Jalapeño Popper Pigs in a Blanket
Step up your game day snacking spread with these salty, creamy, and utterly delicious dairy-free jalapeño popper pigs in a blanket. This addictive pigs in a blanket variation comes together in about 30 minutes for a delicious game day snack everyone will enjoy!
Getting game day ready comes down to a few things.
- Figure out how you are going to watch the game.
- Identify where you will watch the game.
- Will you be team football or team commercials or are you there for it all??
- And then (most importantly) figure out what you will be snacking on during the game.
Thankfully for you, I have taken away one of your worries with these ultra-addictive pigs in a blanket. Made with buttery crescent rolls, a spicy jalapeño filling, and a salty cocktail sausage, these pigs in a blanket are a fun variation on the original, perfect for game day viewing.
Why we LOVE these Jalapeño Popper Pigs in a Blanket
This salty and spicy twist on pigs in a blanket bring a lot to the table and are quite an addictive snack to make. Some of our favorite reasons to enjoy these jalapeño popper pigs in a blanket include:
- Easy to make appetizer. This pigs in a blanket variation comes together quickly thanks to the pre-made crescent roll dough and tasty lil smokies.
- Loaded with flavor. From the creamy dairy-free cream cheese, to the slight kick of jalapeño, to the buttery flavor of crescent rolls, there is so much flavor in every bite.
- Great for game day snacking! These pigs in a blanket are a hand-held snack perfect for grab and go eating or popping on a party plate.
How to Make Jalapeño Popper Pigs in a Blanket
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Crescent Rolls– I have used a variety of pre-made crescent rolls for this recipe, just be sure to check and make sure the package you use is indeed dairy-free before diving in!
- Lil’ Smokies– A package of cocktail smokies will do the trick. Both beef or pork work well in this recipe.
- Diced Jarred Jalapeño- A mix of both the diced jalapeños and the juices from the jar will be used in the cream cheese spread.
- Dairy-Free Cream Cheese– Mixed with the jalapeño and juice for a delicious and creamy filling.
- Bacon– Use your favorite kind of bacon for the filling. I like a thick cut bacon fried to a delightfully easy to chop crisp.
- Egg– Brushed over the pigs in a blanket to help the seasoning stick to the top before baking to a golden finish.
- Seasoning– Garlic powder and dried chives top these addictive pigs in a blanket.
Step-by-Step Directions
- Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (future you will thank you).
- Cook the bacon: Fry bacon until crispy on both side. Crispier bacon makes for easier chopping and crumbling into bite-sized pieces. Set the cooked bacon aside until assembly of the pigs in a blanket.
- Mix jalapeño cream cheese filling: In a medium mixing bowl stir together softened dairy-free cream cheese and juice from the jarred diced jalapeños. Set the bowl aside for now.
- Roll out dough: On a pastry mat, roll out crescent roll dough. I like to pinch the seams together to prevent excessive leakage of the fillings.
- Top with jalapeño cream cheese: Spread the jalapeño cream cheese mixture over the crescent roll dough.
- Slice strips of the dough: Next, using a pastry or pizza cutter, slice approximately 8 to 10 1-inch strips along the long edge of the crescent roll dough.
- Cut into rectangles: Along the short edge of the crescent roll dough, cut the dough into three 3-inch strips.
- Add bacon: Next, sprinkle the cut dough with bacon bits.
- Roll the cocktail sausage: Add a lil smokie to the end of each strip of cut dough and roll into a nice, tight pig in a blanket.
- Brush with egg: Place the rolled pigs in a blanket on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and brush with beaten egg.
- Season: Dust the tops with garlic powder and sprinkle with dried chive.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
Dairy-Free Changes to Jalapeño Popper Pigs in a Blanket
Just a few swaps make this addictive appetizer a dairy-free dream!
- Check the crescent roll packaging to be sure you are selecting a dairy-free roll.
- Dairy-Free cream cheese. I have used Kite Hill, Kroger brand dairy-free cream cheese, and even Philadelphia’s plant-based cream cheese alternative in this recipe and had great success.
- Omit shredded cheese. The original recipe I found included a good helping of shredded cheddar cheese. I decided to omit this in my version but if you are a fan of the vegan cheddar shreds feel free to add them to your version.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Here are just a few kitchen tools you might find helpful while making these jalapeño popper pigs in a blanket.
- Rimmed Baking Sheet– Trust me when I tell you to use a rimmed baking sheet for this one, the jalapeño cream cheese filling sometimes spills out and you do not want that dripping over the sides and onto the base of your oven. Future you thanks you.
- Pastry Cutter– Used to slice the crescent roll dough into the desired shape and size.
- Pastry Brush– For brushing the pigs in a blanket with whisked egg and sprinkling seasoning over.
Storing and re-heating Jalapeño Popper Pigs in a Blanket
- Refrigerate– Keep these pigs in a blanket in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an air-tight container. when you are ready to enjoy reheat in the microwave, oven, or air-fryer.
- Reheat– There are a number of ways you can go about re-heating these pigs in a blanket.
- Microwave– Heat for roughly 30-45 seconds in the microwave. The exterior will be soft/soggy so I would suggest re-heating in the oven or air fryer if you are looking to serve these to a crowd.
- Oven– Pop these jalapeño popper lil smokies into the oven at 350°F for 6-8 minutes or until cooked through.
- Air Fryer– Set your air fryer to “reheat”. Heat the pigs in a blanket at 350°F for about 4 minutes.
More Game Day Appetizers to Make
If you tried this dairy-free pigs in a blanket recipe feel free to leave a comment below! I would love to hear how it went! Or, snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy to share all your life after dairy adventures!
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Jalapeño Popper Pigs in a Blanket
Buttery, salty, and stuffed with a creamy jalapeño cream cheese filling, these zesty jalapeño popper pigs in a blanket are a fun and delicious twist on the classic perfect for your game day gathering!
Ingredients
- 6 strips Bacon (roughly ¼ cup chopped bacon bits)
- 4 ounces Dairy-Free Cream Cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Jarred Jalapeño Juice
- ¼ cup Diced Jarred Jalapeño
- 1 package Crescent Roll Dough
- 14 ounce Cocktail Sausages (also called Lil' Smokies)
- 1 Egg
- Garlic Powder to season
- Dried Chive to garnish
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (future you will thank you).
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Fry 6 slices of bacon until crispy on both side. Crispier bacon makes for easier chopping and crumbling into bite-sized pieces. Set the cooked bacon aside until assembly of the pigs in a blanket.
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In a medium mixing bowl stir together 4 ounces softened dairy-free cream cheese, ¼ cup chopped jalapeño drained and 1 Tablespoon juice from the jarred diced jalapeños. Set the bowl aside for now.
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On a pastry mat, roll out 1 package crescent roll dough. I like to pinch the seams together to prevent excessive leakage of the fillings.
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Spread the jalapeño cream cheese mixture over the crescent roll dough.
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Next, using a pastry or pizza cutter, slice approximately eight 1-inch strips along the long edge of the crescent roll dough. Along the short edge of the crescent roll dough, cut the dough into three 3-inch strips.
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Next, sprinkle the cut dough with bacon bits.
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Add a lil smokie to the end of each strip of cut dough and roll into a nice, tight pig in a blanket.
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Place the rolled pigs in a blanket on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and brush with beaten egg.
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Dust the tops with garlic powder and sprinkle with dried chive. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Adapted From Host the Toast Jalapeño Popper Pigs in a Blanket
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