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
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.
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? ›
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 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 are sloppy joes called in iowa? ›
Maid-Rites. Maid-Rites are a popular Midwestern loose meat sandwich, and are full of savory goodness.
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. sloppy Joes.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
Is Maid-Rite still around? ›
Maid-Rite is an American casual dining franchise restaurant chain. Before it became a restaurant chain, it was a single restaurant, opened in 1926 by Fred Angell. By the end of the 1920s, four franchises were granted; these four restaurants are still in operation. Maid-Rite Corporation's CEO and president is Bradley L.
What is a butler maid? ›
A butler is a person who works in a house serving and is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry.
What is canteen called in USA? ›
A cafeteria, sometimes called a canteen outside the U.S. and Canada, is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether in a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or ...
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 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.
Is a pulled pork sandwich the same as a sloppy joe? ›
They're similar to a pulled pork sandwich but much faster to make. Cooked entirely on the stovetop, you can have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes, and kids love sloppy Joes, so this quick and simple recipe is sure to be a hit with your family.
