13 Comments / By Patrick Jensen / September 21, 2019
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Last Saturday was an important day for my family as it featured the yearly matchup between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones football teams. And as usual, we spent the entire day focused on two very important things. Cheering on our beloved Hawkeyes, and feasting on one of Iowa’s favorite regional dishes, the maid-rite sandwich.
If you’ve never been to Iowa then chances are you’ve never heard of the maid-rite sandwich. However, just mention the term “maid-rite” to anyone from the Hawkeye state and you will quickly find out just how special this simple sandwich is to them.
But what exactly is a made-rite sandwich?
Well, some would describe it as a hamburger where the beef is loose instead of formed into a patty. While others might describe it as a sloppy joe without the “sloppy” sauce. In truth, neither of those explanations accurately describes what the maid-rite sandwich really is. All I can say is that it’s a delicious sandwich that can’t be explained, it can only be experienced.
So if you’re ready to experience the simplistic beauty of the maid-rite sandwich then let’s get on with the recipe.
Tips, Tricks, & Suggestions
- Fat is flavor: I highly recommend that you use fattier ground beef like 80%-20% or 85%-15% as it will result in more flavorful and moist meat.
- Make it ahead: You can easily make the meat filling for these sandwiches a day or two ahead of time. The meat should last at least 4 days in an air-tight container and stored in the fridge. Then all you have to do is warm up the meat in a crockpot (on low) or nuke it in a microwave (for a couple of minutes) until nice and warm.
- Serving suggestions: I enjoy serving these maid-rite sandwiches with our baked french fries.
Maid-Rite Sandwich Recipe
Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
For the maid-rite meat:
1 LB of ground beef
1 Lipton onion soup mix packet, ground
1 Tablespoon of Worchester sauce
1 Teaspoon of yellow mustard
Black pepper to taste
For the sandwich:
Mustard
Diced white onion
Dill pickle slices
Hamburger buns
Instructions
- Get the beef ready for cooking: Get out a large walled pan/skillet and add the ground beef, Lipton’s onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.
Then add roughly 3 cups of water to the pan/skillet and use a wooden spoon to mix everything together. make sure to stir well so that the ground beef breaks down into fine crumbs and has the consistency of uncooked hot dog chili sauce.
Then add roughly 3 cups of water to the pan/skillet and use a wooden spoon to mix everything together. make sure to stir well so that the ground beef breaks down into fine crumbs and has the consistency of uncooked hot 
- Cook the beef: Place this over high heat and let the mixture come to a rolling boil. At this point, you will want to let the mixture boil for roughly 15 to 20 minutes making sure to stir every couple of minutes. Once most of the liquid has evaporated turn down the heat to medium and continue to let it cook making sure to stir every 30 seconds or so. Keep doing this for another 5 to 10 minutes or until all of the liquid has evaporated and there is barely any steam coming off the meat. Finally taste the mixture and add black pepper to your liking.
At this point, you will want to let the mixture boil for roughly 15 to 20 minutes making sure to stir every couple of minutes. Once most of the liquid has evaporated turn down the heat to medium and continue to let it cook making sure to stir every 30 seconds or so.
Keep doing this for another 5 to 10 minutes or until all of the liquid has evaporated and there is barely any steam coming off the meat. 
- Assemble the maid rite sandwiches by first placing the bottom half of a burger bun on a plate. Then use a spoon to scoop out some of the maid rite meat and place it down on the burger bun. Make sure to use the spoon to press the meat down onto the bun, or else it can get messy. Finally, top the meat with some diced onion, pickles, and mustard, as is tradition.
Make sure to use the spoon to press the meat down onto the bun, or else it can get messy. Finally, top the meat with some diced onion, pickles, and mustard, as is tradition.- Enjoy!
Print Recipe
4.86 from 7 votes
Maid-Rite Sandwich Recipe
Prep Time2 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Servings: 6
Equipment
crockpot
Ingredients
For the maid-rite meat:
- 1 LB of Ground beef
- Liptons onion soup mix packet ground
- 1 Tablespoon Worchester sauce
- 1 Teaspoon mustard
- Black pepper to taste
For the sandwich:
- Mustard
- Diced white onion
- Dill pickle slices
- Hamburger buns
Instructions
Get the beef ready for cooking:Get out a large walled pan/skillet and add the ground beef, Lipton’s onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Then add roughly 3 cups of water to the pan/skillet and use a wooden spoon to mix everything together. make sure to stir well so that the ground beef breaks down into fine crumbs and has the consistency of uncooked hot dog chili sauce.
Cook the beef:Place this over high heat and let the mixture come to a rolling boil. At this point, you will want to let the mixture boil for roughly 15 to 20 minutes making sure to stir every couple of minutes. Once most of the liquid has evaporated turn down the heat to medium and continue to let it cook making sure to stir every 30 seconds or so. Keep doing this for another 5 to 10 minutes or until all of the liquid has evaporated and there is barely any steam coming off the meat. Finally taste the mixture and add black pepper to your liking.
Assemble the maid rite sandwiches by first placing the bottom half of a burger bun on a plate. Then use a spoon to scoop out some of the maid rite meat and place it down on the burger bun. Make sure to use the spoon to press the meat down onto the bun, or else it can get messy. Finally, top the meat with some diced onion, pickles, and mustard, as is tradition.
Enjoy!
Inspiration from other blogs
From Cooking With Carlee
From Iowa Girl Eats
