Hanky Panky Recipe

Hanky Panky is an old fashioned appetizer that is full of flavor. The combination of the ground beef, sausage and Velveeta makes this a crowd favorite.

Hanky Panky Recipe:

This tangy and delicious old fashioned appetizer that my grandma made. The combination of the ground beef, sausage, and velveeta cheese makes this disappearing appetizer flavorful.

This Hanky Panky recipe is baked on rye bread to get the mixture bubby and toast the bread. If you have never had Hanky Panky then you are in for a treat. We like to serve on for holiday gatherings, game days, or for an easy weeknight dinner.

This is a great recipe to make ahead of an event as it stores and freezes well. Wow your guest and make this easy appetizer. This appetizer is budget friendly but very delicious.

What is Hanky Panky?

Hanky Panky is an old fashioned appetizer that is perfect to serve during holidays or for big crowds. It has also been called polish mistake.

The ingredients are simple and combined makes for a delicious hanky panky appetizer. We love that the ingredients can be changed depending on what you prefer.

If you have never had it, you are in for a treat. Your guest will be impressed and there will not be a drop left.

Ingredients: 

• Ground Beef – We usually use ground beef that is 80/20. There are many types of ground beef you can use. You can use ground chuck, but using a high percentage of fat gives the meat mixture more flavor.
• Hot Pork Sausage – We like to use hot pork breakfast sausage when making this mixture. There is also mild or regular available. You can use different any type of sausage that you prefer. But if using the hot pork sausage, the cheese helps to reduce the level of spice.
• Velveeta Cheese (16 oz), diced – Velveeta Cheese is a processed cheese that we use a lot when making Rotel Dip. But you can easily any type of cheese your prefer. We like using Velveeta because of how creamy it makes this recipe.
• Garlic Salt – Add garlic to the mixture gives it flavor. Use garlic powder or minced garlic if you prefer.
• Oregano – Oregano is add to maximize the flavor. You also use Italian Seasoning blend if you prefer.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – We like the extra heat that red pepper flakes gives this meat mixture. But you can definitely omit it if you prefer.
• Cocktail Rye Bread – We like using rye bread as that is how this classic recipe was made. But any type of bread will work. We like to go to the local bakery and grab some.

How to Make Hanky Panky: 

• Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. 
• Step 2 – Brown the ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium high heat until browned.  Then drain off any excess grease.  
• Step 3 – Add in diced Velvet cheese, garlic salt, oregano and crushed red pepper flakes.  Stir and cook on low until the cheese is melted and fully combined with the beef and pork. 

• Step 4 – Place the bread on a baking sheet.  Top each piece of the bread with the meat mixture.  
• Step 5 – Bake for 8-10 minutes until the bread is toasted and the topping is bubbling. 

• Step 6 – Serve warm and enjoy. We love serving this as an appetizer or for dinner.

How to Serve Hanky Panky:

This Hanky Panky Recipe is delicious to serve as an appetizer, or a quick meal idea. It is get to serve at a dinner party to impress your guest.

We also like to serve on mini bread that you can get at your local bakery. Serve on a platter for your guest as a hot snack. If serving as a light dinner, make a light soup or serve with a green salad.

I also like to have a side of cheese to top the hanky panky. This extra cheese on top melts and gives it that extra cheesy flavor. Drizzle so Worcestershire sauce over the top with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning.

For an easy make ahead appetizer, you can pre-make the meat mixture. Then once your are ready to serve, assemble on the bread and bake. This appetizer is best served warm.

Can I use Cheddar Cheese instead of Velveeta?

We recommend using Velveeta Cheese as it adds so much creamy flavor to the meat mixture. But if you prefer not to use Velveeta Cheese, you can easily substitute for Cheddar Cheese.

The results will still give that melty cheesy flavor that you love. That is why we love this recipe so much because of the variation of the recipe.

Variations:

• Rye or Pumpernickel Bread – If you cannot find the Cocktail bread, any rye bread or individual size pumpernickel bread will work great in this recipe. 
• Sausage – We made this recipe with hot pork sausage, but you can easily use a mild sausage if your prefer. You can always do half hot sausage and half mild sausage. Feel free to also substitute for turkey sausage or italian sausage
• Cheese – If you prefer not to use Velveeta cheese, mix in cheddar cheese or any type of cheese that you prefer. We have also spicy velveeta cheese for an added kick to the recipe.
• Gluten Free – If you have guest that are gluten free, serve a gluten free bread for an option.
• Tortilla Chips – This meat meat mixture would also be perfect to place in a slow cooker to spoon over tortilla chips.
• Crackers – Place the hanky panky mixture in a bowl with a side of crackers. This recipe is delicious any way you serve it.
• Rotel – Add a can of rotel and cook everything in a slow cooker for an amazing dip.
• Garlic Powder – We used garlic salt in this recipe, but you can garlic powder instead. You may need to add some garlic salt.

Hanky Panky Tips:

• Cooking Meats – To save time in prepping this meal, ground the sausage and meat ahead of time. Then place in the refrigerator until you are ready to mix the ingredients together.
• Mix Ingredients – After cooking the ground beef and ground sausage, make sure the remaining ingredients are mixed together thoroughly.
• Baking Sheet – Line baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up and to prevent the bread from sticking.
• Heat – Heat the meat mixture in the oven until the bread is toasted and the mixture is bubbly.
• Serve Warm – We recommend serve warm to your guest.

How to Store:

Place the leftover meat mixture in an air tight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. This mixture also freezes great. It is the perfect to meal to prepare ahead of time if you are planning to serve at your holiday party.

Place the ingredients in a freezer safe container once the mixture has cooled. We recommend placing in individual containers so you can take out smaller portions for the size of party that you are hosting.

Then place thawed meat mixture on your rye bread and bake for 15 minutes and serve.

Easy Hanky Panky Appetizer:

This old fashioned recipe is delicious and easy to make. My family made it all the time growing up and now I have started making it for my family. It is great served as an appetizer or a quick dinner idea.

My kids love to eat it with tortilla chips but I like to have it open faced on a slice of rye bread. However you prefer it or serve it, there are very rarely any leftovers.

This simple to make appetizer is budget friendly and the perfect appetizer to make ahead.

Print Recipe here for Hanky Panky:

More Appetizer Recipes:

• Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza Appetizer
• Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Cheesy Bread Recipe
• Garlic and Onion Cheddar Cheese Ball Recipe