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?
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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!)
As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one real Maid-Rite, the one in Quincy, IL—the one that was featured in Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt. It’s been around for over 70 years. My husband’s grandparents went there on dates as teenagers. A visit to Quincy simply isn’t complete without at least one stop for Maid-Rites. And a chef salad, with oil and vinegar dressing—it’s sweet, and loaded with little bits of onion, and I haven’t been able to duplicate it on my own. And a slice of homemade pie.
Unfortunately, we don’t get to Quincy much since my grandparents-in-law have moved into a nursing home near my MIL. But last year, a cousin who is still in Quincy brought a sackful to a family gathering, and we all pounced on them.
My hubby is from Iowa and told me about them – last time we were back in Iowa visiting, he insisted I try the pork tenderloin sandwich, though!
I have major issues trying to get my sweet potato fries crispy! Thanks for the tip – I’ll definitely have to try this.
You know you’re from Nebraska when you throw a fit if a restaurant doesn’t offer Dorothy Lynch dressing.
(I don’t do that!)
You know you’re from the SOUTH when you say y’all when refering to more than 1 person (and spell it correctly,)and drink coke (not pop or soda… what are those?) I was born in Kansas City, MO but was raised in the south. Never heard of maid-rites but love me some Chick-fil-a! Maybe that is the south’s version of fast food!
I worked at a Maid-Rite in high school. Yum.
I’m from Indiana and have never heard of Maid Rites. We consider ourselves to be midwest but I’m not so sure… maybe eastern midwest? Huh. Anyways, you know you’re from Indiana if you know the ‘song’ “there’s more than corn in Indiana…” :) I’m sure there are other things too though, but I’m back in Indiana now after 4 years at school and 2 years of working in Ohio so maybe I’m still adapting! :)
you know you’re from philly when you know what a tastycake and wawa are
philly is known for cheesesteaks (obv), tastycakes (google it. now), soft pretzels, and apparently also for rude/ugly people… :(
Funny story about Tastycakes. I worked at a large insurance company in Des Moines and the director of my dept was from PA. He always talked about Tastycakes with one of the managers who said Tastycakes will never be better than Hostess. So one day, I get an invite to a “focus group” meeting with several other co-workers. The so called “focus group” was a taste test to compare Tastycakes with Hostess. The group as a whole decided Hostess was better but we all loved the chocolate covered cookies with peanut butter slathered on them. I’m not sure what they are called.
I am an Iowa girl and grew up in northwest Iowa were they have loose meat sandwiches called taverns. I am sure that if you haven’t heard of a maid-rite you have probably never heard of a tavern. (I know kinda weird that a sandwich has the same name as a bar:))
In LeMars, IA the place to check out is Bob’s Diner (and of course Wells Blue Bunny Ice cream). Bob’s have the best taverns!
My mother also made these throughout my childhood and still today, they are so delicious!
You know you’re from New York – well – yeah – you probably already know….ohhh – you reminded me – have to drive to the city and get those roasted chestnuts from street vendors – and pretzels, and hot do/gs….yum (because yes – the whole state is not “the city”)
You know you’re from the South when they ask you if you want Sweetened of Unsweetened Iced Tea! Otherwise, it’s just plain Iced Tea.
We have so many staples down here, but I’d say shrimp and grits are a great local fare that is delicious!
You know you’re from Florida when you can wear shorts on Christmas Day!
Dinner looked so good! I think I may need to try those next week :)
You know you’re from Southern California when you don a winter coat, gloves, and a hat when the temperature dips below 60 F…yet, you still wear flip flops :)
I live in Iowa and wear flip flops when there is snow on the ground and temps are in single digits…no joke!