Loose Meat Sandwiches

These Loose Meat Sandwiches are a staple in our house! Such an easy and fun twist on burgers inspired by the Maid Rite recipe! The beef gets cooked in a savory sauce so that it has tons of flavor, perfect for a weeknight, and totally kid-approved.

Call ’em what you want, either way they’re delicious.

The Midwest’s Best Kept Secret

I’m sorry. Loose meat sandwiches? I hate that name. We actually call these sandwiches Maid Rite Burgers after a Midwestern burger joint that makes these.

But, apparently, the more common name is Loose Meat Sandwich. <— K. You do you.

Just, whatever it is you call them, please promise you’ll give these a try. They sound so simple – probably because they are.

You look at the ingredient list and you think *boring.* But no.

The beef gets really tender and savory thanks to the cooking method and the family goes absolutely bonkers for these sandwiches.

Plus, the kids love manhandling these!

Think a sloppy joe, but without the sauce. (Speaking of which, our homemade sloppy joe sauce is phenomenal.)

I grew up eating these Maid Rite sandwiches and I’m raising my kids on them too!

Ingredient Notes:

Ground Beef – For burgers, we usually go for 80/20 beef. A leaner beef will work as well.

Hamburger Buns – Butter ’em and pop them in a hot skillet to toast. It makes all the difference!

Worcestershire Sauce – This is a key ingredient that adds a lot of savory depth to the beef.

Spices – We’re keeping it simple with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Have faith. These are simple but still flavorful.

Beef Broth – The beef simmers in the broth which adds savory flavor and helps make the beef super tender.

Toppings – We usually stick with dill pickles and mustard, but any burger toppings would work here. You do you!

How To Make Maid Rite Burgers (aka loose meat sandwiches):

Brown the beef in a skillet, breaking it up as it cooks. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and seasonings.

Add the broth to the beef and bring it to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 30 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated.

Taste the beef and season with additional salt, if needed. Spoon it onto your buns and build your maid rite burgers!

Tip: It’s worth the extra effort to butter and grill the hamburger buns on a griddle or skillet first before serving!

Recommended Topping:

To be perfectly honest, we like them just the way they come at Maid Rite and that means dill pickles and mustard only!

Of course, there are plenty of options though:

• Cheese – Any variety you like works, but we’re partial to American on a burger.
• Ketchup and Mayo
• Pickled Jalapenos
• Fried Egg
• Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and/or Avocado
• Smash Burger Sauce

More Burger Recipes:

• Turkey Burgers
• Buffalo Chicken Burgers
• Double Double Animal Style Burger
• Cheeseburger Soup