Iowa Style Maid-Rite Sandwiches Recipe (2024)

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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).

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!

Course Main

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:

Iowa Style Maid-Rite Sandwiches Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between a Maid-Rite sandwich 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 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 Iowa State sandwich? ›

Classic Iowa Pork Tenderloin Sandwich.

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? ›

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? ›

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.

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? ›

Black Forest Ham, Pulled Pork, Swiss Cheese & Dill Pickle served on Beach Toast. Tony Montana Sandwich. Black Forest Ham, Pulled Pork, Swiss Cheese & Dill Pickle served on Beach Toast.

What is the most popular sandwich in Iowa? ›

The loose meat sandwich from Canteen Lunch in the Alley was not only named one of the best of the best in Iowa, it also made a notable food list that stretched all across America a few years ago. Located in Ottumwa, this restaurant opened for business in 1927.

What is the national food of Iowa? ›

Iowa doesn't officially recognize a state food, yet we can likely agree that our most famous local food is the Iowa Chop.

Where is the original Maid-Rite? ›

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 Iowa's state snack? ›

Iowa. Inexplicably but delightfully, the Hawkeye State has chosen s'mores as its official snack. Who needs a reason when s'mores are involved?

What is the oldest Maid-Rite in Iowa? ›

Iowa History Daily: On May 1, 1926, the first Maid-Rite sandwich shop opened in Muscatine.

Why is it called a Maid-Rite? ›

But, being really bored paid off for butcher Fred Angell. 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.

Is a loose meat sandwich the same as a sloppy joe? ›

Other Variations Of Sloppy Joes

From a certain viewpoint, you could consider a sloppy joe just a saucy take on the loose meat sandwich, which is ground beef combined with Worcestershire sauce and onions. If you find a traditional sloppy joe too saucy, then try a meaty sloppy joe 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.

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.

Is a pulled pork sandwich the same as a sloppy joe? ›

A tasty tomato-based barbecue sauce flavors these ground pork sloppy Joe sandwiches. They're similar to a pulled pork sandwich but much faster to make.

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