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.
Maid-Rites are a ground beef sandwich with tons of flavor. It’s a quick and easy Midwest classic your family will enjoy for lunch or dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- water
- salt and pepper, to taste
- steamed hamburger buns, for serving
- Topping ideas:
- ketchup, mustard, pickles, onions
Instructions
In a skillet, brown and crumble the ground beef with the onion and salt over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Be sure to make the crumbles small as it cooks. Drain any fat, if necessary.
Add the mustard, vinegar, and sugar to the beef mixture. Add enough water to just cover the meat. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low heat and continue to cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of the water has evaporated. Taste and then season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Serve the meat mixture on steamed buns with desired toppings.
