Making these pigs in blankets in an air-fryer is a quick, simple, and delicious way to prepare this classic festive side dish. Christmas dinner just wouldn’t be complete without this beloved treat. Fortunately, with the air-fryer, you can make pigs in blankets in no time at all! With minimal ingredients and just 20 minutes in the air-fryer, these tasty little morsels are perfect for busy holiday cooking.
The air-fryer is ideal for making pigs in blankets because it cooks them to perfection, delivering a crispy bacon exterior and tender sausage inside. Since the air fryer circulates hot air evenly, your pigs in blankets will be evenly cooked and golden brown all around. This method saves both time and energy, so you can focus on other aspects of your festive meal. No need to take up precious oven space, which can be a challenge when preparing a large family roast dinner. The air fryer allows you to prepare this dish without adding extra stress to your kitchen.
Although pigs in blankets are traditionally a Christmas treat, they are too delicious to only enjoy once a year. They make a fantastic party snack, perfect for serving at gatherings with friends or family. You can even pair them with a Sunday roast, whether it’s turkey, chicken, or pork, to make any meal a little more special. They’re a versatile and crowd-pleasing dish that adds a festive touch to any occasion.
This air fryer pigs in blankets recipe is so simple and easy to make that you’ll want to prepare it all year round. It’s the perfect way to bring a touch of holiday cheer to any meal, any time!
PREP 5 minutes
COOK 15 minutes
SERVES 4 people as a side dish
KIT you will need an air fryer, mixing bowl and brush
Ingredients for air fryer pigs in blankets
8 rashers of streaky bacon
8 chipolata sausages
1 tablespoon of runny honey
1 heaped teaspoon of Dijon mustard
Cooking spray
Method
Start by taking each chipolata sausage and wrapping it in a rasher of streaky bacon. Begin at one end and roll the bacon tightly around the sausage so that it covers it neatly from end to end. It’s important to wrap the bacon snugly, as the sausage will shrink slightly as it cooks, and you don’t want the bacon falling off or becoming loose. After all, no one wants a pig with a sloppy blanket!
Next, its time to prepare your glaze. In a small bowl, mix together a couple of tablespoons of runny honey with a teaspoon of Dijon mustard. This sweet and tangy glaze will add a deliciously sticky and flavourful coating to your pigs in blankets. Using a pastry brush, generously coat each bacon-wrapped sausage with the honey and mustard glaze.
Then place the glazed sausages in a single layer in the base of your air fryer basket, keeping the crisper trays in place to allow the air to circulate underneath. Make sure the sausages aren’t overlapping or touching to ensure even cooking.
Set your air fryer to 180°C and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, turning the sausages halfway through. So this helps the bacon crisp up on all sides. If you have any leftover glaze, brush it over the sausages during the halfway turn for an extra sticky finish. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the size of your chipolatas, so keep an eye on them.
Once golden and cooked through, carefully remove them from the air fryer and transfer to a serving plate. For a festive touch, sprinkle over some fresh rosemary or thyme leaves. Serve your pigs in blankets hot as a party appetiser, or as a classic side dish with your roast dinner. They are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
Tips for Air Fryer Pigs in Blankets
1. Choose the right sausages
Cocktail sausages or chipolatas work best for pigs in blankets. Or you can also use veggie sausages if you prefer a meat-free version, but just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
2. Go for streaky bacon
Streaky bacon is ideal to wrap around your sausages because it is thin and crisps up beautifully in the air fryer. It also wraps easily around the sausages and adds that classic salty crunch.
3. Secure with a toothpick (optional)
If your bacon tends to unravel during the cooking, secure it with a cocktail stick before air frying. Just remember to remove it before serving!
4. Don’t overcrowd the basket
Place the pigs in blankets in a single layer in your air fryer basket so that the air can circulate and crisp up the bacon evenly. Cook them in batches if needed.
5. No oil needed
There is no need to add extra olive oil as the sausages and bacon release enough fat anyway to help them crisp up naturally in the air fryer.
6. Preheat for extra crispiness
Preheating the air fryer will help to get that initial sizzle and can improve texture. A couple of minutes at 200°C (390°F) before cooking should do the trick.
7. Shake or turn halfway
For even browning, give the air fryer basket a good shake or turn the pigs in blankets halfway through cooking.
8. Glaze for extra flavour
Try brushing your pigs in blankets with a little honey, mustard or maple syrup towards the end of the cooking for a sweet-savoury twist.
Similar recipes
If you love these tasty air fryer pigs in blankets you might also like my easy air fryer turkey crown, the air fryer cauliflower cheese or the air fryer Yorkshire puddings. All of these make a great side dish for any roast dinner.
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