Depending on where you are in the Midwest, the sandwich can be called a Nu-Way, Steamer, Big T, loose hamburger sandwich, tavern sandwich, or just a Maid Rite. Since the 1920s, it has been made with sautéed (sometimes steamed) ground beef and onions, served on a bun and dressed up with ketchup, mustard, and pickles.
The most popular item on the Maid-Rite menu, these Loose Meat Sandwiches taste as good as the Iowa-famous diner classic. This easy ground beef recipe cooks in just 10 minutes! Not quite as sloppy as a sloppy Joe, but still firmly in the category of “messy,” a Loose Meat Sandwich is the ultimate, all-American road food feast.
How to Make the Traditional Maid Rite recipe? In a large skillet, brown ground beef and onion over medium-high heat – chopping vigorously until the pieces are tiny Add bouillon, warm water, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire and soy sauce and bring to a boil
The Maid-Rite sandwich – aka Loose Meat Sandwich – doesn’t have a sauce. You have the liquid and seasonings but those liquids cook off and the meat is “dry” whereas Sloppy Joes have a thick tomato sauce. My ex-husband referred to the Maid Rite as the “fall-apart burger” – which was a pretty appropriate name.