By Becky Hardin
Updated Jan 7, 2025
Try my copycat Maid Rite sandwiches, a tasty comfort food from Midwestern made with the mix of ground beef and pork. These sandwiches are a true family favorites specially with my kids that I can whip up quickly and can plan ahead as well. Maid-rite sandwiches are filling, hearty and loaded with flavors.
You may think of these similar to sloppy joes with juicy tomato sauce, but in maid rite sandwich, meat stays juicy due to beef broth.
Maid rite sandwiches are also called as Nu-Way, Steamer, Big T, loose hamburger sandwich and tavern sandwich based on where you are referring in Midwest. Basically, they are named after a restaurant chain in Iowa which first introduced them in 1920s.
Difference between maid rite and sloppy Joe sandwiches
Are these sandwiches similar to sloppy joes? Well, I would say look can be deceiving. At first glance, both maid rite and sloppy joes look alike, but one bite is all it takes to know the difference.
Maid-rites are made with seasoned ground beef, served crumbly without any sauce, they are more about enjoying pure beef flavors. In contrast, sloppy joes are a combination of ground beef and a sloppy sauce made with tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar. This sauce helps to make the meat juicy and stick together. In sloppy joes flavors are tangy, a bit sweet and spicy.
Personally I think both sandwiches make a hearty, comforting family dinner recipe. Whether you are looking for pure beefiness of maid-rites or saucier sloppy joes depending on your mood, I am sure you won’t go wrong with any of them.
Ingredients for Copycat Maid Rite Sandwiches
- Ground Beef: I prefer to use lean beef for my most of recipes, but feel free to use 90/10, 80/20, or any other kind of beef. Lean beef basically contains less saturated fat. For a healthier option, I recommend using ground chicken or turkey, they’ll still be delicious and protein packed.
- Ground Pork: Any boneless pork will work for the recipe.
- Yellow onion: In my recipe I like to use yellow onion. Either chop them finely or use larger pieces, both works just fine. Feel free to use any onions available at your convenience.
- Beef bouillon cubes: I am using beef bouillon cubes dissolved in hot water instead of beef broth. Its handy, budget-friendly and easily available. You can also use beef broth, just replace it with the same quantity of hot water.
- Soy sauce: Soy sauce gives the umami flavor when ground meat is cooked with minimal seasoning. I prefer to use low sodium soy sauce to reduce the saltiness but if not available, any soy sauce would work. Worchestire sauce can be used as a replacement of soy sauce.
- Steak sauce: This sauce adds a tangy and savory twist to the maid-rite recipe, blends very well with ground meat.
- Red wine vinegar: It adds a sharp, tangy flavor that complements the meat flavor profile.
Tips For Success
- Once the meats are browned, be sure to drain most of the fat off, otherwise your sandwiches will be very greasy and watery while serving.
- Be mindful when having toppings like pickles or mustard, as they can make overall flavor too salty. I would suggest not to use salt in the ground meat while cooking and add it at the last step.
- My favourite toppings for maid-rites are pickles, chopped onion, mustard and cheese slices. The tanginess of toppings works great with cooked meat. Having said that mayonnaise, ketchup, red onions, BBQ sauce, sour cream, and tomato slices also works well.
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerate: Store any leftover cooked meat in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If required I just go ahead and freeze it for up to 3 months. All you need a saucepan to warm it up or microwave it.
Freeze: When I am planning ahead, I prepare the ground meat mixture 3-4 days in advance, transfer them in freezer friendly bags and freeze. You can easily freeze the mixture for upto 3 months.
Reheat: Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before use and reheat on the stove or in microwave.
Serving Suggestions
The best part of making a maid-rites sandwich is that they are great to serve with your usual favorite burger and sandwich sides. My favourite recommendations are to try Baked Sweet Potato Fries or Shoestring Fries for that little crunch. Or pair it with a dollop of creamy Potato Salad . Yum!
My copycat maid-rite sandwich recipe is a great addition to any game day menu!
5-Star Review
“I made this last night and it was the moistest chicken we’ve ever had. A bit of crispy and the flavor was wonderful. I didn’t have buttermilk and did add lemon juice to 1% milk. I am making it again today. Thank you for this recipe.” – Dawn
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound ground chuck
- ▢ 1 pound ground pork
- ▢ ½ yellow onion diced
- ▢ 2 beef bouillon cubes
- ▢ ½ cup hot water
- ▢ 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon steak sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ▢ 1½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ Buns, American cheese slices, diced white onions, pickles, and mustard for topping
Video
Instructions
- To a large skillet set over medium high heat, add the chuck, pork, and onion. Break the meats and cook. 1 pound ground chuck, 1 pound ground pork, ½ yellow onion
- Brown the meats and sauté the onion.
- While the meat cooks, dissolve the beef bouillon cubes in the hot water. 2 beef bouillon cubes, ½ cup hot water
- Drain all except 1-2 tablespoons rendered fat from the pan.
- Add the bouillon and remaining ingredients to the browned meat. 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon steak sauce, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Simmer for 30 minutes. If the mixture becomes too dry, add a couple tablespoons of water.
- Scoop the meat onto burger buns, add any toppings, and enjoy. (For cheesy burgers, cover about ⅛ of the meat mixture with one slice of cheese and let it melt before scooping and serving.) Buns, American cheese slices, diced white onions, pickles, and mustard
Becky’s Tips
- Make Ahead: If making the filling ahead of time, let it cool full before storing.
- Browned Meat: To avoid greasy sandwiches, drain most of the fat off of the browned meats.
- Other Meats: For a healthier option, try making these sandwiches with ground chicken or turkey – they’ll still be delicious!
- Adjust Salt to Taste: Add salt at the last step of the recipe to ensure the perfect level of salt to taste.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Copycat Maid Rite Sandwiches Step by Step
Brown The Meat : Add 1 pound ground chuck and 1 pound ground beef along with diced 1/2 yellow onion on a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Break up the meat and cook until browned and onions are soften. At this step you won’t see any pink color left in the meat.
Dissolve Bouillon Cubes: While I am cooking ground meat, take a small glass bowl and dissolve the 2 bouillon cubes with 1/2 cup of water. By the time meat is getting cooked you have the bouillon ready to add in next.
Drain Excess Fat: Once browned, drain the excess fat from the pan. Leave 1-2 tablespoon of fat for further cooking.
Combine All Ingredients: After draining excess fat add bouillon (ready from above step) , 1 tablespoon soy sauce,1 tablespoon steak sauce,1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and stir to combine them well.
Simmer: Once all ingredients are combined let the mixture simmer for 30 min. Turned the heat on low and stir occasionally. If you find mixture becoming too dry, add 1-2 tablespoon water and stir.
Serve: Are you ready to dive in the best maid rite sandwiches? Grab your softest bun, scoop the meat onto it, add toppings like American cheese slice, diced onion, pickles and mustard and chomp!!
More Sandwich recipes to try
Chopped Italian Sandwich
Cheeseburger Sliders (Baked Sliders Recipe)
Italian Sub
Cuban Sandwich
Giant Party Sub (Made with a Bundt pan)
Hot Beef Sandwich
Chicken Tortas
Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich
Copycat Maid Rite Sandwiches Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chuck
- 1 pound ground pork
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 2 beef bouillon cubes
- ½ cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon steak sauce
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Buns, American cheese slices, diced white onions, pickles, and mustard for topping
Instructions
- To a large skillet set over medium high heat, add the chuck, pork, and onion. Break the meats and cook. 1 pound ground chuck, 1 pound ground pork, ½ yellow onion
- Brown the meats and sauté the onion.
- While the meat cooks, dissolve the beef bouillon cubes in the hot water. 2 beef bouillon cubes, ½ cup hot water
- Drain all except 1-2 tablespoons rendered fat from the pan.
- Add the bouillon and remaining ingredients to the browned meat. 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon steak sauce, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Simmer for 30 minutes. If the mixture becomes too dry, add a couple tablespoons of water.
- Scoop the meat onto burger buns, add any toppings, and enjoy. (For cheesy burgers, cover about ⅛ of the meat mixture with one slice of cheese and let it melt before scooping and serving.) Buns, American cheese slices, diced white onions, pickles, and mustard
Video
Notes
- Make Ahead: If making the filling ahead of time, let it cool full before storing.
- Browned Meat: To avoid greasy sandwiches, drain most of the fat off of the browned meats.
- Other Meats: For a healthier option, try making these sandwiches with ground chicken or turkey - they’ll still be delicious!
- Adjust Salt to Taste: Add salt at the last step of the recipe to ensure the perfect level of salt to taste.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
