Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsburys, and Tesco Pigs in Blankets reviewed
They might be one of the smallest items on your dinner plate this Christmas Day, yet these small but mighty delights are one of the brightest stars of the show. Turkey can be great if cooked right – but sadly it’s often not, and we’re left focusing on other elements of our Christmas dinners to lift spirts.
This is where the pigs in blankets come in. Bitesize pork treats literally wearing a a bacon cape, they’re can be easily jettisoned in at the last minute to revive even the saddest of Christmas dinners. And as the years have gone on, major supermarkets have increased the different types of varieties to keep appetites satiated which means some are humongous, while others are chipolata or cocktail size.
They became a staple in the 1990s partly due to prominent chefs including them in their cookbooks. Since then, they’ve become a widely recognised treat and leftovers – if there’s even a remote chance of that – can be used for sandwiches or just grazing about listlessly on Boxing Day.
A key when tasting pigs and blankets and deciding which ones are worthy of your Christmas dinner is the juiciness and flavour of the sausage and the ability of the bacon to consistently cover the sausage meat – ideally without coming off in the cooking process.
With this in mind, this year I’ve tested 10 different offerings, spanning budget ranges and luxury packs sent to us by the major retailers including Aldi, Asda, Co-op Lidl, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. Some retailers sent two sets at different price points, so we gave those a go as well.
I cooked the pigs in blankets according to their packet instructions and gave them a score out of five for taste, appearance and value for money. A few were cooked at a time and put into white bowls and tasted blind by those helping.
The Pigs in Blankets we tried:
Aldi 12 Pigs in Blankets – £1.99 for 222g
The retailer has several options for 2025 – from the double wrapped pigs in blankets and specially selected to chipolatas and cheese in blankets – the latter has thrown me too. For those seeking a proper bargain there’s Aldi’s classic Pigs in Blankets (£1.99, 222g).
A good, generous coating of bacon even before cooking, once out the oven they’re plump and all in tact – which is more than can be said for some of the other contenders. A lovely, salty taste and the streaky bacon compliments the sausage meat well. A early contender for one of the best.
Score: 4/5
Asda Delicious 12 Pigs in Blankets – £2.12 for 222g
Another budget line but this time they didn’t quite pack the punch. Positively tiny, how they looked before cooked should have been a warning really, but we persisted nonetheless. The bacon wasn’t even fully wrapped around.
By the time they came out of the oven most of the bacon had unfurled which isn’t the aesthetic I’m sure any of us are after and the sausages had shrunk. Taste wise, the bacon had a good smokey flavour but the sausage lacked much substance – overall a disappointing display.
Score: 2.5/5
Co-op British Outdoor Pork 12 Pigs in Blankets – £3 for 240g
A decent size – not too big or small, they kept their shape and size through the cooking process but fell short when it came to the overall flavour. It should be an even balance between the sausage meat and bacon but sadly here, just one element stood out.
While they’re some of the best looking in terms of appearance, the sausage didn’t turn up here, leaving the bacon to do all of the heavy-lifting. If there was a word some it up, it would be ‘fine’ – and nobody wants that on Christmas Day.
Score: 3/5
Lidl Deluxe 10 British Pigs in Blankets – £3.49 for 210g
A bit pricier for the weight and amount, but these really are worth spending a little more on. The best flavour overall of all that we tried – other than close contenders Asda and M&S – there’s a really good blend between the sausage meat and bacon.
They’re a little small which stops them getting top marks but they’re at the affordable end of the luxury range that we sampled. They deserve a spot on your plate this Christmas.
Score: 4/5
Marks and Spencer Our Best Ever 12 Pigs in Blankets – £5 – £5.50 for 288g
Depending on where you get them – be that M&S shelves direct or Ocado – the price ranges from £5 to £5.50 for 12 of the retailer’s very best. We expect good things of the brand and you can see before cooking that there’s a good amount of herbs in the sausage.
Out of the oven the’y’re very neat and would look the part on your plate, but how about the taste? Well, the bacon is the best bit, while the sausage started well with that herby taste but then as one of us said ‘”went of a bit of a cliff” which is far from ideal. Not the full package.
Score: 3.5/5
Morrisons The Best Signature Collection 8 Ultimate Pigs in Blankets – £5.25 for 400g
Bigger does not mean better and this is borne out with Morrisons signature range. They’re huge but this doesn’t make up for the lack of flavour.
The sausage meat is a real disappointment, to the point that I almost contemplate not finishing it. Some will like the generous size but it shouldn’t come at the cost of taste and here the flavour is rubbery and not up to scratch.
Score: 2/5
Tesco 20 Pigs in Blankets – £4.50 for 400g
If you’ve been lumbered with extended family this year, this 20-pack is a fairly affordable option depending on how many you’re planning on serving per person. They’re plump with a generous amount of bacon, and they don’t shrink too much when cooked.
Sadly though, when it came to taste, it was lacking – the sausage lacked any depth or seasoning. All that was left was the bacon and even that didn’t pack a punch. They’re an average budget option and good if you have lots of hungry mouths, but might not be your showstopper.
Score: 2/5
Tesco Finest 16 Pigs in Blankets – £5.50 for 400g
Tesco’s slightly more premium offer fares better, landing a middle spot in the rankings. Richer and with a stronger flavour, there’s a solid smokiness to them, which will provide a nice variation to the turkey – if that’s your bird of choice on Christmas Day.
They’re not uniform in size so there could we some squabbles about how you divvy them up, but hopefully the adults will be at least a little bit tipsy by this point, and it won’t really matter. Overall a good option, but on the slightly heavier side.
Score: 3.5/5
Sainsbury’s Butcher’s Choice Pork and British Bacon Pigs in Blankets 12 – £3.25 for 260g
“This doesn’t taste of anything,” are not the words you want to hear about any meal, so it’s a shame this is the first thing that was said when taking a bite. It’s all just a little boring, and dull.
They’re neat and uniform at least, so they’ll fit on the plate with ease and could be tucked away, but they don’t have the wow factor and really only the bacon stands out.
Score: 2.5/5
Sainsbury’s Pigs in Blankets, Taste the Difference 10 – £3.50 for 210g
Like Morrisons, they’re just way too big. There’s only so much space on our plates and this will end up falling off at this rate. They’re a hefty undertaking in every sense and a bit like having a full sausage.
They’re not terrible and the flavour does come through, but it’s heavy and after a while we get a little bored of chewing. It’s not their strongest offer, but not their worst.
Score: 3/5
The Verdict
Thankfully the top three offer a range of price points, but if you’re after the most affordable luxury, it has to be Lidl. They were enjoyed by the whole group and stood out amongst some rather drab options. Packed with flavour and a decent size and shape, you won’t feel short changed. If you’re splashing out, consider M&S and Tesco’s Finest. If you don’t mind spending a bit extra, they’re destined to bring some joy to proceedings and liven up that Christmas Day turkey.
