Maid-Rites are a popular Midwestern loose meat sandwich, and are full of savory goodness. This is my version!
It’s time for another edition of You Know You’re From the Midwest When… (check out editions one and two!)
You know you’re from the Midwest when you don’t say “Maid who??” when I tell you Maid-Rites were on the menu tonight!
Maid-Rite, a popular Midwestern restaurant, specializes in “loose meat” sandwiches, aka seasoned ground beef on a warm bun. I know. Sounds… crazy?! It is, a little, I suppose – but we totally dig them. And NO they’re not sloppy joe’s!
I had to laugh when Ben told me a story about a co-worker who was visiting from the east coast last month and was asking people where she should eat while in town. Someone suggested Maid-Rite and was trying to explain the sandwiches to her…
“So it’s a sloppy joe then…”
“No, there’s no sauce.”
“So it’s just meat?”
“Yeah, but it’s seasoned.”
“But it’s still just ground beef…”
“Right, but it’s really good. Just trust me!”
HA! I can totally hear this conversation in my brain… Anyway, my Mom has a super recipe for Maid-Rites (oh also, you can just call them “maid-rites” and everyone will know what you’re talking about) so I cooked some up for dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 lb 85/15 ground beef, could use 80/20 - just not super lean
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 beef boullion cube
- 1/2 cup water
- pepper
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons steak sauce
- Buns
Directions
- Sauté beef and onions until cooked then drain and return to pan.
- Add the rest of the ingredients then simmer for 30 minutes and scoop onto buns.
Notes
- Serve like you would a burger - this is more akin to a burger than a sloppy joe.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I always get my maid-rites with a squeeze of cold ketchup and salty pickles. Perfection I tell you. Totally a crowd pleaser too – everyone will love these.
Bring a taste of the Midwest to your home, won’t you?
~~~~~
Fill in the blank “You know you’re from (fill in your city/state here) when…”
Alternatively, do you have any unique local or regional dishes?
Iowa, of course, is know for their corn and pigs. NOT POTATOES – that’s Idaho (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten that!)
I love me a maid-rite and so i will be trying your mom’s receipe to see how it compares.
Maid rites!!!!! Nom nom nommy :] My mom grew up in Iowa, I lived there till I was seven. Best.Sandwich.Evaaaa.
i had to look maid-rite up(i usually do when you mention something midwestern…and i salivate all the while). it turns out there’s a slew of “-rite” sandwiches that they create. do you ever try any other flavors?
“you know you’re from new jersey when—-” : when you see silly stereotypes of yourself all over the tv, LOL. also when you go down the “shaw” instead of to the “beach”.
what’s the ETA on your trader joe’s, by the way?
ETA – November 5. I drive by every time I’m out that way.
You know you’re from the midwest when….
You actually KNOW the geography of the united states, including the middle of the country
St. Louis is known for gooey butter cake, toasted ravioli, and imos pizza (made with provel cheese!)
Also, Panera started in St. Louis and the chain is still called St. Louis Bread Company here!
i have no idea what it is, but gooey butter cake sounds like something from a wonderful childhood dream. i’m envious.
My mom grew up near Marshalltown and I’ve been eating Maid-Rites my whole life! They’re so much better than a sloppy joe. If you’re ever over in eastern Iowa, check out the Stone City General Store in Stone City. They serve a wicked good appetizer with sweet potato fries (marshmallow fluff on the side) and fried cheese curds. DELISH!
Maid-rites are an iowa thing. I have lived in several midwest states and never heard of them before I moved to iowa. They are good, though.
In Omaha/Lincoln/Fremont Nebraska, we know those sandwiches as Tastees!
BOOK MARKING THIS PAGE!!! those fries look so good
Dana xo
Weird! I’m from the Midwest (MO) and never heard of this sandwich! I feel cheated!
Yep, I’m in MO, too—I think that Maid-Rite is an Illinois/Iowa thing.
so sorry to disappoint you, but st Joseph, MO had maidrite
There is a maidrite in West Plains and Rolla in MO
I grew up on Maid-Rites as my family is from the home town and my friend’s grandparents own the place! As un-healthy as the shakes are, I always have to add one in when I have a maid-rite :).
Love the Maid-Rites! Very few of these located in MN, but I like to try and find one when I am passing through IA. Good stuff! And wow, those sweet potato fries look insane! I must make them. Thanks for the recipes!
My first job when I was 15 was at a Maid Rite! The one in Valley Junction haha. I’m definitely going to have to try this recipe out sometime!
I think maid-rites are an Iowa thing. In WI there is a sloppy-joe like thing they call bbq (just ground beef with a sauce, but different than sloppy joe sauce). I went to college in the MN and there was always a debate among the MN/WI/Ia contingency about hotdish vs casseroles and mint chocolate chip vs peppermint bonbon ice cream.
Love maid-rites!