Maid Rite Recipe
Maid Rite Sandwiches are a classic Midwestern delicacy that are made with ground beef, onion, and seasonings. This loose hamburger meat sandwich is topped with dill pickles and served on a white buns - so simple but so tasty!
If you're from the Midwest, particularly Iowa and Illinois, you're likely familiar with the Maid-Rite restaurant. This chain of restaurants is almost 100 years old and specializes in loose meat sandwiches. I grew up going to Maid Rite, so this sandwich is super nostalgic for me. Since we don't live near one anymore, I decided it was time to make my own.
Maid Rites are made with lean ground beef and are like burgers but the meat is loose. The ground beef is seasoned with spices and served on white buns with pickles. They are so simple but so delicious! They are not sloppy joe's, but they're similar! If you're looking for a sloppy Joe recipe, check out my Turkey Sloppy Joes and Chicken Parmesan Sloppy Joes.
Luckily these sandwiches were a huge hit with the family, so we will for sure be making them again and again! They were great served with fries, and our favorite are Greek Fries or Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy - this recipe is super simple to make and doesn't require any special tools or equipment.
- Fast - in addition to being a breeze to make, it cooks in about 20 minutes! Check out my Chili Tater Tot Casserole for another easy dinner!
- Crowd Pleaser - this is a recipe that everyone will love.
- Easy to Double - or triple! You can definitely make this for a larger group by doubling or tripling the recipe!
Ingredients
Ground Beef - I typically use 90/10 or 85/15 ground beef for this recipe. I wouldn't use anything leaner than 90/10 as the recipe definitely benefits from the fat.
Onion - you can use a white onion or a yellow onion. Both work!
Beef Broth - savory beef broth adds some flavor to the Maid Rite.
Worcestershire Sauce - this sauce really perks up the flavors in the Maid Rite filling!
Yellow Mustard - just a teaspoon is all the loose meat filling needs for a little vinegar-y flavor.
Buns - not pictured, but obviously you need some buns to make these Maid Rite Sandwiches!
Pickles and Ketchup - two other toppings that are recommended for a classic Maid Rite!
Please refer to recipe card for complete list of ingredients.
Variations
- If you don't have beef broth, you can use water with beef bouillon instead.
- Soy sauce instead of Worcestershire. It will add a similar savory flavor.
- If you want to make this ahead of time, you can keep it warm in a crock pot. Simply add a little extra beef broth to make sure it doesn't dry out.
- Top with cheese, if you like. I like topping it with American cheese or or cheddar cheese and broiling the cheese for a minute to get it to melt.
- Brown sugar can be used instead of white sugar, if that is what you have on hand.
Step by Step Instructions
Photo 1. Add ground beef and onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Photo 2. Cook until the beef is browned, breaking it up into smaller chunks as you cook it. I love using a meat chopper for this.
Photo 3. Add the beef broth, Worcestershire, mustard, and sugar to the meat mixture, and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Photo 4. Simmer until the liquids have mostly evaporated. Serve on hamburger buns topped with dill pickle slices, mustard, and ketchup. We like to serve it with French fries or tater tots, potato salad, and roasted vegetables.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Recipe FAQs
Maid Rites are loose meat sandwiches made of ground beef and seasonings. It is based off a popular fast food restaurant in Iowa and the Midwest, called Maid Rite.
It is a loose meat sandwich like sloppy joes, however there is no sauce that binds the meat together. It is simply seasoned with Worcestershire, beef broth, mustard, and sugar.
Absolutely. Simply prepare the maid rite sandwich filling according to instructions, let cool, and then portion into freezer bags. This would be a great recipe to double or triple and freeze leftovers for later. To reheat, you can heat on defrost mode on your microwave or let thaw completely in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop or microwave. Add a little extra water or beef broth if it seems too dry.
Other Easy Dinner Recipes to Consider
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
Maid Rite Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef I use 90/10
- 1 small onion diced (can use white or yellow)
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- sliced pickles
- 4 white buns
- additional mustard and ketchup for topping
Instructions
- Heat skillet over medium heat.
- Add the ground beef and onion, breaking up the beef into small pieces as it cooks. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is softened.
- Add the broth, Worcestershire, mustard, and sugar, and stir to combine.
- Cook another 3-5 minutes, until the broth has mostly evaporated.
- Serve on buns topped with pickle slices, ketchup, and mustard.
Notes
- These are best with 90/10 ground beef or higher fat content. Don't use anything leaner than 90/10 or you won't get the same results.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
I made this tonight and it was a huge hit at our house! The kids loved it, and it brought back all the nostalgia for my husband and I...plus, it was super easy to make!
So happy to hear, Ashley! <3