Pigs in blankets are the side everyone hovers over on Christmas Day, and the one most likely to get squeezed out of a crowded main oven. Cooking them in an air fryer oven solves that. The moving hot air crisps the bacon all the way round, the sausages cook through evenly, and your main oven stays free for the turkey and the roast potatoes. Here is how to make air fryer pigs in blankets, fresh or frozen, with times you can plan around.
Why cook pigs in blankets in an air fryer oven?
In a conventional oven, pigs in blankets often end up pale on top or sitting in their own fat. An air fryer oven uses a convection fan to move hot air around the food, so the bacon browns on every side, and if you use the basket the fat drips away underneath.
The f77 Super Oven Pro has a 30L capacity, which gives you room to cook a proper batch in a single layer on the air fry basket or baking tray. If you are cooking for two or three, the compact f66 Super Oven has a 15L cavity and handles a smaller batch nicely. Both have manual time and temperature controls, so you can set exactly what you need rather than relying on a preset. You can compare both models in our digital air fryer ovens range.
What you need
- Chipolatas: 12 pork chipolatas make 12 classic pigs in blankets. Cocktail sausages work well for party nibbles.
- Streaky bacon: 6 rashers, each stretched and cut in half. Streaky crisps far better than back bacon.
- Optional glaze: 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup mixed with 1 teaspoon of wholegrain mustard.
- Kit: the air fry basket for the crispiest finish, or the baking tray if you want to catch the fat and any glaze.
How to make pigs in blankets in an air fryer oven
- Preheat. Set the oven to 180°C on the air fry setting and let it heat for a few minutes while you wrap.
- Stretch the bacon. Lay each rasher on a board and run the back of a knife firmly along it. Thinner bacon wraps more tightly and crisps faster. Cut each rasher in half.
- Wrap. Roll a half rasher around each chipolata at a slight angle, finishing with the loose end underneath so it stays put without cocktail sticks.
- Arrange in a single layer. Leave a small gap between each one so the air can move around them. Overcrowding is the main reason for soft, pale bacon.
- Cook. Air fry at 180°C for about 15 to 20 minutes, turning them once halfway through.
- Glaze if you like. Brush on the honey and mustard for the last 4 to 5 minutes only. Added any earlier, the sugar can catch and burn.
- Check they are cooked. The sausages should be piping hot all the way through, with no pink meat and clear juices. A probe thermometer should read at least 75°C in the centre of the thickest one.
Pigs in blankets cooking times
Ovens and sausages vary, so treat these as starting points and check your first batch a little early.
- Fresh homemade (chipolatas): 180°C for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Fresh shop-bought: 180°C for 15 to 18 minutes, or follow the pack if it gives air fryer times.
- Frozen, uncooked: 180°C for 20 to 25 minutes, with no need to defrost. Separate any that are stuck together after 5 minutes.
- Cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon: 180°C for 10 to 14 minutes.
- Reheating cooked ones: 180°C for 4 to 6 minutes, until piping hot.
If the bacon is crisp before the sausages are cooked through, lower the temperature to 160°C and give them a few more minutes. If the bacon is still soft when the sausages are done, finish with 2 to 3 minutes at 200°C.
Cooking a big batch for a crowd
For a crowd, cook in batches rather than piling everything in at once. A single layer with gaps gives far better results than a crowded tray, and each batch takes less than 20 minutes.
- Keep the first batch warm on a plate loosely covered with foil while the next one cooks, then give them all 2 to 3 minutes together at the end to bring the bacon back to crisp.
- If you are glazing, line the baking tray with a piece of baking paper cut to size so the sticky bits do not bake on. Keep it flat and weighed down by the food, well away from the heating elements.
Make ahead and freeze
- The day before: wrap them, put them on a plate, cover and keep in the fridge. Cook them straight from the fridge on the day, using the fresh timings.
- Weeks ahead: open-freeze the wrapped, uncooked pigs in blankets on a tray, then tip them into a freezer bag once solid. Use them within a month and cook from frozen.
- Leftovers: cool cooked ones quickly, keep them covered in the fridge and eat within two days. Reheat until piping hot. Our guide to reheating leftovers in an air fryer oven covers the rest of the Boxing Day spread too.
Fitting them into Christmas dinner
The biggest advantage of a separate air fryer oven on Christmas Day is timing. The turkey needs to rest once it comes out, and that is exactly when the main oven gets busy with stuffing and vegetables. Put the pigs in blankets into the air fryer oven about 20 minutes before you plan to serve, and they will come out hot and crisp just as you carve.
If you would rather keep the pigs in blankets in the main oven, you can switch things round and do the roast potatoes in the air fryer oven instead. For a refresher on settings, see our guide on how to use an air fryer oven, and our comparison of an air fryer oven vs a conventional oven looks at when each one makes more sense.
Flavour ideas
- Honey and mustard: the classic, brushed on for the last few minutes.
- Maple and black pepper: a little sweeter, and lovely with smoked bacon.
- Cranberry: warm a spoonful of cranberry sauce and brush it over just before serving.
- Sage: tuck a small sage leaf under the bacon before wrapping.
- Party platter: wrap cocktail sausages, cook, then serve on sticks with a mustard dip. Our batch party food recipes have more ideas that work for any gathering.
Cleaning up afterwards
Wipe cooled bacon fat into the bin rather than pouring it down the sink, then soak the tray in warm water with a little washing-up liquid. The baking tray, grill rack and air fry basket on both Fridja Super Ovens are dishwasher safe on the top rack at a maximum of 40°C, while the crumb tray should be emptied and washed by hand. Our air fryer oven cleaning guide has the full routine.
Frequently asked questions
How long do pigs in blankets take in an air fryer oven?
Fresh pigs in blankets made with chipolatas take about 15 to 20 minutes at 180°C, turned once halfway through. Frozen ones need roughly 20 to 25 minutes at the same temperature, with no need to defrost first. Thicker sausages take longer, so always check they are piping hot all the way through with no pink meat.
Can you cook frozen pigs in blankets in an air fryer?
Yes. Cook them straight from frozen at 180°C for about 20 to 25 minutes, separating any that are stuck together after the first five minutes. Spread them out in a single layer so the bacon crisps evenly. Check the pack for any specific instructions, and make sure the centre is piping hot before serving.
Do you need to turn pigs in blankets in an air fryer oven?
Turning them once, halfway through, gives the most even colour. The hot air circulates all round, but the side resting on the basket or tray still browns a little less. A quick turn with tongs takes seconds and means the bacon is crisp on every side, not just on top.
Can I make pigs in blankets the day before?
Yes. Wrap them the day before, cover them and keep them in the fridge, then cook them on the day using the fresh timings. You can also freeze them uncooked for up to a month and cook them from frozen. Reheating ones you cooked the day before works too, but freshly cooked bacon is crisper.
What temperature should pigs in blankets be cooked to?
Sausages should be cooked until they are piping hot all the way through, with no pink meat and juices that run clear. If you use a probe thermometer, aim for at least 75°C in the centre of the thickest sausage. Check a couple from different parts of the tray before you serve the batch.