Maid Rites, or loose meat sandwiches, are a super quick and easy dinner that your family is sure to love. Maid-Rite restaurants are a staple in Iowa and throughout the Midwest, now you can have one of these classic sandwiches at home no matter where you live!
Jump to Recipe
If you are looking for a super simple dinner for a busy night, this maid rite recipe is definitely a great answer. They are one of those dinners that nobody complains about and it will likely take you longer to make the sides than the main dish.
Plus they scale so easily, so they are perfect for parties too.
What Are Maid Rites?
Have you ever had a maid rite? They are a classic in the Midwest, especially if you live anywhere near Iowa.
If you are unfamiliar, maid rites are a loose meat sandwich made from ground beef. It’s like a sloppy joe without the tomato sauce.
Or you could say they are like a hamburger, but in little pieces rather than a patty. And while it is a little bit like both of those, it is also something completely different and wonderful.
It is quicker and easier to make than either a sloppy joe or a hamburger and possibly more fun to eat too. There is just something about a good maid rite sandwich that makes in extra good.
Maid-Rite Restaurants
There is a chain of restaurants here in the Midwest that is famous for them. In fact they share the same name as the sandwich.
The original Maid-Rite restaurant was opened in Iowa in 1926. You can find franchises throughout Illinois and a few in Missouri as well.
I have never been to any of the others, but I am sure the one in our town is best. It is definitely a fixture here.
In addition to the namesake sandwiches, they make the most fabulous from scratch pies. They have quite the list of pies available each day and choosing one is the hardest part.
I used to always go for one with a mile high meringue. There is just something about getting a pie topped with a fluffy white cloud!
Maid rites don’t have to be reserved for the restaurant though, they are easy to make at home. In fact we had them quite a bit during my childhood.
This Maid Rite recipe has just the right balance of flavors. It’s simple enough but still really flavorful.
What to Put on Your Maid Rite
The toppings are definitely a matter of taste. A lot of people swear by just mustard and diced onions.
I prefer mine plain or with pickles. My husband likes ketchup, mustard, and a slice of American cheese.
Little Dude likes ketchup and cheese. The cheese technically makes them a cheese rite, but we won’t split hairs.
I think pickled jalapenos and cheese would be a fun twist too! Really, you can use any of your favorite burger toppings.
What is the difference between a maid rite and a sloppy joe?
Both are made with a crumbled ground beef filling that is usually served on a hamburger bun, but they are different for sure.
Maid rites and sloppy joes both make great quick and easy family dinners. They are also both great for parties. Just keep the meat warm in a slow cooker and it will be ready when you are!
A maid rite sandwich is very beef forward. The crumbled beef is definitely the star of the show.
A little onion and seasoning is added, but that’s about it. (If you aren’t from the Midwest, you may know this as a tavern burger.)
A sloppy joe, on the other hand, has a sweeter tomato based sauce. After the meat is drained, a ketchup based sauce is added and simmered down.
We have a great recipe for big batch sloppy joe sandwiches you should check out. It is a great recipe for a party.
Or for a regular family dinner, check out the recipe for cola sloppy joes. They have a fabulous sweet and tangy sauce that is sure to please.
What to Serve With Maid Rites
If you are looking for some fun side dishes to go with your maid rites. May I suggest some instant pot mac and cheese or maybe some loaded baked beans.
Some loaded potato salad or tangy coleslaw would be good too and both can be made ahead of time for an easy dinner.
So grab some ground beef and buns. These maid rites are a perfect busy night dinner that are sure to make their way into your rotation.
Maid Rite Sandwiches
Carlee
Maidrites, or loose meat sandwiches, are a super quick and easy dinner that your family is sure to love. They are a staple around here and for good reason.
4.80 from 275 ratings
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Dinners
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Sandwiches
Calories 201 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¼ cup diced onion
- ¼ cup water
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
Instructions
Mix all ingredients in a large skillet.
1 pound ground beef, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, ¼ cup diced onion, ¼ cup water, 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
Brown over medium heat until meat is cooked through and most of the liquid is evaporated, about 15 minutes.
Adjust salt to your liking and serve on buns with desired toppings.
Notes
Don’t use super lean ground beef. We like using 85/15.
This recipe scales easily. You can make several pounds of burger on the stove ahead of a party and put the meat in a slow cooker to keep it hot. It’s a great way to feed the team or a hungry crew.
Leftover meat can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. You can also make the meat ahead of time to reheat later, but the recipe is so quick to make it usually isn’t necessary.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1sandwichCalories: 201kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 14gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 440mgPotassium: 228mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 2mg
Loved this recipe?Please consider rating it and saving on Pinterest.
