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!
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Maid-Rites
Description
Maid-Rites are a popular Midwestern loose meat sandwich, and they're full of savory goodness. This is my version!
Ingredients
- 1lb 85/15 ground beef (could use 80/20 - just not super lean)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 beef bullion 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.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
SO easy, right?! 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!)
T 10.26.2014
1) those who are from Ohio and say there isn’t a Maid-Rite here are WRONG!!! It is located in Greenville and is famous not only for the burgers, but the Gum Wall.
2) Maid-Rites are made with beer
3) It is an insult to ask for condiments on a Maid-Rite
Nicole 08.13.2014
My family is from Iowa but my husband is from NJ and he really does not get the nostalgia and deliciousness of Maid-Rite. He teases me about it, but I do not care, it brings back great memories of my grandparents and sitting on red stools. I also love their malts! I am so excited to try this recipe!
Paul Lorensen 07.12.2014
I grew up in Garwin, Iowa which is maybe 12 miles from Marshalltown which is home to Taylor’s Maid-Rites. I stumbled on this site because I spoke with someone from northwest Iowa who was talking about ‘Tavern sandwiches’ which I had Never heard of. I googled Tavern and Maid-right and so here I am. I now live in Chicago, but when I or my family visit central Iowa a stop at Taylor’s Maid-Rite is ALWAYS Mandatory! And thank God- they still taste as great as 50 years ago. Over the years I’ve eaten at other Maid-Rites in the Midwest, but none measure up to Taylor’s. There’s a quantum difference between Taylor’s and the rest! My father said Taylor’s ‘secret’ was the fact they grind their own beef and always used all of the meat from a steer or cow- including all of the prime cuts-including fillet mignon and the prime rib meat- not just the tougher lower class meat that’s normally ground up for hamburgers. If there are other spices or ingredients with the beef I can’t taste them. They just taste GREAT! Paul
Betty Bruce 01.12.2024
Maid-Rites were a mainstay,born and raised in Iowa, especially, Marshalltown! We ate them on a regular basis and we make that our first stop when visiting family! Have them sent to us several times and never get tired of them! We NEVER PUT CATSUP on them or the huge pork tenderloins! Always onions, pickles and yellow must! I’m making myself hungry!
Kristin 01.13.2024
They are getting few and far between these days – I hope you are able to have a fix the next time you’re in the state!
Glendine 06.22.2014
Oh, those wonderful Maid-Rites! Grew up with them in West Frankfort, Southern Illinois. Still touting them and have fond memories! Every Saturday lunch!!! With mustard!! Thank for the recall!!
Jennifer 06.16.2014
I’m a southeast Iowa native, and L.O.V.E. maid-rites. Will be making these tonight. These days we live in NC, the home of the great bbq rivalry (East vs West), sweet tea, pintos and chow chow.
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Kay Decker 05.08.2014
Thanks for the recipe! My father and I were born in the same small town in Iowa (Fort Madison), but my father moved the family to Maryland back in the 60’s. Whenever we would go back home for summer vacations, one of our must-haves was Maid Rite sandwiches. Just the other day, my father told me that he had been craving a Maid Rite, and wished that the chain was on the East Coast. So I decided to surprise him for Father’s Day with Maid Rite sandwiches. I knew when I saw the “iowagirleats” url that I came to the right place. I can’t wait to try your recipe.
KG 04.24.2014
I first heard of maid-rites when my sister was on a tubing trip in Texas (where we’re from) and her friends made unseasoned loose meat in several crock pots then turned them off and left them warmish all day- she said they were nasty and called them maid-wrongs! Since then I’ve discovered my Ohio friends like maid-rites and because I just cannot grasp why anyone wants to eat a ground beef sandwich, I had to finally try them. Tonight I made your recipe and it was pretty decent. I still kinda don’t get it but I’m sure they are something special when you and your mom make them! Thanks!
Rebecca P 03.03.2014
I live in the town were Maid-Rite was started, the original building is still standing (however in the last 10 years was sold and a new catering company is there) but they are still one of my favorite sandwhiches! When we go visit relatives out of state they always request we bring Maid-Rites and Happy Joe’s Pizza (also from the same area) I will be making these this week :)
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Joyce sanders 02.04.2014
Grew up in Jackson,Mi, we had a Pats Hamburger Stand, they had a sandwich that was just as you described the Maid Rite, miss them sooo much. We also had Wimpy Burgers which were to die for
mag 01.02.2014
THE maid-rite is from Taylor’s in Marshalltown, Iowa.
My Dad worked there in the 50’s….
Our family has the recipe…I can guarantee you that there is no soy sauce or steak sauce….hello! Those sauces are sins in Iowa ;)
Jennifer 12.04.2013
Hi! I just wanted to make a suggestion…To make a maid-rite a maid-rite you MUST wrap your sandwich in wax paper for a minute or two. It’s not a maid-rite if the bun isn’t slightly soggy. ALSO, you need to use a fattier beef to get the “real” thing. My Great-Grandpa was Fred Angell (the inventor of Maid-Rites) so I’m somewhat of an expert on Maid-Rites. Also, my Great-Grandpa is rolling over in his grave!! YOU NEVER PUT KETCHUP ON A MAID-RITE! It’s only supposed to be served with mustard, a little onion, and two dill pickles. When my Great-Grandma sold the franchise they decided to make all kinds of different variations. Your recipe is a good mock-recipe, btw. Not the real thing but it’s close and should work for the people who don’t live in IA/IL. Thanks for supporting Maid-Rites and I’m happy you all like them! I really like your blog and I can’t wait to try some of your recipes! :D
Audra 10.16.2013
In your post “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year from November 2011 you mention your mom put the maid-rites in the crock pot. I want to make them for my WI co-workers (as they have not heard of them), but I can’t just make them fresh as I will be at work. Do you just make them as the recipe states above and then put them in the crock on warm or is there another trick if making them in the crockpot that you know of to make sure they stay moist?
Thanks!
Iowa Girl Eats 10.19.2013
You got it – she just put the cooked loose meat in the crock pot set on warm or low. Might want to add a splash of beef broth and worcestershire to make sure they don’t dry out.
Misty 06.23.2013
Thanks for the great recipe! My husband was super-impressed! :)
Ashley Hinton 06.10.2013
There are a variety of things that I’ve learned are “Iowan” since moving to Detroit, MI. Here are the top ones!
*You know you’re from Iowa when:
a) your dairy products of choice are Anderson Erickson. (No good chip dips ANYWHERE out here!!!)
b) you assume every state has a State Fair.
c) the local favorite pizza is from a gas station called Casey’s.
d) you have supper at night instead of dinner. (this might apply to rural communities only)
Nicole 08.13.2014
My grandma always confused me with the dinner = lunch and supper = 6pm meal. I think though that the pizza I miss the most is Happy Joes which used to be big in Iowa & MN when I was growing up. Also, Hi-Vee’s grocery store Cottage Cheese is the best in the world.
Sheri 04.12.2013
We have a maid-rite in Ohio. Love them!! The only thing I don’t like is that they only accept cash. I didn’t know there was a maid-rite anywhere other then Ohio. Does yours also have a gum wall??
Sheri 04.12.2013
We have a maid-rite in Ohio. Love them!! The only thing I don’t like is that they only accept cash.
Mary 04.02.2013
I saved this recipe in ziplist long before you had a ziplist button and finally tried it tonight. I’m a born and raised San Francisco Bay Area girl so had never heard of them but I was intrigued. I am IN LOVE!! Seriously!! So good!!
I can’t wait for lunch tomorrow!! LOL