Chicks in a Blanket (with Crescent Roll Dough)
Chicks in a Blanket are bite-size chicken nuggets wrapped in crescent roll dough and baked or air fried until golden brown. It will remind you of the popular Pigs in a Blanket made with cocktail sausages. This easy chicken appetizer makes 2 dozen and can be made in the oven or air fryer, perfect for game day, parties, or a kid-friendly snack!
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 1serving
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 very small frozen chicken nuggets (also called popcorn chicken)
- 1 8 ounce can refrigerated crescent roll dough
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard or honey mustard (optional)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F° and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease it, line it with parchment paper or lightly grease the baking sheet.
- To make sure the frozen chicken nuggets finish cooking at the same time as the crescent roll dough gets done, either microwave the nuggets at HIGH for 1 minute or plan ahead and leave them to thaw slightly at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes.Tip: This helps the frozen chicken to heat all the way to the center without over-browning the crescent roll dough.
- Unroll the crescent roll dough on the counter or a cutting board.
- If using the mustard, spread the mustard over the dough before separating the triangles.
- Cut along the perforated edges of the triangles to separate them with a pizza cutter or knife.
- Then, starting at the narrow tips, cut each triangle into three thinner triangles. This will give you 24 narrow triangle strips of dough.
- Place one chicken nugget on the widest end of a strip of dough and roll up toward the narrow end. Place it, point side down, on the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat the procedure with the remaining dough strips and chicken nuggets.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the dough with melted butter.
- Bake in the center of the oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown and the chicken registers 165F when an instant read thermometer is inserted in the center.
- Remove them from the baking sheet and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces.
- Yield: 24 appetizer or snack bites.
Notes
- Nugget size. Very small nuggets (popcorn chicken) work best. I preferred Tyson Fully Cooked Popcorn Chicken. Cut larger nuggets in half.
- Chicken Breast. You can also used 1 inch cubes of cooked or grilled chicken breast meat.
- Mustard is optional. Skip the Dijon for kids or picky eaters, or swap in honey mustard.
- Air fryer instructions. Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes at 350F. Arrange the wrapped nuggets in a single layer with space between them, working in batches if needed. Air fry at 350°F for 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned and the chicken reaches 165°F in the center.
- Feed a crowd. Double the recipe for a party, keeping the second can of crescent dough in the fridge until you're ready to use it.
- Storage. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven at 350°F until warmed through and crisp.
