These mini sandwiches are the ideal party food. With their delicious, satisfying crunch and perfect bite-sized treat, they're guaranteed to be a hit at your next gathering. Plus, they're as fun to make as they are to eat!
If you're looking for a comforting, delicious, and easy-to-make treat, these sandwich bites are just the ticket. Their versatility makes them a quick snack, a great addition to a party platter, or a perfect dish for a casual brunch with friends
If you enjoy these mini sandwiches, you'll love some of my other favorite recipes. Serve them on a platter along with other delicious appetizers such as these easy kielbasa appetizers, Italian pinwheels, or some easy taco bites!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This recipe is a cinch to prepare. With a few simple steps, you'll have a delicious snack ready in no time.
- Classic Flavors: The combination of mozzarella cheese, Moskovskaya sausage (Kielbasa), baby bologna, and fresh vegetables is a classic for a reason - it tastes great!
- Crowd Pleaser: Whether you're hosting a party or a casual get-together, these finger sandwiches are sure to please the crowd, especially for kids' parties or baby showers.
- Comfort Food: There's something incredibly comforting about a warm, cheesy sandwich. These mini sandwiches are no exception.
Key Ingredients
All you need are some simple pantry staple ingredients to make this mini sandwich recipe at home. Let's look at them in more detail:
- English Muffins: These will serve as the base of our mini sandwiches, providing a sturdy and satisfying crunch with each bite.
- Mozzarella Cheese: This will melt into a gooey, delicious layer, binding all the other ingredients together and adding a creamy texture.
- Smoked sausage (Kielbasa): This will add a savory, smoky flavor to our mini sandwiches, compliment the veggies, and add a satisfyingly chewy texture.
- Baby bologna: This will provide a milder flavor compared to the Moskovskaya sausage (Kielbasa), adding variety to our mini sandwiches.
- Tomatoes: These will add a fresh, juicy pop of flavor, contrasting nicely with the melted cheese and savory meats.
- Cucumbers or Long English Cucumber: These will add a cool, crisp crunch to our mini sandwiches, balancing out the richer ingredients.
- Yellow and Red Peppers: These will add a sweet, tangy flavor and a beautiful pop of color to our mini sandwiches.
- Chives: These will add a subtle, onion-like flavor and a touch of color, making our mini sandwiches look as good as they taste.
- Mayonnaise: This will bind all the ingredients together, add a creamy texture, and a rich, tangy flavor.
- Pizza Sauce: This will add a bold, savory flavor with a hint of Italian herbs, complement the meats and veggies, and add a touch of color. You can store-bought or homemade pizza sauce.
For a full list of ingredients and quantities, please check the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Make Mini Sandwiches
Making these easy mini sandwiches is easier than you think. Here's how to make them at home step by step:
Dice Vegetables: Dice the vegetables into very small cubes, similar to what you would do for a traditional potato salad. You can use a good sharp knife or a dicer for this.
Cut Tomatoes: Cut the tomatoes and place them on a paper towel to soak up the juice. This step is crucial to prevent your mixture from becoming too watery.
Add Tomatoes to Veggies: After the tomatoes are somewhat dry, add them to the rest of the diced vegetables and meat. I usually start by cutting the tomatoes to allow more time for soaking.
Shred Cheese and Prep Muffins: Shred the cheese and set it aside. Finally, cut the English muffins in half.
Mix Ingredients: Now, it's time to mix the meat and veggies together in a large bowl. Add mayo, salt, and pepper to the mixture and mix it all together until well combined.
Assemble Sandwiches: Take 1 tbsp. of pizza sauce and spread it on each half of the English muffin. Then, place 3 tbsp. of the vegetable mixture on each muffin half, spreading it evenly. Arrange the prepared sandwiches on a large baking sheet.
Add Cheese: Top each sandwich with a pinch (about 1 tbsp.) of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake Mini Sandwiches: Now, bake the sandwiches at 350 ℉ for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is lightly golden brown.
Serve and Enjoy: Let the sandwiches cool down a bit before serving. These mini sandwiches are also excellent for make-ahead preparations and can be refrigerated. They make a perfect, kid-friendly party food and a comforting meal for the family. Enjoy!
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Tips for Making the Best Mini Sandwiches
- Choose Quality Ingredients: For these mini sandwiches, always opt for fresh vegetables and high-quality meats and cheeses. The better the ingredients, the tastier your sandwiches will be.
- Properly Prepare the Vegetables: Dice the vegetables into very small cubes, similar to the size you would use for a traditional potato salad. This ensures that the vegetables are easy to bite into and won't make the sandwiches too bulky.
- Drain the Tomatoes: After dicing the tomatoes, place them on a paper towel to soak up the excess juice. This step is crucial as it prevents the vegetable mixture from becoming watery, which can affect the overall texture and flavor of the sandwiches.
- Shred the Cheese: Shred the mozzarella cheese just before you're ready to use it. Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly and gives your sandwiches a delicious, gooey texture.
- Let the Sandwiches Cool: After baking, let the sandwiches cool down for a bit before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together and makes the sandwiches easier to handle. Plus, it prevents anyone from burning their mouth on hot cheese or sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Looking for the perfect pairings for these mini sandwiches? Here are a few serving suggestions you can try:
- Drinks: Pair these mini sandwiches with a refreshing glass of homemade Kompot. The sweet, fruity flavors of the Kompot are the perfect complement to the savory sandwiches.
- Appetizers: For a fun party spread, serve these mini sandwiches alongside some taco bites. The Mexican-inspired flavors of the taco bites are a great contrast to the Italian flavors of the sandwiches.
- Condiments: Offer a variety of condiments with these mini sandwiches. Try serving them with a side of tangy ranch sauce or extra pizza sauce for dipping.
- Salads: These mini sandwiches are a great addition to a picnic spread. Pair them with a refreshing fruit salad for a light and satisfying meal.
Substitutions and Variations
This delicious mini sandwich recipe is absolutely perfect as is, but if you're looking to change things up, here are a few variation ideas you can try:
- Spicy: If you're a fan of heat, this variation is for you. Simply add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the vegetable and meat mixture. The heat from the pepper flakes will add a nice kick to the sandwiches, making them perfect for spice lovers.
- Different Protein: For those looking to change the protein, you can easily substitute the Moskovskaya sausage (Kielbasa) with a spicy Italian sausage, a smoky Andouille sausage, or deli ham. The change in protein will give the sandwiches a unique flavor twist that's absolutely delicious.
- Other Veggies: Feel free to experiment with other vegetables in this recipe. You can add some finely diced onions for a bit of bite or some roasted red peppers for a sweet and smoky flavor. Just remember to dice the vegetables into small, uniform pieces for the best results.
- Different Sauces: If you're tired of the same old flavors, try switching up the sauce. Instead of pizza sauce, you could use a tangy barbecue sauce or a spicy sriracha for a completely different flavor profile. The sauce can completely change the character of the mini sandwiches, making them a versatile option for any occasion.
How to Store Leftovers
- Refrigerate: After enjoying these delicious mini sandwiches, you can simply cover any leftovers and pop them in the refrigerator. They'll stay fresh for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Unfortunately, these mini sandwiches don't freeze well due to the high water content in the vegetables. Freezing can cause the vegetables to become mushy and the texture of the sandwiches to change.
- Thaw: If you've already frozen the sandwiches, it's best to let them thaw in the refrigerator. Once thaw, reheat them in the oven at a low temperature to help crisp up the bread and restore some of the texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! While mozzarella cheese provides a deliciously creamy texture, you can also use cheddar, provolone, or any other cheese you prefer. Just make sure it's a good melting cheese for the best results.
If you can't find smoked sausage (Kielbasa), you can easily substitute it with any other smoked or cured sausage that you enjoy. Polish kielbasa or even a smoked turkey sausage would work well in this recipe.
Yes, you can easily make a vegetarian version of this recipe by omitting the meat and using a combination of your favorite vegetables. You can also substitute the meat with a plant-based protein alternative.
If you're cooking for a smaller group, you can simply halve the portion of the ingredients. This recipe makes 24 little sandwiches, so you can make half of the portion if you have a smaller family.
To ensure that your mixture won't turn out watery, make sure to drain the diced tomatoes on a paper towel before adding them to the rest of the ingredients. This will help to remove excess moisture from the tomatoes, preventing your mixture from becoming watery.
Recipe Card
Mini Sandwiches for Parties
Ingredients
- 1 lb. smoked kielbasa
- 1 lb. baby bologna
- 3 tomatoes
- 3 cucumbers (or 1 long English cucumber)
- 1 large yellow pepper
- 1 large red pepper
- 2 large bunch of green onion (I used homegrown green onions)
- 1 cup homemade mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp. sea salt
- ¼ tsp. freshly cracked black pepper
- 16 0z homemade pizza sauce
- 1 lb. mozzarella cheese
- 12 original English muffins
Instructions
- Dice the vegetables into very small cubes, similar to what you would do for a traditional potato salad. You can use a good sharp knife or a dicer for this.
- Cut the tomatoes and place them on a paper towel to soak up the juice. This step is crucial to prevent your mixture from becoming too watery.
- After the tomatoes are somewhat dry, add them to the rest of the diced vegetables and meat. I usually start by cutting the tomatoes to allow more time for soaking.
- Shred the cheese and set it aside. Finally, cut the English muffins in half.
- Now, it's time to mix the meat and veggies together in a large bowl. Add mayo, salt, and pepper to the mixture and mix it all together until well combined.
- Take 1 tbsp. of pizza sauce and spread it on each half of the English muffin. Then, place 3 tbsp. of the vegetable mixture on each muffin half, spreading it evenly. Arrange the prepared sandwiches on a large baking sheet.
- Top each sandwich with a pinch (about 1 tbsp.) of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Now, bake the sandwiches at 350 ℉ for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is lightly golden brown.
- Let the sandwiches cool down a bit before serving. These mini sandwiches are also excellent for make-ahead preparations and can be refrigerated. They make a perfect, kid-friendly party food and a comforting meal for the family. Enjoy!
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This recipe was originally posted on July 27, 2014 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
My 4 year old Yanna says: "Mama, thiz senitszez aye so good!" 🙂
Liliya says
Hello these look soo yummy! Do you think i can make them and eat them like in 3 hours (after evening church everybody starving and have to have something the minute they walk into the house, you probably know what im talking about)
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Yes, it's ok. They taste really good cold too, but if you like them warm, just pop them into the oven on Broil cycle for a minute or two (by the time they change into their home clothing and get into the kitchen, they will be pretty warm and fresh, like they were just cooked). We love them so very much! Enjoy!
nadia says
This looks yummy…never tried like it before.
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Thanks Nadia! Quick and easy kids snack. 🙂
Marina says
These look so yummy! Gotta try them
Thank you so much for posting 😉
valya'stasteofhome.com says
You are very welcome! They are surely delicious.:)
Natasha says
Absolutely love to make this for my kiddos! They are starting to eat a lot more vegetables and this is the best way to add a little more of different kind of vegetables. Love email myself as well for a healthy hearty meal 🙂 thank you for sharing this recipe sis! Oh and Yannochka is so absolutely adorably cute!
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Thanks Natasha! This is a really good way adding veggetables for picky eating kids.