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Party Ryes – Mini Rye Bread Pizzas

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Whip up a batch of party ryes for a fun pizza inspired appetizer later. One batch makes a ton of party pizzas and they freeze great to bake later.

hand holding pizza flavored party rye appetizer ready to eat.

If you are looking for a tasty make ahead appetizer, you are in the right place! These yummy pizza inspired snacks are baked on cocktail rye bread for the perfect two to three bite snack later. 

The sausage, cheese and seasonings melt together when you are ready to bake and serve them.  You will find they are perfect for your Christmas snack spread, for New Years Eve, for game day and more. Whip up a batch and have a few for all those occasions!

I originally shared this recipe back in January of 2015.  They are super delicious, but not the most photogenic, so don’t let the lack of a pretty picture scare you off.

That is why you are likely to have never seen them around here before.  The original pictures were horrendous, so they haven’t been paraded around on social media.

large skillet filled with little bits of browned sausage and melted cheese ready to spread on rye bread slices.

When trying to think of a good appetizer to make for the holidays, I knew these had to be on the short list.  We often have them at Christmas to snack on while we are playing games.

So I dug into the archives for the recipe and started feeling guilty for not doing more to make sure you knew about the recipe too.  They really are good!

Luckily they are pretty easy to make as well.  Start by browning a pound each of pork sausage (like the breakfast style) and Italian sausage.  

plastic storage container of layers of party ryes with wax paper in between ready to freeze for later.

We usually use mild for both, but feel free to spice it up if that is what you like! Then you add in a mix of spices, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.

Add in a full brick of Velveeta to bring it all together in the creamiest cheesiest way. Then spread it over little squares of cocktail rye bread.

If you have never seen the little loaves of bread like that, our store keeps them by the fancy cheese case in the deli.  You may have to look around a little bit for them, but they should be available because folks use them for a variety of canape.

party ryes on baking sheet pan ready to go in oven.

My grandma said when she first started making this recipe, the cocktail rye bread was round.  That made them look extra pizza like. 

Now the bread is in squares and that is how I always remember it being.  Who know when they made the switch or why.

Anyway, this recipe makes 90 party ryes.  It may be tempting to cut the recipe in half, but go ahead and make the whole thing.

close shot of freshly baked party ryes with melty cheese and sausage topping.

They freeze wonderfully and can be baked off in 10 minutes next time you have an unexpected guest.  Or just make them ahead of time when you know you are going to host a party.

We almost always have some at Christmastime, but they are also a fabulous snack for your New Year’s Eve gathering or game day as well.  In fact one batch can show up at all of those events!

More Pizza Inspired Snacks:

You may also like pizza muffins, they are loaded with pepperoni and cheese. Dip them in marinara for a fun treat or lunch.

Grandma's hand written recipe card for small party ryes.

Stuffed pizza footballs use frozen dinner roll dough to make easy pizza pockets. Stuff them with your favorite toppings for a fun game day entrée. 

Pepperoni pizza cheese ball is another fun party snack. It is versatile and filled with yummy pepperoni flavor. 

If you tried this recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments. Hungry for more?  Be sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

hand holding pizza flavored party rye appetizer ready to eat.

Party Ryes – Mini Pizza Bread Appetizers

Carlee
Whip up a batch of party ryes for a fun pizza inspired appetizer later. Once batch makes a ton of flatbreads and they freeze great to bake later.
4.84 from 56 ratings
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Appetizers & Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 90 Pieces
Calories 66 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound bulk mild sausage
  • 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
  • 1 Tablespoon Ketchup heaping
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 pounds Velveeta
  • 2 loaves party rye squares

Instructions
 

  • Mix the sausages and brown them. Drain the grease.
    1 pound bulk mild sausage, 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
  • Cut the Velveeta into cubes and carefully melt with the sausage
    2 pounds Velveeta
  • Add spices and sauces, stirring to combine
    1 Tablespoon Ketchup, 1 Tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Spread the cheese mix on the slices of rye bread
    2 loaves party rye squares
  • Once they are cooled, you can stack and freeze them.
  • Bake on a cookie sheet in a 375°F oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melty

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1pieceCalories: 66kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 239mgSugar: 1g
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Recipe Rating




Julie

Tuesday 19th of December 2023

I used to LOVE these back in the day. They been around a LONG time. So dang good!

Carlee

Tuesday 19th of December 2023

They really are delicious!

Karenskitchenstories

Saturday 12th of November 2022

This actually looks better than you might think!! It sounds yummy too!

Carlee

Saturday 12th of November 2022

They are super tasty, just not particularly photogenic!

Mica

Tuesday 29th of December 2020

What a fun idea! cheese and sausages, sounds so delicious!

Hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and you are enjoying this relaxing time between Christmas and new year :)

Away From Blue

Carlee

Saturday 9th of January 2021

It's such a fun and tasty appetizer for sure. I hope you had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Teresa B

Wednesday 18th of November 2015

Such a yummy appetizer!

Carlee

Wednesday 18th of November 2015

They are so good and it wouldn't be Christmas Eve without them!