If you are looking for a holiday appetizer recipe, make Hanky Panky. This old fashioned recipe is a crowd favorite and is loaded with flavor.

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For the holidays, I like to prepare appetizers that family and friends can enjoy while we are preparing dinner. This classic Hanky Panky recipe is requested year after year. It loaded with simple ingredients and is easy to make.
You are sure to impress your family and friends with this holiday appetizer. I am sure it will even bring up memories of your grandma making it. It is cheesy, delicious and the perfect dish to serve this Christmas. You may love these other appetizers, 33 Puff Pastry Appetizers, 77 Christmas Eve Appetizers and Make Ahead Christmas Appetizers.
Table of Contents
What is Hanky Panky?
Hanky Panky is a appetizer that is made with ground beef, ground sausage, Velveeta Cheese and simple spices. This beef mixture is heated in a skillet until the cheese is melted and then topped on individual size pumpernickel bread.
The appetizer is then heated in the oven to create a delicious appetizer that is cheesy and delicious. There are many ways to make this delicious recipe, so use what you have.
Make this old fashioned polish mistake for a crowd pleasing treat.
Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
Substitutions and Additions
- Bread – Feel free to use different types of bread. You can use cocktail bread, French bread slices, or Rye Bread. We even used mini size and full size bread, it all depends on how you are serving it.
- Sausage – We like adding in the hot sausage, but you can use mild sausage if you prefer.
- Gluten Free – If you are following a gluten free diet, feel free to make this recipe with gluten free bread. You can even serve it with tortilla chips or top a bake potato.
- Appetizer – Place the beef mixture in a bowl and serve with a side of cracker. This recipe is a delicious appetizer dip.
- Seasoning – We used simple seasoning such as garlic salt, but you can also substitute it for garlic powder.
How to Make Hanky Panky Recipe
- Step 1 – Heat Oven – Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 – Cook the Beef and Sausage – Brown the ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium high heat until browned. Then drain off any excess grease.
Step 3 – Dice Velveeta – Dice up the Velveeta. Add in diced Velveeta cheese, garlic salt, oregano and crushed red pepper flakes.
Step 4 – Stir until cheese is melted – Stir and cook on low until the cheese is melted and fully combined with the beef and pork.
Step 5 – Add the beef mixture to bread – Place the bread on a baking sheet. Top each piece of the bread with the meat mixture.
- Step 6 – Bake Bread – Bake for 8-10 minutes until the bread is toasted and the topping is bubbling.
- Step 7 – Ready to Serve – Serve warm and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Make Ahead – Prepare the beef mixture ahead of time to save time. Then when you are ready to serve, top the bread with the mixture and bake.
- Combining the Ingredients – After cooking the beef and sausage, drain the grease. Then make sure when adding in the cheese and seasoning the cheese fully melts before topping on the bread.
- Preparing Baking Sheet – Line baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean up.
- Serving – This appetizer is best serve warm. If keep the beef mixture separately, we recommend placing in a slow cooker to keep it warm.
How to Serve Hanky Panky
This hanky panky recipe is usually served as an appetizer. But you can also serve as a side dish or a main meal options.
- Appetizer – We like serving this hanky panky as appetizer before our Christmas dinner. You can easily prepare the beef mixture ahead of time. Then ready to serve, bake on the bread. You can even serve the beef mixture with a side of tortilla chips.
- Side Dish – Make this hanky panky as a weeknight meal. Serve with a side salad with a bowl of soup. This hanky panky is both filling and delicious and the perfect side to many different types of soup.
- Main Meal Idea – Since this recipe is both hearty and rich it would be perfect to serve as a main dish. Top with some extra cheese and add a drizzle of Worcestershire sauce for a delicious meal idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use cheddar cheese with this recipe. We prefer to use Velveeta because it gives the beef mixture the creamy texture that we love. Shred some cheddar cheese and mix into your beef mixture.
Yes, feel free to use mild sausage in this recipe. We like the extra kick of spice that the hot sausage gives this recipe, but it can easily be changed. You can even do half hot sausage and half mild sausage. This recipe is completely customizable.
Store your leftovers in an air tight container for up to 3 days. When ready to serve again, reheat in the microwave or in a sauce pan on the stove top.
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We love to hear from you. If you make Hanky Panky Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Hanky Panky Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1 pound Hot Pork Sausage
- 1 pkg Velveeta Cheese 16 oz
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 loaf Cocktail Rye Bread
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Brown the ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium high heat until browned.
- Then drain off any excess grease.
- Dice up the Velveeta.
- 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.
- Place the bread on a baking sheet. Top each piece of the bread with the meat mixture.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until the bread is toasted and the topping is bubbling.
- Serve warm and enjoy!