Lil Smokies Pigs In A Blanket

With just a few extra additions to a classic appetizer recipe, these lil smokies pigs in a blanket are different enough to feel special. Beef Lil smokies and swiss cheese are wrapped in a soft crescent roll then topped with a buttery poppyseed dressing and are perfect for game day snacks or an easy appetizer recipe that everyone will love.

Lil Smokies Pigs In A Blanket

When it comes to tailgate food, the options are endless. From creamy cottage cheese ranch dip to crunchy chicken tenders, anything that you can pick up or dip into will work just fine!

Of all the tailgate snacks or appetizer ideas, one that always goes down as one of my favorites (to make and to eat) are pigs in a blanket with lil smokies.

This lil smokies pigs in a blanket recipe takes a fun twist on the classic recipes. Cheese stuffed pigs in a blanket are brushed with a buttery poppyseed dressing for a flavorful bite that is perfect for tailgate food, appetizer tables, or even after school snack ideas!

Let’s get to the recipe:

Why you’ll love this recipe:

You’ll love this recipe because it’s:

1. Easy to make: While they are full of flavor, these pigs in a blanket are actually very simple to make! Just lay out your crescent rolls, roll in your lil smokie and cheese, roll them up, then brush with your poppyseed butter dressing. Bake until golden brown and enjoy!

2. A fun twist on a classic: These are simply pigs in a blanket that have been stuffed with cheese then topped with a tasty sauce! While the changes may seem minor, they make a big difference in the flavor making them perfect for tailgate food, hearty appetizers, or after school snack boards.

3. Customizable: You can switch up your stuffings, add or skip the cheese, or even add some heat with fresh jalapeños.

4. Can be prepped ahead of time: if you want to save some time on the day of, you can prep everything the night before then store the prepped rolls in the refrigerator until you are ready to add the sauce and bake them.

5. Family friendly: kids, guests, and adults all love this beef lil smokie recipe recipe!

You’re going to love it!

Ingredients:

While there are a few extra flavors, this easy appetizer recipe is under 10 ingredients and is still a very heart appetizer that is more filling than chips and dip… key, if your tailgate also includes adult beverages.

For The Rolls:

• Crescent Rolls- I used Pillsbury but you can use any brand and be sure to follow their baking instructions. Adding the buttery topping will add about 6-8 minute of baking time to what is listed on the packing, so be sure to factor that in!

  Your crescents should be fluffy and golden brown on the outside when you take them out of the oven.

• Beef lil’ smokies- generally you will find these near the deli meat.

• Swiss cheese- You will add half a slice of cheese to each roll.  I recommend using a mild flavored cheese like swiss and let the buttery sauce be the flavor addition. Cheddar is never a bad idea if you want cheese to be the stand out flavor. Want to up the spice? Go for pepper jack cheese.

For The Sauce

• Butter- because everything is better with butter and I will die on that hill. This sauce helps the pigs in a blanket caramelize in the oven and creates a delicious and crispy curst.

• Dijon mustard- must be Dijon if you want that yummy flavor profile

• Poppy seed- let’s all be friends and be sure to check eachothers teeth after eating these poppyseed loaded snacks.

• Worcestershire sauce- a little bit goes along way to up the savory flavor

• Dried minced onion- this is an optional addition to the sauce. I recommend adding it, but if you don’t have it, don’t sweat it.

• Honey- I make my sauce a little different than the traditional sauce by adding a little honey. To me, honey and Dijon mustard are two things that always need to go together.

Recipe FAQs:

1. How can I make this tailgating snack easier to make?

   There is absolutely nothing wrong with a tailgate classic. If you want to make this recipe a little bit easier, I would skip the buttery sauce and just bake them with the crescents, cheese, and lil smokies. A 3 ingredient tailgate snack? Sign me up!

2. Can I prep these ahead of time?

   These are best when they are prepared and served warm out of the oven. If you want to do some of the prep ahead of time, you can prepare all of the pigs in a blanket the night before or a few hours prior to gametime and store those in a fridge.

   When you are ready to serve them, add your sauce, bake, and serve them fresh out of the oven.  

3. Can this tailgate appetizer travel well?

   Need a yummy tailgate snack that can travel? No worries, lil smokies pigs in a blanket can be grab and go and ready for road games.

   Here’s what I recommend: bake these the night before OR morning of the football game and allow them to FULLY cool. Allowing them to cool is key if you want to preserve the crescents crispy exterior. Store them in an airtight container and take them out to your tailgate destination.

   Then, toss them onto a grill or into a smoker for just a few minutes to simply warm them back up and serve! You can also eat these cold and many people do, but I personally prefer them warmed up.

4. How to store pigs in a blanket

   Got leftovers? These pigs in a blanket can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator and enjoyed the next day. I recommend reheating them in the oven to preserve the crispy outside! They can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Need more tailgate food?

• Roasted Tomato and Boursin Dip

• Greek Yogurt Buffalo Chicken Dip

• Cottage Cheese Taco Dip

• Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders

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Yield: 25-30

Author: Lauren Twigge

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Lil Smokies Pigs In A Blanket

With just a few extra additions to a classic appetizer recipe, these lil smokies pigs in a blanket are different enough to feel special. Beef Lil smokies and swiss cheese are wrapped in a soft crescent roll then topped with a buttery poppyseed dressing and are perfect for game day snacks or an easy appetizer recipe that everyone will love.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 35 Min

Ingredients

• 4, 8 oz Pillsbury Crescents (they come in 8 sheets)
• 28 ounce beef lil’ smokies
• 1 pack Swiss cheese
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp poppy seed
• 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dried minced onion
• 1/2 tsp honey

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Prep a large baking sheet by adding parchment paper OR spraying with non-stick spray.
2. Open your crescent rolls and unroll them into flat sheets. They will be precut into triangle sections. Separate out each individual triangle and set aside
3. Lay one triangle flat and add ½ a slice of cheese and 2 lil smokies at the larger end of the triangle. Then, roll the crescent around the cheese and lil smokies to form a stuffed roll. Repeat this step to form all of your pigs in a blanket.
4. Line your pigs in a blanket up on your prepped baking sheets leaving about two inches between each roll to allow the crescents to expand in the oven. *If you want to make easy pigs in a blanket, you can bake these as they are at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until the crescents are golden brown.
5. Now, let’s prep the sauce. Melt the butter in a microwave safe dish for about 30 seconds, or until completely melted. Stir in your Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce, dried minced onion, and honey until well combined.
6. Brush the sauce onto each pig in a blanket, coating the top and sides well. If your sauce hardens, warm in the microwave for 10 seconds to keep it spreadable.
7. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until dough is golden brown on the top and cooked all the way through. Serve warm and enjoy!

Hey! I’m Lauren

I’m a Registered Dietitian and busy toddler mom committed to bringing you delicious, nutritious, and easy to make recipes!