs in a blanket in our Facebook group, I got into a nice conversation with a British member of the group about this being different from the one she grew up eating. I agreed with her because as someone that researches recipes, I knew exactly what she was talking about.

So what was she talking about? We talked about the fact that in the UK these are made without crescent rolls. Instead they are made with bacon and it’s sausages not hotdogs or lil smokies that are wrapped in bacon. That’s the difference.

• Lil smokies + Crescent rolls or Puff Pastry = American Pigs in a blanket
• Little co*cktail Sausages + Bacon = British / Irish Pigs in a blanket

Ingredients

• Sausage: American Breakfast sausages are close substitutes to the British style sausage traditionally used for this recipe. You can use any flavor variety you like. I used
• Bacon: The type of bacon used in this recipe I hear is not the common type seen in most stores in the Uk. So if you are in Europe, you should be looking ‘streaky bacon’ which is bacon that is made from pork belly not the loin. This type of bacon has stripes of fat between stripes of meat. Thick cut bacon isn’t recommended in this recipe because it will take longer to crisp up.
• Maple syrup
• Cayenne pepper
• Dipping sauce

Substitutions

Sausages: These can be substituted with full size sausages, full sized hot dogs or little smokies. If using full size hotdogs, you can cut each into 2 or 3 to keep it bite sized. However, it is not recommended to cut full sausages this way. You can also use turkey sausages as well if you can’t have pork.

Maple Syrup: This can be substituted with a brown sugar glaze or honey.

Bacon: Can’t find streaky bacon or can’t have pig bacon? You can substitute with Turkey bacon. It won’t taste the same but works.

How to make air fried pigs in a blanket with bacon

Mix maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Cut each rasha of streaky bacon into 2. Then wrap each sausage with bacon till all the piggies have their blankets wrapped nicely around them.

Place pigs in blankets in the air fryer basket or rack if using the oven style air fryer. Brush them with maple syrup or honey mixed with cayenne pepper

Set the temperature to 400°F / 200°C for 13 to 15 mins or until sausages are cooked through and bacon is crispy

Making it in the oven

Don’t have an air fryer yet? These British pigs in a blanket can also be made in the oven. Read along and find out how.

Preheat oven to 400°F / 200°C / Gas mark 6. Then wrap sausages as indicated above. Place the wrapped pigs in a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 mins or until pork sausages are fully cooked and bacon crispy.

British Pigs in a blanket cooking time

Since air fryers are different please use the time in this recipe as a guide and keep an eye on it when making it for the first time. These should cook between 13 to 15 mins in the air fryer. It would take about 20 to 25 mins in the oven.

Storing and reheating

These fly off the plates pretty fast. However leftovers are easy to store and reheat. Store in an air tight container for up to 3 days and reheat in the microwave or air fryer when you are ready to enjoy it.

Can these be made ahead?

To make these ahead, I would suggest wrapping the sausages a day or two before you need them, place them in a parchment lined baking sheet, cover tightly with cling film and let it sit in the refrigerator till you are ready to cook them.

When you are ready to do so, place the wrapped pork sausages in the air fryer or oven and bake at the recommended temperature and time.

Air frying tips

• No need to preheat if using the air fryer, however subsequent batches will likely cook faster because the air fryer got preheated while cooking the first batch.
• Bacon and sausage releases a lot of oil. Drain oil from each batch before proceeding to the next batch to prevent the air fryer from smoking.
• Do not overcrowd the basket so that the heat circulates enough to crisp up the bacon.
• You can cut the bacon into thirds if you want to be more economical if you do this, you are likely to need to secure the Bacon with co*cktail sticks.
• It’s easier to cut bacon when cold and easier to wrap the sausages with not so cold bacon. Stick bacon in the refrigerator for a few minutes before cutting and let it sit on the counter for a few minutes to warm up before wrapping the breakfast sausages.
• Buy sausages and bacon when on sale and make these anytime of the year.

FAQs

What are the brands of breakfast sausages in the US?

There are a variety of brands that I’ve seen which include Johsonville, Smithfield, and Bob Evans.

Where to buy breakfast sausages in the US?

I searched for these breakfast sausages at Costco and it didn’t seem like they had it in own Costco. You should check if yours carry it. You would find these at ACME. They are the grocery store I’m pretty sure carries it more often.

Are breakfast sausages precooked?

Not all breakfast sausages are precooked. The ones used in this recipe are not precooked and that is what I recommend for this recipe. Banquet Brown n serve is an example of precooked sausages so read the package before you buy.

Are sausages rolls and pigs in the blanket the same?

No these are not the same. In the UK, Sausages rolls are minced and seasoned sausage meat wrapped in puff pastry or pie dough while pigs in the blanket are sausages wrapped in bacon

Does America have pigs in blankets?

Yes we do. In the states pigs in blankets refers to lil smokies wrapped in crescent dough.

More air fryer holiday appetizer recipes

• Air fryer bacon wrapped radishes
• Bacon wrapped baby potatoes
• Air fryer bacon wrapped chicken wings
• Jerk shrimp in air fryer

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