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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.