Folks from Iowa are most likely very familiar with the Maid-Rite sandwich. For the rest of you, find out about this favorite Iowa loose meat sandwich!
The Maid-Rite sandwich…it doesn’t look like much, but looks can be deceiving. In fact, the first time I was served a Maid-Rite, I was in Iowa and had been handed a bun full of loose ground beef. I was a little perplexed as it seemed like something I would make on a night I didn’t want to make dinner for my kids – so I’d try to pass off plain ground beef as dinner. (Come on, don’t tell me you haven’t done something similar!).
What I didn’t know is the Maid-Rite sandwich would soon be one of my favorite, easy dinners to make. The beef is tender and flavorful, made with simple ingredients I always have on hand. It’s as easy as serving ground beef for dinner, but 100 times better!
Like all famous midwestern recipes, everyone makes their Maid-Rite sandwiches a little differently. Some people add pickles or pickle juice. Others used dried minced onions. Some add a bit of BBQ sauce. I like the version I’ve adapted to for our family best.
If you’re from Iowa, you’ll have to let me know what goes into your Maid-Rite sandwiches!
One thing I absolutely love adding is a bit of smokiness in the form of San Francisco Salt Co. Cherry Smoked Sea Salt. If you don’t have this at home, no worries. Just add some Kosher or Sea Salt and you’ll be fine…but for that extra smoky kick give the Cherry Smoked Sea Salt a try!
I’ve been making Maid-Rite’s at home for many years now and there’s a reason I’ve never shared the recipe on Dine & Dish. It’s so, very easy, you almost don’t even need a recipe. So don’t laugh that I’m sharing this with you today. Just make it and enjoy having another easy weeknight recipe on hand!
(PS – if you cook with ground beef or ground turkey a lot, this inexpensive utensil is a life saver to break up ground beef!)
The History of the Maid-Rite
I’ve had several people ask me about the history of the Maid-Rite sandwich. There is a local restaurant in Marshalltown, Iowa which is near my husbands home town. The owner of that restaurant started serving the original Maid-Rite sandwiches in 1926 and the franchises expanded from there.
I do know there are a few Maid-Rite restaurants in Missouri and Kansas, but it seems this loose meat sandwich trend hasn’t caught on outside of the Midwest.
One thing to note, a Maid-Rite is not a Sloppy Joe and can’t really compare. The only thing similar is they are both made from loose ground beef and they are both served on a hamburger bun. A Sloppy Joe is a saucy, tomato based creation while the Maid-Rite doesn’t really have a sauce.
Enjoy this quick and easy recipe! If you ever are traveling through the midwest and spot a Maid-Rite restaurant, make sure to stop in and enjoy one for yourself (although I like this homemade version better, honestly).
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Maid-Rite Sandwiches Recipe
Famous in the state of Iowa, Maid-Rite Sandwiches are your ticket to an easy dinner your whole family will love!
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 25 minutes minutes
Servings 4 -6
Author Dine & Dish
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/4 yellow onion minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup beef broth
- 4 Tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/8 teaspoon Kosher salt or San Francisco Salt Co Cherry Smoked sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add minced yellow onion and cook until tender.
Add lean ground beef and break up into small pieces/crumbles while it cooks.
As beef begins to brown, stir in beef broth. Add mustard, Worcestershire, salt and pepper.
Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, or until liquid is mostly gone.
Spoon onto buns and serve.
Here are more great easy beef recipes:
FAQs
Classic Iowa Pork Tenderloin Sandwich.
What's the difference between a Maid-Rite and a sloppy joe? ›
While both are made with seasoned ground beef, Sloppy Joes feature a rich tomato-based sauce. The meat mixture is slightly sweet and often enjoyed without additional toppings. Loose meat sandwiches like Maid Rites, on the other hand, have no sauce at all.
What sandwich is Iowa famous for? ›
“The Loosemeat Sandwich of Iowa is technically not a burger. It does however exhibit many burger-like characteristics so we consider it a member of the hamburger 'family'. True to its name, the loose meat sandwich is basically an unformed hamburger.
What is the original Maid-Rite? ›
History. Fred Angell was a butcher in Muscatine, Iowa, who combined a special cut and grind of meat with a selected set of spices and created the Maid-Rite sandwich, which is not a traditional hamburger. Rather, it is called a "loose meat" sandwich.
What food is special to Iowa? ›
Iowa is known for Sour Cream Raisin Pie, Iowa Ham Balls, Scotcheroos, Maid Rite sandwiches, Steak de Burgo, taco pizza, snickers salad, and corn, lots of corn. It's also the leading producer of pork in the U.S.A.
What is the Iowa dish? ›
Iowa doesn't officially recognize a state food, yet we can likely agree that our most famous local food is the Iowa Chop.
What are sloppy joes called in Iowa? ›
The Wichita, Kansas-based chain Nu Way Cafe serves a version of the tavern/loose meat sandwich called a "Nu Way". In Illinois, the sandwich is also known as a "loose hamburger sandwich". In Iowa, it is sometimes referred to as a Maid-Rite.
What do people in Wisconsin call sloppy joes? ›
sloppy Joes. Some in southeastern and central Wisconsin call these "barbecue" sandwiches. For those who say Spanish hamburger, there's a good chance they grew up in the Fox Cities. Outside of Wisconsin, sloppy Joe is the dominant name.
What do they call sloppy joes in South Dakota? ›
1. Taverns = Sloppy Joe. What other Americans call a Sloppy Joe, South Dakotans call a tavern (or loosemeat). It's like a Sloppy Joe but without the tomato!
What is the most eaten sandwich in America? ›
What's America's favorite sandwich? More cheese, please. Grilled cheese, according to the data which revealed that 79 percent of people either "like" or "somewhat like" the ooey-gooey sandwich. That's no surprise, given that it's one of the most classic comfort foods.
Pork: Reflecting its status as a top pork producer, pork dishes are central to Iowa's food identity.
What is the Indiana State sandwich? ›
Digest. Designates the breaded tenderloin sandwich as the official state sandwich of Indiana.
How many maid rites are there? ›
There are a total of 20 maid-rite locations in United States as of April 26, 2023 The city with the most number of Maid-Rite locations in the United States is Davenport with 2 locations, which is 10% of all maid-rite locations in United States.
Where did the loose meat sandwich come from? ›
There's no question that Iowa is the birthplace of the loose-meat sandwich — that beefy, slow-cooked and wonderfully messy American comfort food served on a hamburger bun.
Where did Made Right start? ›
Taylor's Maid-Rite History
In 1926, the Maid-Rite sandwich was born! Fred Angell started the concept in Muscatine, Iowa. Fred began to franchise his idea, selling the rights to Newton, Iowa in 1927 and Marshalltown, Iowa in 1928. Cliff Taylor purchased the 1928 franchise for the sum of $300.
What is the name of the pork tenderloin sandwich in Iowa? ›
The pork tenderloin sandwich, also known as a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich (BPT), contains a breaded and fried cutlet similar to Wiener Schnitzel and is popular in the Midwest region of the United States, especially in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa.
What is the difference between a steamer and a sloppy joe? ›
Steamer Sandwich
These sandwiches are similar to Loose Meat, Sloppy Joe, or Beef Barbecue sandwiches in that the ground beef is cooked until it is smooth and moist. Steamers, in particular, are unique in that they have fewer ingredients than the above and have a distinctly smoother texture.
What is Illinois State sandwich? ›
The basics of a horseshoe sandwich are simple: Bread, meat, cheese sauce and french fries. After that, it gets a bit murky. The iconic dish of Springfield, Illinois, can be found on almost every restaurant menu in town according to locals, but nobody can quite agree on how it should be made.
What food is served at Iowa State football games? ›
Sporting Events Food & Beverage Concessions
Jack Trice Stadium- 6 locations inside the stadium, open for all home ISU Football games. We provide Corndogs, Fresh Squeezed State Fair Lemonade, Tenderloins, French Fries, Hot Dogs, Brats, Beef Burger and Nachos.
