Pigs in a Blanket Casserole

5 from 1 vote

Make this easy pigs in a blanket casserole with lil smokies! Includes ideas for pigs in a blanket dipping sauce and fun variations to try.

Prep Time25

Cook Time40

Total Time1 5

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: appetizer recipes, game day snacks, holiday appetizers, pigs in blankets recipe, pigs in a blanket recipe, pigs in a blanket dipping sauce

Servings: appetizers

Calories: 68kcal

1 tablespoon butter or oil, or use non-stick cooking spray
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 cans (13.8 ounces) pizza dough, like Pillsbury or use 2 pounds of homemade pizza dough
28 ounces little smokies or cocktail sausages approximately 50-55 sausages

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk you can use 2% milk
1 cup grated cheddar cheese see recipe notes
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
pinch cayenne pepper adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to suit your preference

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray the pie pans with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Flour a clean surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to ⅛ inch thick. Cut the dough into 1” to 1 ½” long strips.
Wrap each mini sausage with the dough, pressing the end to seal. Place them in the pan vertically. Leave a spot in the middle (large enough for the small bowl you'll serve the dip from) and use a folded or rolled piece of aluminum foil to hold the space there.
Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
Repeat the above process for the second baking dish.
Bake at 350ºF covered with aluminum foil for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
If they're not golden brown after the baking stage, turn the oven to broil on high or 500° F. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Check every minute so they don't get too brown.
Remove casserole dish from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. While they are cooling, make the cheese sauce.

In a small saucepan over low heat, add the butter and let it melt. Add the flour, stirring for 2 minutes creating a paste. Slowly add the milk. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat.
Add the remainder of the ingredients. Stir until combined and the cheese sauce is smooth. Taste to see if more salt and cayenne pepper is needed.
Place the bowl of mustard cheese sauce dip in the center of the pigs in a blanket wreath, then serve.

Shredded cheddar cheese: Store-bought shredded cheese contains anti-caking ingredients to prevent clumping and these additives can keep the cheese from melting smoothly. I recommend shredding your own cheese when making cheese sauces.

Recipe Variations:

How to make pigs in a blanket with crescent rolls: Use 2 similar sized rolls of crescent roll dough (13.8 ounces) instead of pizza dough. Unroll the crescent dough and cut into strips without rolling it thinner. To use a baking sheet instead of a casserole dish: Spray baking sheet with non-stick baking spray or line it with parchment paper. Lay the wrapped sausages on their side and bake at 350ºF for 15-20 minutes without covering with foil.
Blanket breakfast casserole: Crack a few eggs and whisk an egg mixture to pour over the pigs before baking for a hearty breakfast-style dish.
Southwest style: Add diced onion, tomatoes, and shredded cheese for a Tex-Mex flavor twist.

Storing Instructions:

These are best served immediately, but they can stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 300° F for 15 minutes.
The sauce may thicken when reheating. So, add up to 1/8 cup of milk at a time when reheating until it's the right consistency.