Maid Rites, or loose meat sandwiches, are a super quick and easy dinner that your family is sure to love. These ground beef sandwiches 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!
If you are looking for a super simple dinner for a busy night, this maid rite recipe is definitely a great answer. Maid rite sandwiches 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 this recipe scales 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.
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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.
Just like the restaurant at home!
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 dill pickle slices. 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.
Can I make maid rites in a Crockpot?
Yes, you can make a bigger batch of Crockpot Maid Rites if you want. Or use a Crockpot to keep the filling you made in a skillet warm.
Once the meat mixture is fully cooked, you can keep it warm in a slow cooker for several hours. This is an easy recipe to double or triple if making it for a crowd!
If you are looking for some fun side dishes to go with your maid rites, there are lots of great options. May I suggest some classic french fries, instant pot mac and cheese or maybe some loaded baked beans.
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
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
- Stir all of the ingredients together in a large skillet.
- Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until meat is cooked through and most of the liquid is evaporated, about 15 minutes.
- Adjust salt to your liking. Then pile the beef mixture on soft buns and enjoy.
Notes
Video
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Actually I hopped the countertop and walked over & dipped my finger in the Soy Sauce to taste the sauce, it indeed was & still is soy sauce! & you need to add water to break the meat apart, then cook it down with Soy Sauce, but its alot more then just a tsp. Yes Maid Rite is number 1
That is funny! I am glad to have confirmation that it’s soy sauce!
Loved reading your comment about Maid Rites as I was a resident in Muscatine Iowa where the Maid-Rite sandwich was invented. I remember when I was in high school there we would always go down to the Maid-Rite shop which was just about a half a block from our church and we would always go there right after church on Sunday nights. My son and daughters loved it and even had some sent from their favorite Maid Rite shop in Marion Iowa. I really think the Worcestershire sauce Edition is probably closer to the original than soy sauce but that’s of course my taste buds. Thanks for sharing your recipe; it’s a doozy and we love it.
How fun! I am so glad that you can get a little taste of them at home.
Delicious. Easy. We’ve made it several times already. Its great year-round! I’m tempted to use this as bierok filling!
We used good kaiser rolls, and instead of slicing them open, I cut pockets into the rolls and filled them to hold the loose meat just a bit better. Yummy!
What a great idea!
Great recipe.!
Thank you!
I’m leery of not draining the grease after browning the meat which is what I always do with ground beef. Does it seem too greasy after it’s cooked this way?
You can drain it if you want to. However, it will make the filling dryer. As long as you use a decently lean ground beef, it shouldn’t be necessary.
I love this! I just make half the recipe for my husband and myself, but it is always a wonderful meal with baked beans and coleslaw or pea salad. I use 90/10 ground beef and a little more water to keep the meat from clumping. By the time the water has cooked out the flavors are well melded. Excellent and easy!
Using a little more water is a great tip. It really does help to keep the meat crumbles small. (And now I want pea salad, yum!)
It one of my many favorites quickfix recipe to make when I don’t want to cook. I this rating from 1-10 its 💯%
Yes! It is perfect for when you are in a hurry.
Loose meat sandwiches are underrated! They’re easy, versatile, and tasty. I had them a couple decades ago from a little food shack in the South and have been making them at home for a few years now after being reminded of them. I use a little vinegar instead of soy sauce and usually throw in some mushrooms, canned or fresh, and always add chopped pickles.
Chopped pickles and mushrooms sound like tasty additions!
Let’s say I’m well…ehhh…north of 75, a native Iowan who first ate a Maid Rite before the end of WWII, and who still regularly frequents the few remaining restaurants in Iowa, where I live today. BTW, the Cedar Rapids and Marion stores have been closed for some time. There are still Maid Rites in Muscatine and Marshalltown, and a few other places. There USED to be stores in almost every Iowa town larger than 5,000 people.
One of my best friends from kindergarten through high school was the son of the local Maid Rite franchisee.
I’m sure this recipe makes a good loose meat sandwich, but it’s not a Maid Rite. LEAVE OUT the sugar, onions, mustard, and soy sauce. The water is OK because it mimics the steaming of real Maid Rites. A splash of Worcestershire Sauce is similar, but does not equate to, the real seasoning mixture. Top the sandwich with diced raw onions, common yellow mustard, and a couple of dill slices. PERIOD. Put the top on and eat that rascal! If you must, a slice of American cheese is allowed.
Ketchup could get you pitched out of some Maid Rite stores (and I LOVE ketchup!).
A good loose meat sandwich is a lovely thing. So is a good sloppy joe. But a Maid Rite is a very specific sandwich. You wouldn’t call a fried egg a poached egg, now, would you? ANY loose meat sandwich is not a Maid Rite, and THIS recipe is for a different (non-Maid Rite), and no doubt delicious, loose meat sandwich.
With ALL due respect to its author, I intend to make and enjoy this recipe, but I won’t be calling it a Maid Rite. It’s a loose meat sandwich.
My Dad loved to make these for church socials. He called them hot beef sandwiches and they were always a hit.
Aren’t they wonderful?