As a kid I LOVED when my Mom would make Pigs in a Blanket or Little Smokies as they are often called using Pop Biscuits and Hot dogs. Now I enjoy even more Lil Smokies wrapped in crescent rolls using Pillsbury Crescent Rolls for their taste and flakey texture. Even better when dipped into a Honey Mustard Sauce, or my favorite Cowboy Dipping Sauce. And trust me, you can’t eat just one!

I’m all about having fun when making recipes, so although you can make Lil Smokies in a Blanket and bake why not theme it up and shape into a Football and serve for a Super Bowl Party or Game Night! Or a Christmas Tree around the Holidays. Sounds fun and I bet your family will smile big when they see this plate of appetizers placed before them too.
You will only need a few ingredients and fortunately it also only takes a few minutes to roll these crescent roll pigs in a blanket.
Pigs in a Blanket Dipping Sauce
Make sure you add some fun Dips to dip these Cocktail Weenies into. This Cowboy Sauce is a BBQ Favorite and why you are at it you might also like these Loaded Tater Tot Kabobs too. Don’t forget Ranch or even a Honey Mustard Sauce is great too.
Offering a variety of dip for Pigs in a Blanket is a must, along with having enough appetizers for the size crowd you have. For a small group of 8-10 people I find having at least 3 dipping sauces to choose from is ideal.
Pigs in Blanket Sauce
- Cowboy Sauce
- BBQ Sauce
- Honey Mustard
- Fry Sauce

Seasoning Ideas
- Salt and Pepper
- Poppy Seeds
- Everything But the Bagel seasoning
Fun Fact
Here’s a Fun Fact for you. Did you know the first written record of Little Smokies Recipes Pigs in a Blanket was in a Betty Crocker Cooking for Kids Cookbook in 1957? It was! Kids and adults have been enjoying this fun snack for generations.

Lil Smokies dinner recipes are endless. We also love to make Hawaiian Meatballs with cocktail weenies using the Instant Pot. It's a recipe my boys will enjoy as an appetizer that fills them up like a meal.
Ingredients for Lil Smokies in a Blanket
- Cocktail Weenies
- Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
- Egg
- Salt and Pepper
- Dipping Sauce

How to make Lil Smokies Pigs in a Blanket
Heat oven to 375 degrees. It typically takes a few minutes for the oven to heat up.
Unroll Crescent Roll dough and separate into precut triangles. Laying crescent dough on a large cutting board and using a pizza cutter cut each triangle into 3 strips. One package of Crescent Rolls will make 24 little smokies Pigs in a Blanket.

Place Cocktail Weenie at the wide end and roll securing dough at the bottom with a simple pinch.
Arrange Pigs in a Blanket on Baking Sheet leaving room between. Whisk Egg and brush egg on dough. This is optional but gives a nice crusty texture to the baked roll. Then sprinkle with Salt and Pepper to taste.
Trader Joes sells and Everything But the Bagel Seasoning which is also delicious when sprinkled on top.
Bake at 375 Degrees for 14-16 minutes or until Golden Brown. Serve with Dipping Sauce, Barbecue Sauce, Honey Mustard and enjoy.
Pro Tip
When baking into a shape like a football or Christmas Tree, allow room between for crescent rolls to puff and expand. If tops cook to quickly cover with foil to allow everything to properly cook.
How to make a Football Pig in a Blanket
For the Super Bowl or Game Night turning the Appetizer into a shape is just fun. You will need to double the recipe to have enough Lil Smokies in a blanket to form a Football shape.

Once all the Smokies are rolled up, place 12 Rolled Smokies in an arch with 12 Rolled Smokies in a lower reverse arch forming the outer shape of a football. Then begin to fill in the center with 2 smaller arches. Notice the outer layer the Smokies are placed vertically and the inner layers are horizontally.
Bake as Directed and Top with Ketchup and Mustard
How to make Christmas Tree Pigs in a Blanket
For the Holidays It's fun to make a wreath or even a Christmas Tree Shape out of pigs in a blanket recipe. I start with a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Placing 2 side by side for the trunk.
Then building from the bottom a row of 7 lil smokies crescent rolls. Followed by a row of 6, then 5, 4, 3, 2 and finally 1 on the top.
It's important to leave space between for baking as the crescent rolls will puff and fill in the spaces. As the rolls bake it's often necessary to place aluminum foil on top to help from browning too much. This also allows the bottoms to continue to cook.
Brush with egg wash before baking to give the rich golden color on tops. The egg wash also helps seasonings to stick perfectly.
You can always bake up small batches and serve immediately to have hot fresh pigs in a blanket. I also find it helps to plate them all neatly stacked on each other to hold the heat together.
Pigs in a Blanket date back to the 1600's where Field Workers would wrap meat in dough and eat for a meal.

Favorite Appetizers
- Hawaiian Meatballs
- Chili Cheese Fries
- Artichoke Spinach Dip
- BBQ Chicken Wings
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
- Pizza Dip
- Mac and Cheese Bites
How many Appetizers for a Crowd?
If serving a crowd of people I have found this is the BEST rule of thumb to go by. Serving Multiple Appetizers not only makes the party more fun, but your guests will be able to choose something they like too.
- Serve 3 Appetizer Recipes when hosting 8-10 people
- Serve 4-5 Appetizer Recipes when Hosting 14-16 People
- Serve 6 Appetizer Recipes when hosting larger groups of 20+
How Many Guests | Appetizers |
8-10 Guests | Serve 3 Appetizers |
14-16 Guests | Serve 4-5 Appetizers |
20+ Guests | Serve 6 Appetizers |
Prepping for New Years Parties
- Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers from Blogghetti
- Champagne Jello Shots from Fresh April Flours
- Confetti Champagne Cocktail from Our Good Life
- Deviled Potatoes from The Spiffy Cookie
- Grilled Party Kabobs from The Freshman Cook
- Hanky Panky from Palatable Pastime
- Lil Smokies Recipe Pigs in a Blanket from Devour Dinner
- Mango Avocado Shrimp Cocktails from That Recipe
- Mini Cheeseballs from Jen Around the World
- Moonshine Margarita from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Pesto Crescent Spirals from Magical Ingredients
- Pizza Pigs In A Blanket from Making Miracles
- Sorbet Champagne Cocktail from Art of Natural Living
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Lil Smokies Pigs in a Blanket
Ingredients
- 1 14oz Lil Smokies
- 1 Crescent Roll - Pillsbury
- 1 Egg
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 Degrees
- Unroll Crescent Rolls and using a Pizza Cutter slice into 3 strips
- Roll one Lil Smokey per strip of crescent roll
- Brush whisked egg on top of crescent roll and sprinkle with salt and pepper
- Bake at 375 Degrees for 15 minutes or until Golden Brown
Football Shaped Lil Smokies
- You will need to double the ingredients to make a Football Shaped Lil Smokies in the Blanket.
- Follow directions and roll Lil Smokies. Place 12 rolled Lil Smokies forming an arch and repeat with 12 rolled Lil Smokies forming a bottom arch to create a football shape. I like to place vertical on the outer edge to keep uniform
- Fill the inside with remaining Lil Smokies rolled in crescent rolls to fill space.
- Bake as directed
Christmas Tree Little Smokies Recipe
Start with a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Placing 2 side by side for the trunk.
- Then building from the bottom a row of 7 lil smokies crescent rolls.
- Followed by a row of 6, then 5, 4, 3, 2 and finally 1 on the top.
- Brush with egg wash before baking to give the rich golden color on tops. The egg wash also helps seasonings to stick perfectly.
Seasoning (optional)
- Sprinkle with Salt/Pepper OR Seasoning blend like Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, Course Salt, etc.
Notes
- Serve 3 Appetizer Recipes when hosting 8-10 people
- Serve 4-5 Appetizer Recipes when Hosting 14-16 People
- Serve 6 Appetizer Recipes when hosting larger groups of 20+
How Many Guests | Appetizers |
8-10 Guests | Serve 3 Appetizers |
14-16 Guests | Serve 4-5 Appetizers |
20+ Guests | Serve 6 Appetizers |
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Nutrition
Post published Feb 2021 Republished December 2021

Kathy
Very special Friday night appetizer. My husband loved them.
Thanks so much for sharing
Devour Dinner
You are very welcome Kathy!