These Pigs in a Blanket with Cheese are hot crispy crescent rolls filled with savory cream cheese and a little smokies and then air fried to golden perfection. A delicious air fryer appetizer and tasty snack you’ll want to make again.
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If you love pigs in a blanket, then you’re absolutely going to flip over these. We’re adding a seasoned cream cheese mixture with just a touch of heat to take the traditional pigs in a blanket over the top. This cheesy take on our old favorite explodes with flavor in each and every bite.
The crescent dough comes out golden and flaky and the cream cheese mixture is so smooth and gooey. These cheesy pigs in a blanket are absolutely delicious from the first bite to the last. Serve them at parties, showers, potlucks, or just as an afternoon snack. No matter when or where, everyone is going to love them.
For more easy appetizers using crescent rolls, try these jalapeno popper pigs in a blanket and my savory prosciutto crescent rolls! Both are sure to become favorites in now time.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket
- Easy Peasy! Just six ingredients are all you need to make these super easy snacks!
- Popular Appetizers. Serve them up for parties, game days, or just an afternoon snack.
- Better Than Your Basic Pigs in a Blanket. All that cream cheese, the zesty cheese, and those little sausages! It’s so good.
Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this little smokies pigs in a blanket with cheese recipe. You’ll find them all easily at your local grocery store.
- Pillsbury® original crescent rolls: You will find these in the refrigerator section of the grocery store in the same place eas the biscuits. They’re the secret to what makes this recipe so easy to make.
- Beef Lit’l Smokies: My preference is to use Hillshire Farms brand but you can use any type of cocktail sausages you have available and even change up the flavors by using different varieties of sausages.
- Cream cheese: Adds a creamy and cheesy texture. Make sure you remove it from the fridge a bit before so it has a chance to soften.
- Pepper jack cheese: Adds some heat and that classic cheese pull. Cheddar cheese, American cheese, and Colby Jack cheese would be great in this recipe.
- Seasonings: We’re adding some onion powder and Slap Ya Mama seasoning to the cheese mixture. These adds a bit more spice and depth of flavor. Feel free to use another type of Cajun seasoning if you prefer.
Variations
- Spicier Flavors: Add some finely diced jalapenos to the cream cheese mixture.
- Mild: If you prefer a slightly milder flavor you can use cheddar or Colby Jack cheese instead of the Pepper jack.
- Italian: Swap the shredded cheese for a mixture of mozzarella and parmesan and flavor the cream cheese with a touch of Italian seasoning and minced garlic.
How to Make Pigs in a Blanket with Cheese
This recipe is an easy one, and it only takes a few simple steps to make it! To get started, gather all your ingredients, place a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of your air fryer basket, and lightly spray it with cooking spray.
- Step 1: Prep the dough. Place the crescent roll triangles on a clean surface and cut them into three equally-sized long strips, using a knife or pizza cutter.
- Step 2: Make the cream cheese mixture. Beat the softened cream cheese in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Then add the seasoning and mix until well combined. Finally, stir in the shredded cheese into the mixture.
- Step 3: Assemble. Lay out each strip of crescent dough and spread some of the cream cheese mixture on the top. Then, place a Lit’l Smokie at the wider end of the strip. Last, roll the cream cheese-covered dough strips around the sausage. Repeat until all are done.
- Step 4: Cook. Place the cheese pigs in a blanket in the air fryer basket. It’s best to cook in batches. I was able to fit 12 at a time. Lightly spray their tops. Air fry for 8 minutes at 330 degrees, turning the pigs in a blanket over halfway through. Serve warm with your favorite sauces and enjoy!
Storage Directions
- Store: Place your leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or the freezer for three months.
- Reheat: Place them on a baking sheet and bake them at 350° F for 4 to 5 minutes or the air fryer for 2-3 minutes. If they’re frozen, make sure to thaw them out ahead of time in the fridge.
Serving Suggestions
These pigs in a blanket go great with a dipping sauce on the side. We love this creamy jalapeno salsa, but also serve them with ranch, BBQ sauce, and honey mustard for parties.
For parties they are great served with an assortment of other tasty finger foods such as chicken fried steak sliders, jalapeno artichoke dip, and some fried tortellini.
Expert Tips
- Cut the Dough Lengthwise. This way you end up with three long strips that will wrap around the Lit’l Smokies more than once.
- Soften the Cream Cheese. Be sure your cream cheese is fully softened for best mixing and texture.
- Spray Before Cooking. Be sure to spray the tops of the cheese pigs in a blanket before air frying to get that golden brown color and crispness.
- Line Your Air Fryer. While you CAN simply spray the air fryer basket before air frying these pigs in a blanket, they can sometimes get messy. I recommend lining the basket with parchment paper for much easier cleanup.
- Cook in Batches. The size of your air fryer will dictate how many you can cook at a time. Just be sure to space them out so that air can circulate around them as they cook.
Recipe FAQs
Sure thing! Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and line up your pigs in a blanket on the tray with space in between. Spray the tops with cooking spray. Bake in a preheated oven at 375° F for 10-12 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
This works great especially if you are planning to serve them for a party. Roll up the pigs in a blanket as instructed. Place them on a parchment lined baking tray and flash freeze. Once frozen, transfer them to a container and store in the freezer for up to two months. When ready to bake, remove them from the freezer, place them the air fryer, and cook for 10-12 minutes until golden brown and heated through. Flip them over once half through the cooking time.
Try This Easy Air Fryer Recipe Today
These air fryer pigs in a blanket with cheese are overflowing with flavor (and cheese), and they’re so easy to make. They’re perfect for parties, potlucks, game days, or just an afternoon snack. Whether you serve them for a special occasion or just because you feel like stuffing your face, you’re going to love these. So will your family and friends!
More Easy Appetizer Recipes You’ll Enjoy
And, here is a Crispy Fried Avocado Bites recipe, from Great Grub, Delicious Treats, that you might enjoy as well.
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Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket with Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 ounce container of Pillsbury® original crescent rolls
- 12 ounce package beef lit’l smokies, Hillshire Farms
- 4 ounce cream cheese, softened
- ⅔ cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
- ½ teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Place a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking spray, like extra virgin olive oil spray. (can just spray the basket if you do not have parchment paper)
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy.
- Add seasonings and mix until combined.
- Stir shredded cheese into cream cheese mixture.
- On a clean surface, cut each triangle into 3 long strips. Repeat with the remaining crescent dough.
- Spread some cheese mixture down the crescent strips.
- Place a little smokie at the wider end of each strip, on top of the cheese mixture, and roll up.
- Place 12 at a time into the basket. Lightly spray the tops of the crescents.
- Cook at 330° for 8 minutes, turning over halfway through. Some cheese mixture will spill out.
- Carefully remove and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Cut the Dough Lengthwise. This way you end up with three long strips that will wrap around the Lit’l Smokies more than once.
- Soften the Cream Cheese. Be sure your cream cheese is fully softened for best mixing and texture.
- Spray Before Cooking. Be sure to spray the tops of the cheese pigs in a blanket before air frying to get that golden brown color and crispness.
- Line Your Air Fryer. While you CAN simply spray the air fryer basket before air frying these pigs in a blanket, they can sometimes get messy. I recommend lining the basket with parchment paper for much easier cleanup.
- Cook in Batches. The size of your air fryer will dictate how many you can cook at a time. Just be sure to space them out so that air can circulate around them as they cook.
