Air Fryer Brats in a Blanket

Air fryer brats in a blanket are a completely irresistible appetizer or snack, especially when paired with a tasty homemade horseradish mustard dipping sauce.

If you like these flavors, you might also enjoy smoked brats in beer, brats in the air fryer with peppers and onions, or these spicy jalapeno popper tacos.

Why You’ll Love It

Rich, meaty flavors: The combination of bratwurst, bacon, cheese, and dough give these appetizer wonderful flavors.
Easy to prepare: You wrap the brats in bacon and air fry them, and then wrap them in pizza dough and air fry again while you whip up the tasty mustard dipping sauce.
Great for game day: In fact, they’re great for just about any occasion!

Air Fryer Brats in a Blanket Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Bratwurst: You can use bratwurst or sausage brats as your main ingredient.
Mozzarella: String cheese is perfect for this recipe, as it’s already in strips. And melted mozzarella is gorgeous.
Jalapenos: For a spicy kick.
Bacon: Adds a salty, meaty flavor and is used to wrap them up.
Pizza dough: I used classic crust dough.
Egg: To make an egg wash for brushing on the outside of these.
Everything bagel seasoning: For crunch.
Mustard: I used both Dijon mustard and yellow mustard in the dip.
Horseradish: Also to flavor the dipping sauce.
Honey: To sweeten the dipping sauce (optional).
Sour cream: Gives the dipping sauce a tasty, creamy tang.

How to Make Pigs in a Blanket with Brats

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Prepare the brats, cheese and jalapenos: Cut the brats down the middle without cutting all the way through. Cut the string cheese in half to get thinner pieces and add those inside the brat. Add sliced jalapeños in the openings too.
Wrap them in bacon: Use bacon to wrap them up. You will probably need 2 bacon slices for each brat.
Make the dipping sauce: While they’re in the air fryer, you can prepare the dipping sauce. The dip is easy because you just need to whisk the ingredients together.
Wrap in pizza dough: Let the brats cool a little on a paper towel lined plate. Roll out the Pillsbury pizza dough and cut strips using a pizza cutter, and then wrap each brat in strips. Mix the egg with some water to make an egg wash and brush this over the brats.
The finishing touches: Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over them and air fry until golden. Serve the finished air fryer bacon jalapeño cheese pigs in a blanket with the horseradish mustard dipping sauce.

Substitutions and Variations

Brats: You can use any type or flavor of brats you prefer to make this fun party food.
Mozzarella: Substitute your favorite cheese, perhaps gouda, Swiss cheese or cheddar.
Pizza dough: You could use refrigerated crescent rolls.
Adjust the spiciness: Adjust the amount of jalapeños and/or remove the seeds to change how spicy the loaded pigs in a blanket come out.
Mustard dip: Use only Dijon, only yellow mustard or some of each. You can omit the horseradish if you aren’t keen on the flavor. Or sweeten it with honey. If you don’t like mustard, you can serve ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing instead of making the mustard dip. Or a hot dipping sauce, warmed up in a medium saucepan.
Everything bagel seasoning: If you like, you can use plain sesame seeds and/or poppy seeds in place of the everything bagel seasoning.
Bake them in the oven: You can use the oven in place of the air fryer.

Serving Suggestions

With other appetizers: Enjoy million dollar deviled eggs, crispy stacked potatoes, an antipasto board or roasted party nuts.
As a snack: Pair these with a beer or perhaps a white sangria.

How to Store Bratwurst in a Blanket

Store: Transfer them into a sealed container and refrigerate. Use them within 3 days.
Freeze: You can also freeze them in Ziploc bags for up to 2 months.
Thaw: Defrost overnight in the fridge.
Reheat: Warm them up for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F in either the air fryer or the oven.