Grain-free Pigs in a Blanket (gluten-free)

Grain-free Pigs in a Blanket (gluten-free)
gluten-free | grain-free | dairy-free option | tree nut free
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 20, 2023
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If your definition of comfort foods includes soft bread dough and some cheese, then these grain-free pigs in a blanket definitely qualify as a summer comfort food! I love grain-free pigs in a blanket, and while a lot of people serve them as appetizers, I like to serve my pigs in a blanket as the main course. These healthy pigs in a blanket use organic hot dogs that are wrapped in an easy, grain-free dough and sandwiched in with some raw cheese or dairy-free cheese. Pop them in the oven and you have a delicious, healthy meal ready in a few minutes that modern pioneers of all ages will love!

Modern Pioneer Recipe

Pigs in a blanket is a modern pioneer recipe. When I decided to share this simple recipe with you, it got me to wondering about the history of pigs in a blanket. Pigs in a blanket actually dates back to the 1600’s, and the first recorded recipe for pigs in a blanket was found in a children’s cookbook by Betty Crocker. What most people wonder is where pigs in a blanket got their name. There is no known source of the how this delicious recipe got its name, but there are a few theories.

One theory is that farmers and workers would wrap their meat in a dough to make transporting and storing their lunch simple and easy. Another theory is that the hot dogs or sausages that were wrapped in the dough were mostly made from pork. Thus, the wrapped meat looked like a ‘pig in a blanket’. However you want to go about it, this simple meal is quick, easy, and delicious!

And just because these pigs in a blanket are grain-free and allergy-friendly doesn’t make them any less simple! This is one of my most favorite, simplest recipes and one that my whole family enjoys! Aside from being grain-free, these pigs in a blanket are also:

• dairy-free
• gluten-free
• nut free
• corn free
• non-GMO
• organic
• sugar free
• egg free option

Need another simply summer meal idea? Check out this grain-free venison pasta salad that is a huge hit on my homestead!

Modern Pioneer Hot Dog Options

When I make my pigs in a blanket, I have to call them ‘cows in a blanket’ to be correct. I think the name ‘pigs in a blanket’ originated from the fact that the traditional meat that was used was pork. However, pigs in a blanket can really be changed to cows in a blanket, chickens in a blanket, or even bison in a blanket depending on what meat you choose!

Traditionally, pigs in a blanket are made with hot dogs or sausages. I like to make my pigs in a blanket using organic, non-GMO beef hot dogs. I have found that the Aldi brand, Simply Nature, makes a healthy organic beef hot dog that tastes delicious. Applegate Farms also makes organic, non-GMO hot dogs that are perfect for grilling or making these pigs and blanket. However, when possible, I like to buy beef/pork hot dogs from a local farm that sells organic, non-GMO farm products.

Many hot dogs often contain fillers, preservatives, and meat sourced from un-sustainable operations. To avoid supporting those practices and to get the most nutrition from your meat, look for hot dogs that are made with simple ingredients. The meat used should be from pasture-raised animals that have been fed an organic, non-GMO diet. When picking out a healthy hot dog brand, look for these items on theand in the nutritional information:

• non-GMO
• pasture-raised
• organic
• no preservatives or additives
• simple ingredients that you can pronounce and recognize
• no added sugar

Blanket Options

Now for the good part… the blanket! Despite being on an anti-inflammatory diet, I still love bread products! Thankfully, I have been able to successfully make my own bread products and I have also discovered some amazing store-bought bread options. Some of my favorite homemade recipes include this French toast bread, these grain-free bread rolls, and this amazing cinnamon swirl bread!

For grain-free pigs in a blanket, I use Chebe all-purpose bread mix. Chebe is a brand that makes grain-free mixes that are also free from other common allergens such as tree nuts, corn, gluten, and dairy. Chebe mixes are super easy to make and they are a great, grain-free substitute for traditional recipes. The main flour in Chebe mixes is tapioca flour, which will result in a slightly different texture than traditional flours. However, I don’t mind the difference. It wouldn’t be grain-free if it was exactly like the gluten counterparts it’s supposed to replace!

Traditional pigs in a blanket became so popular because of how simple they were to make. You use hot dogs or sausages and usually pre-made biscuit or croissant dough. I wanted to make this grain-free pigs in a blanket version just as simple, and using a Chebe all-purpose mix couldn’t make it any easier! The Chebe mix is about the closest thing I could come up with to a healthy pre-packaged dough. It only requires three other ingredients to make up the mix, and it’s really quite simple and easy!

However, you can also make your own dough for pigs in a blanket! I recommend trying this grain-free cheese roll dough, it would taste delicious wrapped around a hot dog!

Storing & Serving Pigs in a Blanket

Pigs in a blanket are meant to be a simple and quick meal or appetizer option. There’s a reason why the first recorded recipe was found in a children’s cookbook! However, pigs in a blanket are not only super easy to make, but they can also be easily stored for later or made up ahead of time!

Storing: I have found that pigs in a blanket can easily be made up the day before and stored in the fridge until you are ready to bake and serve them. You can also freeze them pre-made or bake them and then freeze them. They would make a great quick meal that you just pull out of the freezer, unthaw, and reheat! Grain-free pigs in a blanket would also make for an easy travel meal!

Serving: As for serving pigs in a blanket, they can be used as an appetizer course or as the main meal! To make pigs in a blanket appetizers, simply cut the hot dogs into smaller pieces and wrap them in smaller pieces of dough. However, I mostly serve pigs in a blanket as the main course to a meal.

There are several fun and simple sides that I like to pair with my pigs in a blanket. Here are some of my favorites:

• homemade cabbage coleslaw
• dairy-free nachos
• small side salads with homegrown produce
• steamed peas
• homemade fresh salsa
• homemade or gluten-free bar-b-que sauce

Grain-free pigs in a blanket make for great leftovers too! I try to make up extras on nights that I’m serving pigs in a blanket as the main meal. The leftovers are then delicious for lunch the next day!

Pigs ina Blanket Recipe Tips

Grain-free pigs in a blanket are so simple, I don’t really have any recipe tips for you! However, if you haven’t worked with Chebe dough before, there are a few pointers that might be helpful. By now, I have worked with Chebe so much that I barely even measure out any of the ingredients.

But for those of you new to Chebe, here are some tips:

• Dairy-free– You can use butter, coconut oil, or just about any baking oil or butter substitute in Chebe. Just make sure that is almost completely melted so that it incorporates into the dough easier.
• Egg Free– I have made Chebe all-purpose mix without any eggs before and it still turns out fine! You just have to add more water to make up for the lack of moisture that the eggs would normally provide.
• Moisture– The amount of butter and the size of eggs that you use is really flexible, just adjust the amount of water you add to compensate for more or less butter or smaller or larger eggs.
• Dough Texture– When adding the water, I always start with a 1/4 cup of warm water. Then, as I work the dough with my spatula I add more water as needed until the dough is smooth and can be handled without sticking.
• Warm Water– Use warm water to make for smooth, pliable dough!
• Sticky Dough– If you add too much water and the dough is sticky, just add some more tapioca flour until you can handle the dough.

Grain-free pigs in a blanket are super easy and fun to make! They whip up really quick when you use Chebe all-purpose mix, organic hot dogs, and dairy-free or raw cheese! My whole family loves this meal and I like it too because it is simple, quick, and easy!

Where to Find the Ingredients

• Chebe all-purpose bread mix
• Chebe cheese roll mix
• Daiya provolone cheese slices
• Bob’s Red Mill tapioca flour
• Simply Organic garlic salt
• Supplies: parchment paper, cutting board

Grain-free pigs in a blanket are the perfect allergy-friendly food that will be loved by modern pioneers of all ages! These cheesy hot dogs wrapped in grain-free dough are bursting with warm, gooey, flavors that are sure to get you hooked. Gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and tree nut free, this meal is perfect for those with dietary restrictions yet it’s still super simple and easy to make. I love whipping up a batch of pigs in a blanket for dinner and then enjoying the leftovers for lunch the next day!

Don’t miss any other chuckwagon recipes! I love sharing both heritage pioneer recipes and modern pioneer recipes in our weekly email that we send out once a week to our modern pioneer community! So join the wagon train and check out the chuckwagon recipes!