Copycat Maid Rite Sandwiches Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Copycat Maid Rite Sandwiches Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Make up a Midwestern classic quickly and easily at home! These copycat Maid Rite sandwiches are made with ground beef and pork and are one delicious bite! This loose meat sandwich is a true family favorite!

Copycat Maid Rite Sandwiches Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Maid Rite Sandwiches

If you are from the Midwest, I’m sure you know all about the famous Maid Rite sandwiches, and if you’re not, then you are in for one hell of a tasty treat!

Similar to Sloppy Joes, these ground meat sandwiches are are a great option for game day, or just when you want a little indulgence! Simple to make, they are filling, hearty and loaded with flavor.

Be sure to try my Reuben Sandwich and Crispy Chicken Sandwich too!

Why You’ll Love this Copycat Maid Rite Sandwich Recipe:

  • ONE PAN: The filling for these sandwiches is all cooked in a skillet on the stovetop, so even the clean up is a breeze!
  • KID FRIENDLY: Your picky eaters will love these sandwiches! They are a hit with the whole family, and you’ll be asked for these time and time again!
  • MAKE AHEAD: You can easily make the beef and pork filling ahead of time and it’s freezer friendly too!

Also known as a Nu-Way, Steamer, Big T, loose hamburgersandwich and tavernsandwich, whatever you call them, they are hands down delicious!

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How to Make Copycat Maid Rite Sandwiches

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Brown the ground meats and soften the onion in a large skillet.
  2. Once browned, drain the excess fat from the pan.
  3. Add in the dissolved bouillon cubes and remaining ingredients.
  4. Simmer.
  5. Serve on burger buns with your favorite toppings.
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What is a maid rite sandwich?

This is a loose ground meat sandwich that is served in burger buns. The meat is seasoned with steak sauce, red wine vinegar and soy sauce for a bite that’s full of flavor.

What kind of meat should I use?

For the best results, use a mix of ground pork and beef. I like to use ground chuck as is has a good fat ratio which makes it more tasty. You can use just beef if you prefer, or try them with ground turkey or chicken if you like.

How can I add cheese slices to these sandwiches?

For cheesy burgers, immediately prior to serving, cover about ⅛ of the meat mixture with one slice of cheese and let it melt before scooping and serving.

What’s the difference between maid rites and sloppy joes?

Sloppy Joes and Maid Rites are similar in the fact that they are made from loose ground meat, but Maid Rite is much less saucy compared to Sloppy Joes which are cooked in a tomato sauce.

Serving Suggestions

This copycat Maid Rite sandwich recipe is great to serve with all of your usual favorite burger and sandwich sides. Try out some of these classics:

  • Baked Sweet Potato Fries
  • Shoestring Fries
  • Creamy Coleslaw
  • Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
  • Potato Salad

However you serve up these sandwiches, they’re sure to be a hit! They are a great addition to any game day menu!

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All the Burgers

Guide to Cooking Burgers at Home

See all of our favorite burger recipes plus tips and tricks for cooking the ultimate burger at home.

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Tips!

  • Once the meats are browned, be sure to drain most of the fat off, otherwise your sandwiches will be very greasy.
  • For a healthier option, try making these with ground chicken or turkey, they’ll still be delicious!
  • If making the filling ahead of time, let it cool full before storing.

My family is so obsessed with these, from the kids to the Grandparents! Trust me, make some of these up and you’ll see what the fuss is all about!

What toppings go well with maid rite sandwiches?

My favorite toppings for these are cheese slices, diced white onions, pickles, and mustard, the tanginess of the toppings work great with the cooked meat.

Can I make these in a crockpot?

Yes! Brown the meats first, then add everything to the Crockpot. Cook on low for 3 hours and for the last hour of cooking, remove the lid so that the liquid evaporates.

How far in advance can I make the meat mixture?

The cooked meat mixture will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, and can be reheated in a skillet to serve. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

More Easy Game Day Recipes We Love

  • Baked Meatball Sliders
  • Beef Sheet Pan Nachos
  • Crockpot Buffalo Wings
  • Crockpot Sausage Cream Cheese Dip
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These copycat Maid Rite sandwiches are so quick and easy to make at home! So simple with a few basic ingredients, you’ll be so glad you tried these!

More Delicious Sandwich Recipes to Try:

  • Copycat McRib Sandwich
  • Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese Sandwich
  • Teriyaki Chicken Sub Sandwich
  • Egg Salad Sandwich
  • Patty Melts
  • Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
  • Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe

Copycat Maid Rite Sandwiches Recipe

4.47 from 45 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 40 minutes minutes

Total: 45 minutes minutes

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Serves8 sandwiches

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Whip up a Midwestern classic quickly and easily at home. Made with a combination of ground beef and pork, these copycat Maid Rite sandwiches are a true family favorite!

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Email This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground chuck
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • ½ yellow onion diced
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes
  • ½ cup hot water
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon steak sauce
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Buns, American cheese slices, diced white onions, pickles, and mustard for topping

Instructions

  • To a large skillet set over medium high heat, add the chuck, pork, and onion. Brown the meats and sauté the onion.

    1 pound ground chuck, 1 pound ground pork, ½ yellow onion

  • While the meat cooks, dissolve the beef bouillon cubes in the hot water.

    2 beef bouillon cubes, ½ cup hot water

  • Drain all except 1-2 tablespoons rendered fat from the pan.

  • Add the bouillon and remaining ingredients to the browned meat.

    1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon steak sauce, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • Simmer for 30 minutes. If the mixture becomes too dry, add a couple tablespoons of water.

  • Scoop the meat onto burger buns, add any toppings, and enjoy. (For cheesy burgers, cover about ⅛ of the meat mixture with one slice of cheese and let it melt before scooping and serving.)

    Buns, American cheese slices, diced white onions, pickles, and mustard

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • Make Ahead: If making the filling ahead of time, let it cool full before storing.
  • Browned Meat: To avoid greasy sandwiches, drain most of the fat off of the browned meats before continuing with step 4.
  • Other Meats: For a healthier option, try making these sandwiches with ground chicken or turkey – they’ll still be delicious!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 302kcal (15%) Carbohydrates: 2g (1%) Protein: 20g (40%) Fat: 23g (35%) Saturated Fat: 9g (56%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 10g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 81mg (27%) Sodium: 758mg (33%) Potassium: 346mg (10%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 12IU Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) Calcium: 24mg (2%) Iron: 2mg (11%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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FAQs

What's the difference between a Maid-Rite and a sloppy joe? ›

Though they are sometimes confused, they are not the same thing. Sloppy joes typically have a seasoned tomato sauce whereas a maid-rite is seasoned, but doesn't have a sauce. Depending on where they're from, people also refer to these as tavern sandwiches, Big T sandwiches or simply a ground beef sandwich.

What is the original Maid-Rite? ›

History. Fred Angell was a butcher in Muscatine, Iowa, who combined a special cut and grind of meat with a selected set of spices and created the Maid-Rite sandwich, which is not a traditional hamburger. Rather, it is called a "loose meat" sandwich.

What is the difference between a loose meat sandwich and a sloppy joe? ›

From a certain viewpoint, you could consider a sloppy joe just a saucy take on the loose meat sandwich, which is ground beef combined with Worcestershire sauce and onions. If you find a traditional sloppy joe too saucy, then try a meaty sloppy joe recipe.

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 fancy name for sloppy joes? ›

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 do people in Wisconsin call sloppy joes? ›

hot tamales, here's a breakdown of Wisconsin-isms. "Why are Sloppy Joe's called Hot Tamales in Wisconsin?"

What is a steamer sandwich? ›

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.

How long has Maid-Rite been in business? ›

In 1926, the Maid-Rite sandwich was born! Fred Angell started the concept in Muscatine, Iowa.

Where did the loose meat sandwich come from? ›

History of the Sandwich

The loose meat sandwich is sometimes known as a steamer or tavern sandwich. Some say it originated at Ye Olde Tavern in Sioux City in the 1920s, and others claim it was at Maid-Rite in Muscatine in the same decade.

What is sloppy joe meat called? ›

Sloppy joe meat being prepared with Manwich sauce. Early and mid-20th century American cookbooks offer plenty of sloppy joe-type recipes, though they go by different names: Toasted Deviled Hamburgers, Chopped Meat Sandwiches, Spanish Hamburgers, Hamburg a la Creole, Beef Mironton, and Minced Beef Spanish Style.

What does sloppy joe mean in slang? ›

a man or youth whose appearance is habitually slovenly.

What was the original sloppy Joe made with? ›

Many believe the Sloppy Joe is the namesake of a Sioux City, Iowa cook, who in 1930, combined the regionally popular loose meat sandwich with tomato sauce. It's less messy predecessor, the loose meat sandwich is a Midwestern favorite of steamed or sauteed ground beef, onions, mustard and pickles.

What is a dead Texan sandwich? ›

Two Texas toast grilled cheese sandwiches with 1/3 lb. burger, 1 egg, 2 slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapenos, and peppercorn mayo in between.

What is the most ordered sandwich in America? ›

The people have spoken. America's top sandwich is the grilled cheese, according to the results of a YouGov survey that asked a representative sample of 1,223 people to weigh in on their top sandwich choice.

What is a Rushmore sandwich? ›

Rushmore. $9.50. Chipotle Cheddar Roast Beef with BBQ sauce, bacon, and fried onion straws served on ciabatta with beer cheese sauce for dipping.

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.

What's the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy Jane? ›

Sloppy Joe VS Sloppy Jane

A Sloppy Jane is a Sloppy Joe made with ground turkey instead of ground beef.

What's the difference between Tavern and sloppy joe? ›

It more closely resembles a sloppy joe, without the tomato-based sauce.

Is sloppy joe and Manwich the same thing? ›

The classic sloppy Joe, as we know it today, is mostly associated with Manwich, but it was actually born from Loose Meat Sandwiches, popular in Iowa. It is said that a cook, appropriately named "Joe", added tomato sauce to a loose meat sandwich, and a new classic was born!

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