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).

Iowa Style Maid-Rite Sandwiches Recipe (4)

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4.55 from 31 votes

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 is 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 is the famous loose 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 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 is the most popular Sloppy Joe called? ›

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 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 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 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 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.

What is a dead Texan sandwich? ›

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.

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.

What is slang for sloppy joe? ›

A 1975 Dictionary of American Slang defines sloppy joe as any cheap restaurant or lunch counter serving cheap food quickly.

What is a fun 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'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.

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 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's the difference between Tavern and sloppy joe? ›

It more closely resembles a sloppy joe, without the tomato-based sauce.

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