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
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 is Iowa's state sandwich? ›
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. But which version of this sandwich is the definitive Iowa loose-meat sandwich is a debate that's raged from river to river for nearly 100 years.
What is the famous loose-meat sandwich in Iowa? ›
What is a Taylor's Maid-Rite? A Taylor's Maid-Rite is a loose meat sandwich made of finely ground hamburger. The hamburger is ground fresh daily, cooked in our cast-iron cooker, put on a bun and served with mustard, pickles and/or chopped onions. Now, after 95 years, ketchup is available on the counter!
What is the original Maid-Rite? ›
The original Maid-Rite sandwich was invented during 1926 in Muscatine, Iowa. Butcher Fred Angell steamed hamburger instead of frying it and slurried in some spices.
What are Sloppy Joes called in iowa? ›
Maid-Rites. Maid-Rites are a popular Midwestern loose meat sandwich, and are full of savory goodness.
What is the name of the Sloppy Joe in Iowa? ›
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!
What is the most popular sandwich in Iowa? ›
The most popular item on the Maid-Rite menu, these Loose Meat Sandwiches taste as good as the Iowa-famous diner classic. This easy ground beef recipe cooks in just 10 minutes!
What is Iowa's signature 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 is a Tony Montana sandwich? ›
The Tony Montana Sandwich⚡️Pork Shoulder, Thick-but bacon, Swiss, Mayo, Mustard, Pickles w/frites or greens.
What is a dead Texan sandwich? ›
Description - <b>"Dead Texan"</b> Two Texas toast grilled cheese sandwiches with 1/3 lb. burger, 1 egg, 2 slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapenos, and peppercorn mayo in between.
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.
What is the most ordered sandwich in America? ›
America's top sandwich is the grilled cheese, according to the results of a YouGov survey that asked a representative sample of 1,223 people to weigh in on their top sandwich choice.
Why is it called a Maid-Rite sandwich? ›
He worked to get just the right combination of a special cut and grind of meat and a selected blend of spices. When a deliveryman tasted Fred's new creation, he said, "This sandwich is made right." With that, the Maid-Rite was born.
What is the oldest Maid-Rite in Iowa? ›
Iowa History Daily: On May 1, 1926, the first Maid-Rite sandwich shop opened in Muscatine.
Who invented the Maid-Rite sandwich? ›
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.
What is an alternate name for a sloppy joe? ›
Some other names for sloppy joes include: barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, slushburgers, steamers, wimpies, and yum yums. What do you call sloppy joes where you live? Just like the many names for sloppy joes, you'll also find all sorts of variations on the recipe.
What is a better name for a sloppy joe? ›
Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.
Is a loose meat sandwich the same as a sloppy joe? ›
Primarily consisting of finely crumbled seasoned ground beef and chopped onions, a Loose Meat Sandwich is eaten like a loose hamburger, similar to Sloppy Joes but with the absence of a tomato-based sauce.
What do people in Wisconsin call Sloppy Joes? ›
How "hot tamale" became the name for sloppy Joes in these Wisconsin communities is so far a mystery. The name was solidified through decades of Sheboygan and Manitowoc school lunch menus, though "sloppy Joe" has come into use now. And the fight isn't restricted to hot tamales vs.
