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Parmesan Cheese Pigs in a Blanket

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These Parmesan Pigs in a Blanket take the classic party appetizer up a notch with flaky puff pastry and a crispy Parmesan topping. They're easy to assemble, can be frozen ahead, and baked when you need them, making them especially handy for holiday parties, game day, or anytime you need an easy appetizer for a crowd.

I make these with little smokies wrapped in puff pastry rather than crescent-roll dough. A quick egg wash and generous sprinkle of Parmesan help the pastry bake up golden and crisp.

Parmesan Pigs in a Blanket with Puff Pastry

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Parmesan Crusted Pigs-in-a-blanket served with honey mustard
Parmesan Crusted Pigs in a Blanket
Serve them warm with my simple honey mustard dipping sauce. They're always one of the first appetizers to disappear.

These kicked-up, Parmesan-crusted, pigs in a blanket were inspired by a frozen, prepared version I purchased at the grocery store.  The grocery store frozen pigs-in-a-blanket were a holiday specialty item, and I bought a box of twelve to try them out.

They were good, but a little greasy, and I was sure I could make them better and for less money. 
Jump to Recipe

Why You'll Love These Pigs in a Blanket

Easy to make: Puff pastry and little smokies keep the ingredient list short.

Make them ahead: Assemble and freeze them before your party, then bake when you're ready.

Crispy and flaky: Keeping the sausages dry and the puff pastry cool helps prevent soggy pastry.

A little more special: Parmesan cheese gives the classic pigs in a blanket a savory, golden crust.

Great for entertaining: Serve them for holiday parties, game day, or any casual get-together.

Tips for Making Parmesan Pigs in a Blanket

Can I make pigs in a blanket ahead of time?

Yes. These are an excellent make-ahead appetizer. Assemble the pigs in a blanket and place them on a baking sheet. Freeze until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Keep frozen until you're ready to bake.

Can I bake pigs in a blanket from frozen?

Yes. There's no need to thaw them first. Place the frozen pigs in a blanket on a parchment-lined baking sheet, brush them with egg wash, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and bake as directed. They may need an extra minute or two in the oven to become golden brown and crisp.
 
Pigs-in-a blanket made with puff pastry.
Pigs in a Blanket Ready to Bake
How do I keep pigs in a blanket from getting soggy?
Drain the little smokies well and pat them dry with paper towels before wrapping them. Excess moisture can keep the puff pastry from becoming crisp.

Keep the puff pastry cool while you're working, too. Work with one sheet at a time and return the second sheet to the refrigerator if it begins getting too warm.

Do I need to roll out the puff pastry?

Yes. Lightly roll each sheet of puff pastry with a rolling pin. until it is approximately square. This makes it easier to cut the pastry into 16 fairly even pieces so your appetizers are similar in size. A pizza wheel makes it easy to cut the squares evenly.

What dipping sauce goes with pigs in a blanket?

I like these best with a simple honey mustard dipping sauce made with Dijon mustard and honey. You can adjust the amount of honey to make the sauce as sweet or tangy as you like.
Easy preparation for pigs-in-a-blanket.
Preparing Pigs in a Blanket

Watch the Pigs in a Blanket Video


A Few Ingredient Notes

Little smokies: Drain and dry them well before wrapping so the puff pastry stays crisp.
Puff pastry: Thaw according to the package directions, but keep it cool while you're working.
Parmesan cheese: Grated Parmesan creates the savory crust on top.
Dijon mustard and honey: That's all you need for the dipping sauce.

More Easy Appetizers for Entertaining

If you're planning a party or holiday gathering, pair these Parmesan Pigs in a Blanket with a few of my other make-ahead appetizer favorites:

Sausage Pinwheels, also made with puff pastry, can be made ahead and frozen.

Clam Dip is an easy choice to serve with with chips and crackers.

Caramelized Onion Dip isanother crowd-friendly dip with chips and crackers.  

Crunchy Crab Cakes, a make-ahead appetizer.

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Pin featuring Parmesan pigs in a blanket.

Pigs in a Blanket Recipe


freezer pigs in a blanket, pigs in a blanket with cheese
appetizer
American
Yield: 32 appetizers
Author: Donna Urso
Parmesan Pigs in a Blanket

Parmesan Pigs in a Blanket

Make Parmesan pigs in a blanket with puff pastry for an easy party appetizer. Make them ahead, freeze, and bake when you're ready to serve.

Prep time: 30 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 55 Min

Ingredients

Pigs in a Blanket
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Prepare your baking sheets with a sheet of parchment paper to fit. Defrost the puff pastry according to the package directions.
  3. While the puff pastry is thawing, drain the little smokies sausages in a colander. You want the sausages to be dry.
  4. Once the puff pastry is thawed, working with one piece of dough at a time, roll the pastry sheet out using a rolling pin until the pastry is approximately square in shape.
  5. Cut the pastry sheet into 16 pieces. Lay a sausage in the center of each piece.
  6. Pull up two opposite corners and pinch them together. Place the pigs in a blanket on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. (They can be closer together if you plan to freeze now and bake later.)
  7. When freezing for later, place your baking sheet in the freezer until your pigs-in-a-blanket are frozen. Then place them in a freezer-safe bag for storage. When baking from frozen, just pick up from here in the directions. Your pigs-in-a-blanket may need to bake a minute or two longer.
  8. Beat the egg with two teaspoons of water. Brush the egg wash over each pig in a blanket.
  9. Sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese.
  10. Place the pan on the center rack of your preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until crisp and golden brown.
  11. Cool slightly. Serve with honey mustard sauce.
  12. To make the honey mustard sauce: Mix 1/2 cup of Dijon mustard with two generous tablespoons of honey. Taste and add more honey if desired.

Notes

Prepare these ahead and freeze them for up to three months. Wrap the smokies in the puff pastry and lay them out on a pan. Place the pan in your freezer until the pigs in a blanket are frozen. Then transfer to a freezer bag. When you are ready to cook them, brush with the egg wash and sprinkle them with Parmesan cheese.


Bake as instructed until brown and puffed.

Recommended Products

OXO Pizza Wheel

Rolling Pin

USA Half Sheet Pans

Nutrition Facts

Calories

135.21

Fat (grams)

9.68 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

2.31 g

Carbs (grams)

9.04 g

Fiber (grams)

0.54 g

Net carbs

8.50 g

Sugar (grams)

1.40 g

Protein (grams)

3.24 g

Sodium (milligrams)

356.99 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

12.96 mg

Nutritional information is approximate.

Similar Recipes

Crunchy Crab Cakes

Caramelized Onion Dip

Sausage Pinwheels Appetizers

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