Hanky Panky Recipe

Hanky Pankies are a delicious, old-fashioned appetizer with cheesy sausage and beef served on pieces of rye. This Hanky Panky recipe puts a spin on the classic by turning them into crowd-pleasing sliders with only 7 ingredients!

In my opinion, the best things in life are easy to make and delicious. This Hanky Panky recipe checks both boxes. If you've never had this classic appetizer recipe, you're in for a real treat!

Why You'll Love this Recipe

• Crowd Pleaser: Theses meat and cheese sliders are the perfect appetizer at a party, special event, or game day. They're always on my Super Bowl menu. Their small size makes them easy to manage, and the variety of flavors packed into each bite ensures that they are a crowd favorite.
• Easy to Make: Hanky Panky sliders with pretzel rolls take less than 20 minutes make!
• Simple Ingredients: Only 7 basic ingredients in this delicious appetizer: ground beef, breakfast sausage, American cheese, spices, and pretzel rolls!
• Easy Assembly & Make-Ahead Wonder: You can make the filling ahead of time. When ready to serve, simply reheat and stuff the rolls!

What is a Hanky Panky?

Hankie Pankies are traditional a cheesy meat mixture made with sausage, ground beef, and Velveeta or American cheese and served over rye toast or party bread -it's truly magical! Variations of the recipe have also been known to be called Party Pizzas, Polish Mistakes, Polish Disasters, and S*it on a Shingle (SOS recipe).

They were especially popular in the Midwest around the 1970s, and claim to be from Cincinnati, Ohio. I was first introduced to them almost 30 years ago by my aunt at her home interior parties (home decor in the 1980s), and I've been perfecting my recipe ever since.

Traditionally, the Hanky Pankies cheesy meat filling is spread on cocktail rye bread slices and baked in the oven (see recipe below). I wanted to put a spin the classic recipe by putting a spin on it with King's Hawaiian Pretzel Slider Buns! It's officially one of my new favorite appetizers!

The combination of the savory filling, salty pretzel exterior, and sweet bread is a beautiful thing! Obviously, they're great in their classic rye bread form, but these just might become your new favorite way of making them too!

Appetizers are one of my favorite things to make, you should also try my roast beef sliders, buffalo chicken sliders, Red Lobster sausage balls, or ricotta crostini.

What You'll Need

Scroll down to see the ingredient amounts in the recipe card. 

• Breakfast Sausage: Provides a savory and meaty flavor to the appetizer. The type of sausage used can influence the overall taste, and variations may include mild or spicy sausage based on preference. I prefer Jimmy Dean or Purnell Old Folks pork sausage,
• Hamburger Meat: Ground beef contributes additional meatiness and texture to the dish. The combination of ground sausage and ground beef creates a well-balanced flavor profile.
• Seasonings (Cayenne Pepper, Oregano, Garlic Powder): Enhances the overall flavor of the meat mixture.
• American Cheese: Used to create a creamy and cheesy base for the appetizer. It adds a smooth and melty texture that binds the other ingredients together.
• King's Hawaiian Pretzel Slider Buns: The pretzel slider buns serve as the vehicle for delivering the flavorful meat and cheese mixture. The pretzel buns contribute a slightly salty and chewy element that complements the savory filling.

Pro Tip: You can also make the Hanky Panky filling in the Crockpot on low which is great for keeping warm during parties. Serve on slider buns, rye toast, chips or a baked potato.

Tools You'll Need

• Meat Chopper
• Scoop
• Skillet

How to Make Hanky Panky Recipe

1. Cook and crumble the meat in a large skillet on medium-high heat until no longer pink and cooked through. Drain any excess fat in a colander or with a paper towel.

2. Turn the heat to medium, and add the spices. Stir until combined well.
3. Lay the cheese slices on top of the meat, and allow it to warm for 3 minutes. Stir the mixture until the cheese has fully melted and it's a cohesive mix.

4. Separate the tops from the bottoms of the buns. To each of the bottom buns, add 2 tablespoons of the cooked filling. Add the top buns to the top and serve. (Optional: butter and toast the inside of the buns in a skillet prior to adding the filling.) Serving Hanky Panky sliders warm is ideal.

Pro Tips and Substitutions

• Cheese Options: You can use either Velveeta or American cheese or a combination of the two. Substituting with cheddar cheese will not yield the creaminess that makes this recipe so delicious, but you can use it as well.
• Change up the sausage. You can use ground turkey, hot sausage, mild sausage, or homemade breakfast sausage. For a leaner option, you can opt for ground breakfast turkey sausage.
• Bread Options: If pretzel slider buns aren't available, you can also serve these as sliders on traditional King's Sweet Hawaiian Rolls or any slider bun variety.
• Use up the leftovers. The leftover filling is also excellent in a grilled sandwich, quesadilla, or over tortilla chips.
• Make it gluten free. Hanky Panky sliders can be an easy gluten-free appetizer by using corn tortilla chips or gluten-free bread as the base.
• Try a low-carb Hanky Panky. Halve and remove the membrane from mini sweet peppers, fill with the filling, and bake in the oven or air fry.
• Try it as a dip in the slow cooker. If you want to make hanky panky appetizers as a dip, add a can of Rotel tomatoes, ¼ pound more American and/or Velveeta cheese, and a splash of milk to your desired consistency. This is great to serve in a slow cooker on low heat with tortilla chips and raw veggies.
• Make ahead perfection. You can make the filling ahead of time and reheat it before your get-together.

What's the Difference between a Hanky Panky Appetizer and SOS Recipe?

Both served as appetizers, Hanky Panky and SOS (Sh*t on a Shingle) have distinct ingredient and presentation differences:

Hanky Panky:

1. Ingredients: Hanky Panky is typically made with a mixture of ground sausage and ground beef seasoned with spices, sometimes including Worcestershire sauce and other flavorings.
2. Cheese Component: It commonly includes a cheese component, such as Velveeta or other meltable cheeses, which contributes to its creamy and cheesy texture.
3. Bread or Crackers: Hanky Panky is often served as a warm dip alongside small slices of bread or crackers for dipping.
4. Baking: The mixture is often baked on cocktail bread or pumpernickel bread until bubbly and golden brown, creating a gooey and flavorful appetizer.

SOS (Sh*t on a Shingle):

1. Main Ingredient: SOS typically features chipped beef, which is thinly sliced dried and salted beef. It's cooked in a creamy white sauce made with milk and flour.
2. Serving Base: SOS is traditionally served over toast or biscuits, providing a hearty and filling dish.
3. Creamy White Sauce: The focus of SOS is on the creamy white sauce that coats the chipped beef, creating a comforting and savory dish.
4. Texture: While Hanky Panky has a gooey and dip-like consistency, SOS has a thicker, gravy-like texture.

Storage, Reheating and Make-Ahead

• For the refrigerator: Store any leftover filling mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• For the freezer: Store the filling in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
• To reheat the filling: If frozen, allow to thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. Once thawed, heat in a saucepan or skillet over medium low heat for 5 minutes or until warmed through. For the microwave, place in a microwave safe dish and heat for 2 minutes or until warm.
• To make the filling ahead: The perfect party recipe, make the filling the day before and reheat on the stove or in the crockpot on low heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Appetizer Recipes Like This

• Sweet Pork Sliders
• Spicy Sausage Balls
• Buffalo Chicken Sliders
• Roast Beef Sliders