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Polish Mistakes – easy party appetizers served on cocktail rye toasts with mounds of meat and cheese. And my version is all VEGAN! This is one snack that will please even the carnivores in your life. Make them for parties, holidays, game days, whenever you crave them (because you WILL crave them!).
I grew up eating these party snacks called Polish Mistakes. My dad’s family made them every Christmas Eve and we looked forward to them every year! My dad actually requested that I try to veganize this recipe a few months ago, so you have him to thank for the deliciousness before you now. So meaty and cheesy on a crispy little cocktail rye toast….you won’t believe they’re dairy free and vegan!
Store Bought Vegan Meat and Cheese
I’ll be the first to admit this isn’t the healthiest recipe on Veggie Inspired. Most of my recipes are made from whole foods and this one is clearly not. Listen, I tried to go the healthy route and trialed this recipe with several variations using healthy whole food ingredients…and it just wasn’t the same. Sometimes you just gotta live a little and go for it.
Store bought vegan meat and cheese have come a a LONG way since they first hit shelves years ago. Nowadays, the vegan versions taste just as good and oftentimes most people can’t even tell the difference.
Traditional Polish Mistakes are made with ground beef, ground sausage, Velveeta cheese, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and garlic powder. My version of Polish Mistakes are made with vegan ground beef, vegan cheese, vegan worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, and optional hot sauce. They are every bit as delicious and I promise no one will know they’re vegan unless you tell them!
What is the Best Vegan Cheese
For this recipe, I used Follow Your Heart vegan cheese – one package of American and one package of Provolone. You could certainly use two of the same if you want. Violife and Field Roast are my other favorite store bought brands and they would work great in this recipe too.
What is the Best Vegan Meat
Just like I used two different kinds of cheese, I also used two different kinds of vegan meat for variety of flavor. You can use two packages of just one kind if you wish. Beyond Beef and Gardein Beefless Crumbles both taste shockingly similar to ground beef.
How to Make Polish Mistakes
Instead of using onion powder and garlic powder like in the traditional recipe, I used the real thing for this version.
Sauté diced onion in a splash of oil until soft and translucent.
Add the garlic and vegan ground beef and cook until brown and hot.
Add the vegan Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, if using, and the vegan cheese. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cheese is completely melted.
Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
Add a heaping tablespoon onto each cocktail size rye toast and broil for a few minutes until the toasts are crispy and the “meat” mixture is golden brown.
Add a few extra drops of hot sauce, if desired, and try to wait a few minutes before diving in so you don’t burn your mouth!
Can you Freeze Polish Mistakes
You sure can! Polish Mistakes are the perfect make-ahead easy party appetizers! Make them per the directions, but don’t broil them, instead place the whole baking sheet into the freezer. Once frozen, transfer the toasts to a plastic freezer bag and keep until needed. When ready to make them, place the frozen toasts back on a baking pan and bake until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.
You can also freeze them after they’ve been cooked if you happen to have leftovers.
So Many Names
I have no idea why these are called Polish Mistakes. They certainly aren’t Polish in origin that I’m aware of. You might know them by a few other names. Through my quick Google research, I’ve learned these meaty appetizers also go by names like: Hanky Pankys, Party Pizzas, or Rye Pizza. Whatever you call them, they are dang good!
More Easy Party Appetizers to Love
This cheezy “meat” mixture is also great as a dip! Grab some tortilla chips and give it a try…so good! A small size crockpot would work wonderfully to keep it warm at parties.
Appetizers are great for parties, but they also make great snacks, too. Try these other vegan appetizers that can double as snacks when hunger strikes.
- Crunchy Black Bean Mini Tacos
- Spicy Peanut Rice Stuffed Mini Peppers
- Veggie Tortilla Rollups
- Buffalo Chickpea Vegan Taquitos
- Pesto Pizza Bites
Vegan Polish Mistakes
I hope you love these vegan Polish Mistakes as much as we do! If you try them, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback and star rating.
You can also find me on social media. Be sure to tag @veggie_inspired and #veggieinspired so I’m sure to see it.
Enjoy!
Polish Mistakes - easy party appetizers served on cocktail rye toasts with mounds of meat and cheese. And my version is all VEGAN! This is one snack that will please even the carnivores in your life, but are perfect for vegetarians and vegans, too. Make them for parties, holidays, game days, whenever you crave them (because you WILL crave them!).
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 package (16 ounces) Beyond Beef (or similar vegan meat crumbles)
- 1 package (13.7 ounces) Gardein Beefless Crumbles (or similar vegan meat crumbles)
- 1 package (7 ounces) Follow Your Heart American Cheese Slices (diced) (or your favorite vegan cheese)
- 1 package (7 ounces) Follow Your Heart Provolone Cheese Slices (diced) (or your favorite vegan cheese)
- 1/4 cup vegan Worcestershire sauce (Annie's and The Wizard are both vegan)
- 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce (optional)
- 1 package cocktail rye bread
Preheat the oven broiler. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté 4-5 minutes until soft and translucent.
Add the garlic and the Beyond Beef crumbles. Sauté, stirring frequently, until the "meat" is browned.
Add the Gardein Beefless Crumbles, diced vegan cheese, and vegan Worcestershire sauce and cook, stirring frequently, until the cheese is melted and creamy. Add the hot sauce, if using, and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
Lay out the slices of cocktail rye bread on the baking sheets. Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of "meat" mixture onto each slice of bread. Broil for 6-8 minutes until the rye slices are browned on the edges. Watch them closely so they don't burn.
Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy!
~The mixture itself makes a fabulous dip straight out of the pan. No cocktail rye bread needed - just grab some tortilla chips!
~These can be made ahead and frozen. Cook the mixture and assemble the toasts, but don't broil them. Instead, place the whole pan of Polish Mistakes into the freezer. Once frozen, transfer the toasts to freezer safe bags until needed. When ready to eat, place the frozen Polish Mistakes on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until hot and melty.
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