This Hanky Panky Recipe is a retro appetizer recipe from way back, and it has definitely held up over the years. Ground beef and pork sausage come together with Velveeta to make the most addicting, creamy and cheesy party bites that are always a crowd favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Hanky Panky Recipe
This Hanky Panky Recipe is the ultimate, nostalgic party food that never goes out of style. This recipe was recently given to me by my aunt, (she calls them Porkies) but it’s a well-known appetizer that everyone seems to have a version of.
- Crowd favorite: Everyone, and I mean everyone will love these appetizers and has over the last 50 or so years that they’ve been around.
- Easy to make and make ahead: Super easy to make, only about 10 minutes to get the into the oven AND you can make them ahead of time.
- Retro comfort food vibe: A nostalgic, passed down over time recipe that brings back cozy, old school flavors.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Just a few simple ingredients, with substitutions if applicable. Sometimes, as in this case, we might have a non-negotiable ingredient!
- Cocktail rye bread: Often found in the produce department, this small cocktail rye bread is definitely a classic ingredient. It provides just the right size for these hanky panky appetizers.
- Velveeta: Love it or hate it, this ingredient is a non-negotiable. It’s what melts the best and makes the filling super creamy. You could substitute shredded cheese and it would still be good but it’s not going to provide that classic, creamy nostalgic bite.
- Ground beef: You can use whatever you have on hand, we like an 85% lean ground beef for this recipe.
- Pork Sausage: Some recipes swap out Italian sausage and that would be fine. Our version uses regular pork sausage like you see in the picture above.
- Worcestershire sauce: Not found in my aunt’s recipe but found in a lot of other recipes we looked at. We do like the flavor that it adds but if you don’t have it, you can leave it out.
- Oregano: Simply seasoned with dried oregano works for us. You can swap out Italian seasoning if you like, too.
How To Make
This appetizer recipe is so easy to make, you won’t believe it. Follow along here with some step by step photos and instructions. For complete instructions, head to the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Make the topping: Brown ground beef and pork sausage in a skillet until no pink remains and drain. Add oregano, Worcestershire sauce and cubed Velveeta. Stir and melt over low heat until combined.
- Assemble and bake: Spread a heaping tablespoon of the topping onto the bread and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Alternately, (like my aunt does), you can place the pan under the broiler for a few minutes until browned on top.
Can This Appetizer Recipe Be Made Ahead Of Time?
Yes! You can make this hanky panky recipe ahead of time in a few different ways, depending on your needs.
- You can make the recipe all the way through, let them cool and then store in the refrigerator. When ready, place them back on a sheet pan and warm up in a 350 degree oven.
- Or you can make the topping ahead of time, refrigerate and then assemble and bake when ready. This is our preferred method for the best flavor.
- You can even freeze these appetizers, make them up until the point of baking and freeze them in a single layer in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen at 375 degrees for about 20-25 minutes until warm.
Variations
There are lots of ways that you can make these hanky panky appetizers your own! Try using spicy sausage or Italian sausage instead of pork sausage. Adding a little bit of finely diced bell pepper to the filling would add a little punch of flavor and texture.
And if you twist our arm, we’ll go as far as saying that you can try using other cheeses like shredded cheddar, Monterey jack, or gouda. Really any melting cheese that you like, but Velveeta will give you the classic recipe flavor.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes To Try
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Hanky Panky Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 35 appetizers 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeThis Hanky Panky Recipe is a retro appetizer recipe from way back! Ground beef and pork sausage come together with Velveeta to make the most addicting, creamy and cheesy party bites that are always a crowd favorite.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound pork sausage
- 1 pound box processed cheese product such as Velveeta
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 package cocktail rye bread (about 35 slices)
- Fresh, chopped parsley for garnish (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Spray a skillet with non-stick cooking spray or drizzle with a little olive oil. Add the ground beef and sausage, breaking up while cooking until no pink remains. Drain the grease from the skillet.
- Cut the Velveeta into cubes and then add to the pan along with the Worcestershire sauce and oregano. Stir to combine over low heat until the Velveeta has melted. Turn off the heat and set aside. We like to taste the topping at this point to see if it needs salt, often it doesn’t but season to your liking.
- Spread a heaping tablespoon of the topping onto a piece of the cocktail rye and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining slices of bread, you should get about 35, give or take.
- Place into the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. Alternately, you can place the sheet pan under the broiler for a few minutes until golden brown on top.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Recipe Notes
Store: Store leftovers in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Reheat leftovers (or if you’ve made these appetizers ahead of time) in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until warmed through. You can also use an air fryer set at 350 degrees for about 4-5 minutes.
Freeze: You can make these appetizers up until the point of baking and freeze them in a single layer in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen at 375 degrees for about 20-25 minutes until warm.
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
