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 the famous meat sandwich in Iowa? ›
Maid-Rite. Maid-Rite might be a popular colloquial name for a finely-ground loose-meat sandwich, but the only official Maid-Rites are sold at one of around 30 eateries — 17 of which are in Iowa, along with corporate headquarters.
What is the state sandwich of Iowa? ›
Iowa has some interesting foods that are icons in their state. The GIANT breaded pork tenderloin sandwich (and we mean giant), Blue Bunny ice cream, Iowa sweet corn and, the one that caught my eye, the Maid Rite loose meat sandwich. This sandwich is sort of like a sloppy joe without the sauce.
What is the original Maid-Rite? ›
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 do people in Wisconsin call sloppy joes? ›
hot tamales, here's a breakdown of Wisconsin-isms. "Why are Sloppy Joe's called Hot Tamales in Wisconsin?"
What is a fancy 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.
What is the most famous food in 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 a Tony Montana sandwich? ›
The Tony Montana from Big Star Sandwich Co. is stacked with toppings. Pulled pork is the star of the show, while Boston ham, pickles, Swiss cheese, smoky mustard, and Hickory Sticks—yes, Hickory Sticks—finish off this sandwich.
What is a Rushmore sandwich? ›
Rushmore. $9.50. Chipotle Cheddar Roast Beef with BBQ sauce, bacon, and fried onion straws served on ciabatta with beer cheese sauce for dipping.
What is Iowa State dish? ›
Iowa doesn't officially recognize a state food, yet we can likely agree that our most famous local food is the Iowa Chop.
Iowa's official state snack is the s'more! It's definitely the perfect time of the year to make s'mores in Iowa.
What is a Hokie sandwich? ›
In the mid-'50s, they began bringing long-roll sandwiches stuffed with various meats and cheeses for lunch. These sandwiches became so popular that they were known colloquially as "Hog Island sandwiches," which was then shortened to "hoggies" and then eventually to "hoagies."
Who owns Maid-Rite? ›
Don and Polly Taylor's daughter, Sandra Taylor Short has taken over operations of the Maid-Rite in recent years. We haven't changed much in the last 95 years. We still grind 100% choice beef daily to ensure its quality and freshness and make ice cream from our original recipe.
Is Maid-Rite a franchise? ›
Our franchisee tradition that started back in 1926 has been to have individual owner/operators who are well known and well liked within their communities, who take pride in owning and operating a successful Maid-Rite franchise restaurant.
Where did the loose meat sandwich come from? ›
The loose meat sandwich was created in Sioux City in about 1924, although there doesn't seem to be a clear historical record of who made it first.
What is the difference between a Maid-Rite and a canteen? ›
The canteen sandwich (or locally, “Canteen”) is a loose-meat sandwich resembling that of a “Maid-Rite” or “Sloppy Joe”; however, it is seasoned differently and served more similarly to a hamburger with condiments like pickles, ketchup and mustard. A cheese sauce can be added for a small additional charge.
What is the New Jersey version of sloppy joe? ›
There are minor variations depending on the deli, but it is always a double-decker thin sliced rye bread sandwich made with one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.
What's the difference between Tavern and sloppy joe? ›
It more closely resembles a sloppy joe, without the tomato-based sauce.
What's the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy Jane? ›
If you're aiming to eat a lower-fat diet, then consider fixing yourself a sloppy jane. This variant on the sloppy joe swaps out regular ground beef for leaner beef. It also places a higher focus on vegetables and other low-calorie ingredients.
