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The most popular item on the Maid-Rite menu, these Loose Meat Sandwiches taste as good as the Iowa-famous diner classic. This easy ground beef recipe cooks in just 10 minutes!
Not quite as sloppy as a sloppy Joe, but still firmly in the category of “messy,” a Loose Meat Sandwich is the ultimate, all-American road food feast. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to try one at Tastee, Maid-Rite in Muscatine, Iowa, or even at Canteen Lunch in the Alley, you already know what all the fuss is about. If not, well then consider this recipe the next best thing.
Depending on where you are in the Midwest, the sandwich can be called a Nu-Way, Steamer, Big T, loose hamburger sandwich, tavern sandwich, or just a Maid Rite. Since the 1920s, it has been made with sautéed (sometimes steamed) ground beef and onions, served on a bun and dressed up with ketchup, mustard, and pickles.
If you love Sloppy Joes and hamburgers, then you need to add a tavern sandwich to your culinary bucket list.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Ground beef: I prefer a ground beef blend of 85% lean, 15% fat, for the best flavor.
- Onions: Yellow onions, white onions, or even shallots will do. I add them after the meat is cooked so they’re still a bit raw in the beef, just like a traditional Maid-Rite sandwich. Brown them in the skillet before browning the beef if you like them a little softer and milder in flavor.
- Hamburger buns: I love a good quality soft burger bun, toasted, buttered, and ready to go. But you can even make these slightly smaller soft dinner rolls for a buffet-style meal or a tailgate menu.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a large skillet, combine beef, water, mustard, and sugar. Simmer over medium heat until the beef is cooked through, about 5 minutes, breaking up clumps of meat with a spoon.
- Drain the fat if desired (I don’t, and it is closer to the original recipe if you don’t, but you can if you want). Stir in onion and season to taste with salt and pepper; I like 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Serve meat on buns with toppings on the side, such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and pickles.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This Maid-Rite recipe makes 4 delightfully sloppy sandwiches.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: Feel free to make the meat up to 3 days in advance, then store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave until warm, then pile inside hamburger buns.
- Freezer: Make the loose meat portion, then divvy it up in single-size or family-size servings in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
- Slow cooker: To make Loose Meat Sandwiches in a slow cooker, brown ground beef in a skillet, then add to a slow cooker. Add all remaining ingredients except buns to slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours. Serve in buns.
- Optional seasonings: Some cooks swear by a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce to amp up the flavor.
- Take your Maid-Rite over the top: Any burger toppings you like will be a hit atop a Loose Meat Sandwich, too. Try dill pickle slices, red onion, tomato slices, a splash of barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup, and/or mustard.
Best sides for Maid-Rites
Side Dish Recipes
Homemade French Fries
Salad Recipes
Broccoli Salad Recipe
Slow Cooker Recipes
Crockpot Baked Beans from Scratch
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Loose Meat Sandwich (Maid-Rite Copycat)
The most popular item on the Maid-Rite menu, these Loose Meat Sandwiches taste as good as the Iowa-famous diner classic. This easy ground beef recipe cooks in just 10 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (85/15 recommended, see note 1)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup onion peeled and finely chopped, plus more for topping (see note 2)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns split, for serving
- Toppings such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, pickles, for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet, combine beef, water, mustard, and sugar. Simmer over medium heat until the beef is cooked through, about 5 minutes, breaking up clumps of meat with a spoon.
- Drain the fat if desired (I don't, and it is closer to the original recipe if you don't, but you can if you want). Stir in onion and season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper).
- Serve meat on buns with toppings on the side such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and pickles.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Ground beef: I prefer a ground beef blend of 85% lean, 15% fat, for the best flavor.
- Onions: Yellow onions, white onions, or even shallots will do. I add them after the meat is cooked so they’re still a bit raw in the beef, just like a traditional Maid-Rite sandwich. Brown them in the skillet before browning the beef if you like them a little softer and milder in flavor.
- Hamburger buns: I love a good quality soft burger bun, toasted, buttered, and ready to go. But you can even make these slightly smaller soft dinner rolls for a buffet-style meal or a tailgate menu.
- Yield: This Maid-Rite recipe makes 4 delightfully sloppy sandwiches.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: Feel free to make the meat up to 3 days in advance, then store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave until warm, then pile inside hamburger buns.
- Freezer: Make the loose meat portion, then divvy it up in single-size or family-size servings in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
- Slow cooker: To make Loose Meat Sandwiches in a slow cooker, brown ground beef in a skillet, then add to a slow cooker. Add all remaining ingredients except buns to slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours. Serve in buns.
- Optional seasonings: Some cooks swear by a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce to amp up the flavor.
- Take your Maid-Rite over the top: Any burger toppings you like will be a hit atop a Loose Meat Sandwich, too. Try dill pickle slices, red onion, tomato slices, a splash of barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup, and/or mustard.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 sandwichCalories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 20gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 120mgPotassium: 335mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 2mg
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This may be the most BLAND recipe I have ever made. Absolutely nothing like the made rites I’ve had. Not good!
Hi William, sorry you didn’t care for it. Hope you are able to try it again and adjust the seasonings to your taste. – Meggan
One of the chefs on Triple G, Guy Fierri’s show, Guy’s Grocery Games, made a ‘loose meat sandwich’ and Guy said he never heard of such a thing, that the meat fell apart and she made that up, but she said it was a real thing in Iowa where she’s from! Maybe you can clear it up with him, but I have no clue how you will get in contact with him? I love his shows, all of them lol, I’m from Ohio! j justice
Try using an old fashioned a potato masher (wire type) to break up ground meats. It works beautifully. If you try it you will love it. No more stabbing with a wooden spoon or spatula. Denny
Been in Texas 30 years and craving some good old Midwest Maid Rites. Doubled your recipe but had to add 2 tablespoons of Worchestershire “Powder”. Game changer in my opinion, much like there made in Greenville OH.
You’re so welcome, William! I bet the powder gave it an even deeper umami taste! Take care! – Meggan
So glad you posted this review! I’m from right across the Ohio line and Greenville’s MaidRites are the best! Been trying to find a good replica. Thanks for the recipe Meggan!!
You’re so welcome, Katie! I hope you have a nice day, take care! – Meggan
I’ve only had Maid Rite sandwiches from the Greenville, OH restaurant. One of the best hamburgers available in my opinion. I’d take a Greenville, OH Maid Rite sandwich over McDonald’s any day.
Saw them make these on Roseanne in the lunchbox and always was intrigued by what it would taste like thankful that I finally got a chance to make it these are awesome.
Hi Andrew! I’m glad you liked them! I never knew they were on Roseanne! Awesome! -Meggan
I’m watching that arc of Roseanne this very moment, when they buy The Lunch Box (specializing in loose meat sandwiches that Jackie raved about). Came here to refresh my memory of the recipe. I bet they would be good on sweet Kings Hawaiian rolls.
I’m a misplaced Iowan and grew up with Maid-Rites in Davenport. Although I’ll try your recipe, the taste of mustard would have turned me off. I have been making these for 40 years in California. Steam the hamburger meat in a double boiler and add one packet of dry Lipton onion soup. Delicious. The upper pan has holes in it so juices drip through as the meat steams. Try it, you’ll like it-no need to add anything else.
So tasty & easy to make!!!
Hi Angela, thank you! So glad you loved thises loose meat sandwiches! – Meggan
I used to get these when I lived in Iowa and always wanted to try making them. These turned out great!!! Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks Sue, glad you liked it! – Meggan
Drained the grease and added beef bouillon, Worcestershire, and onion powder. Very good and would make again.
Sounds great Shelby, thanks for sharing! – Meggan
I make mine the same except use 1/4 c water and 1/4 c beef broth (I use better then bouillon).
Sounds great, Rdrakester. Thanks! – Meggan