Description
These Jalapeno Popper Pigs in a Blanket combine smoky Lit’l Smokies with a creamy, spicy cream cheese mixture wrapped in flaky crescent roll dough. Baked to golden perfection, they make a perfect appetizer or party snack with a cheesy, slightly spicy kick from green chilies and bacon.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sausages
- 14 oz Lit’l Smokies, drained and patted dry
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
Dough
- 1 can crescent rolls
Cheese and Dairy
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Vegetables and Seasonings
- 4.5 oz can green chilies, drained
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9 x 13-inch baking sheet by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray to ensure the pigs in a blanket don’t stick during baking.
- Prepare the Crescent Rolls: Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate it into triangles. Using a pizza cutter, cut each triangle in half lengthwise and then horizontally into two pieces, yielding 4 small pieces per triangle and a total of 32 pieces. Set these aside for assembly.
- Make the Cream Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the crumbled cooked bacon, drained green chilies, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined to create a flavorful filling.
- Assemble the Pigs in a Blanket: Spread a thin, even layer of the cream cheese mixture on each crescent dough piece. Place one Lit’l Smokie sausage at the widest end of each piece, then roll up the dough securely around the sausage and filling, ensuring the seam side is down to prevent unraveling during baking.
- Arrange and Bake: Place each rolled pig in a blanket seam side down on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until the pastry is puffed up and golden brown on top, signaling they are cooked through.
- Serve: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the pigs in a blanket cool slightly before serving warm. They pair wonderfully with a variety of dipping sauces like ranch, mustard, or spicy ketchup for extra flavor.
Notes
- Make sure to drain and pat dry the Lit’l Smokies to prevent excess moisture from making the dough soggy.
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature for easier mixing and a smoother filling.
- Feel free to add chopped jalapeños for extra heat or substitute bacon with cooked sausage crumbles.
- These can be prepared ahead and baked fresh when guests arrive.
- Keep an eye on baking time, as oven temperatures may vary; the golden brown color is a good indicator of doneness.
