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Maid Rites (Loose Meat Sandwiches)
Maid Rites are a popular Midwest sandwich (and for good reason!) This copycat loose meat sandwich recipe is made with perfectly seasoned ground beef and can be ready in just 35 minutes!
A MIDWESTERN DINER CLASSIC!
These Iowa favorite, super simple Maid Rite Sandwiches, are a family favorite dinner! Seasoned ground beef and finely chopped onions are the stars of the show bringing flavor to every bite! It sort of brings all the Sloppy Joe vibes without the sloppy sauce. Your first thought (if you aren’t familiar with these) is “Aren’t these dry? They look dry without a sauce” and I can tell you they aren’t. The look is deceiving! I think so many of us are used to having ground beef mixed in with some type of creamy gravy or tomato sauce so it seems strange that the meat is literally loose but beef broth is added to help make sure the meat is not dried out and stays juicy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Why is it called a Maid-Rite sandwich? The name “Maid Rite Sandwiches” comes from a restaurant chain that originated in Iowa in the 1920’s. It’s a sandwich that has cooked ground beef, onions and mustard, then loaded on a sandwich bun. What goes with Maid Rites? I made our sandwiches and served them with French Fries. But they’ll go with any of your favorite sides like Southern Baked Beans, Macaroni Salad, tangy Coleslaw, or a heaping pile of your favorite Mac and Cheese. Even just potato chips work just fine! What toppings should I use? There is no right or wrong way to top your Maid Rite Sandwiches (although many Iowans would disagree – ha!) The most common toppings are pickles and yellow mustard. You could also add ketchup, extra chopped onions, or classic hamburger toppings like sliced tomatoes and lettuce. In general, whatever you like on a hamburger will work here. I know people get caught up in making everything exactly like the original (which for some folks can taste pretty plain) so I say to use whatever you enjoy to make it how you and your family will like it. Can I make these ahead of time? You can prep and cook the meat up to 2 days in advance and store it in the fridge! Also, this recipe freezes well and is great to make ahead of time. Cook your meat and store in a freezer safe container or bag for up to 3 months in the freezer. How should I store leftovers? Store any leftover meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep the buns separate.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
ground beef– I used an 85/15 ground beef mixture for this recipe. The fat content helps keep the meat nice and moist and adds great flavor, even though we are draining the excess off. You could absolutely use a leaner mixture, but I would recommend adding a bit more beef broth or some butter during the cooking process.
beef broth– beef broth will give you the best flavor, but you could also substitute just plain water in a pinch. Another good alternative, if you have it on hand, would be a bouillon cube dissolved in the water to make the broth. In addition, if you can use low or no sodium beef broth if you need to cut back on the salt.
yellow mustard
Worcestershire sauce – you could also use soy sauce but I found that to be a bit too salty for my tastes, I think between the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce and the other seasonings added, it was perfect!
light brown sugar – this does not make it sweet, it just offsets a bit of the tanginess from the Worcestershire sauce and mustard (this is optional)
finely chopped onion – we prefer a really finely chopped onion in ours but you could certainly just dice it up if you like bigger chunks.
salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder – these are the typical seasonings that I use. I think it’s important that you have really well seasoned meat. Some folks like it pretty plain (why just salt and pepper) and that is fine too. After making these a few times, I decided it needed a bit more flavor so I added the additional seasoning.
hamburger buns – try to find a nice, soft white hamburger bun. The meat and the bun should kind of melt into each other with every bite.
dill pickle chips – for serving
HOW DO YOU MAKE MAID RITE SANDWICHES
In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef and finely chopped onion together. Cook until the beef is cooked through, and the onion is translucent. Drain any excess fat. I like to use a food processor to finely chop the onions. It does it nicely and doesn’t require extra time on my end. But, if you want to chop by hand using a knife and cutting board, you absolutely can.
Add in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine. Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the liquid to reduce.
While your meat simmers, steam (or toast) buns if desired. Once your meat is done simmering, spoon it on to the bottom halves of the buns. Top the meat with pickles. Place the top halves of the hamburger buns over the filling to assemble the sandwiches. Serve hot and enjoy!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Dr Pepper Sloppy Joes
Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
Big Mac Sloppy Joes
Air Fryer Roast Beef Sandwiches
Chicken Philly Sandwiches
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Maid Rites (Loose Meat Sandwiches)
Maid Rites are a popular Midwest sandwich (and for good reason!) This copycat loose meat sandwich recipe is made with perfectly seasoned ground beef and can be ready in just 35 minutes!
Course Dinner, Main Course, SandwichesCuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes minutesCook Time 30 minutes minutesTotal Time 35 minutes minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 432kcal
Author Brandie @ The Country Cook
Ingredients1 ½ pounds ground beef 85% lean/15% fat½ cup beef broth1 Tablespoon yellow mustard2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce1 teaspoon light brown sugar1 cup of finely chopped onion1 teaspoon salt½ teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon onion powder1 teaspoon garlic powder6 Hamburger bunsdill pickle chips for serving
InstructionsIn a large skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef and finely chopped onion together. Cook until the beef is cooked through, and the onion is translucent. Drain any excess fat. Add in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine. Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the liquid to reduce. While your meat simmers, steam (or toast) buns if desired.Once your meat is done simmering, spoon it on to the bottom halves of the buns. Top the meat with pickles.Place the top halves of the hamburger buns over the filling to assemble the sandwiches. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
NutritionCalories: 432kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 25g | Sodium: 853mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g