Loose Meat Sandwiches
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Packed with seasonings like brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and apple cider vinegar, these loose meat sandwiches with tender onion pieces are full of flavor and so easy to make for supper. Take them to the next level by serving them on Hawaiian sweet rolls.
Two things I love: economical ground beef recipes and easy weeknight suppers. Well, this easy loose meat sandwich recipe ticks both boxes! Also called a tavern sandwich, it’s a Midwestern specialty that originated at Maid-Rite in Iowa. They’re THE sandwich to try in Iowa (and the most popular item on the Maid-Rite menu), so today we’re making homemade loose meat sandwiches.
When I say this recipe is quick and easy, I mean it. All we have to do is cook the ground beef, onion, and seasonings in a large skillet until the meat is cooked and the sauce has thickened. They’ll be ready to serve in under 30 minutes.
Now, let’s take a moment to talk about the seasonings because they make ground beef so deliciously tasty and full of flavor. They include garlic powder, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, a combination of chicken and beef stock, seasoned salt, and pepper. As the sauce cooks down, all of these different flavors soak into the ground beef for the tastiest loose meat sandwiches ever!
Meat sandwiches are always a hit in my house if you love this one make sure you try Easy Sloppy Joes, Pimento Cheese Sandwich, Steak Sandwiches, Club Sandwich or Italian Beef Sandwiches
A lil’ housekeeping
Before we dive in, a couple of housekeeping notes. Firstly, it’s very important you use lean ground beef as you will regret using regular beef when you realize how greasy it makes these puppies in the end. Secondly, this recipe isn’t complete without a packet of Hawaiian sweet rolls. They’re the absolute perfect vessel for our loose meat sandwiches. Trust me, it is very important that you use Hawaiian sweet rolls for this. If you use a regular hamburger bun, it’s going to fall to pieces and be a big old mess. Plus it won’t have that flavor in the bun that these rolls have.
Keep reading for lots of topping and serving suggestions.
Recipe Ingredients
- Garlic powder
- Brown sugar
- Onion
- Worcestershire sauce
- Soy sauce
- LEAN ground beef
- Apple cider vinegar
- Seasoned salt
- Black pepper
- Chicken and beef bouillon cubes (or a cup of beef or chicken broth instead)
- Hawaiian sweet rolls
Helpful Kitchen Tools
How To Make Loose Meat Sandwiches
I know, my onions are not chopped fine but this is about as far as I get before my brain is ready to move on to the next step. Finely chopped is a relative phrase.
Then add onions and beef to a large skillet.
Pour in water or if you are using chicken broth and beef broth, pour that in here now.
Now start mixing up the ground beef with the water.
You’ll notice that with the added water the ground beef gets really, really fine. That is what we want.
This is how we make hot dog chili and it is perfect for this meat as well. You’re going to end up with very fine granules of tender beef and the water cooks out.
You want to put that over medium-high heat and cook it until the meat is done and there is no more pinkness.
It will get done pretty quickly in this case because all of that water is cooking it at the same time the heat is.
Now add everything else.
Return this to the stovetop and stir it really, really well.
Cook over medium to medium-high heat, stirring often until the liquid cooks down as pictured below. This part may take anywhere from ten to twenty minutes.
Just find something to read and hang out around the stove. Or even better, let your kids do this part while you go put your feet up.
This is our finished loose meat, all ready for sandwiches.
Assemble your loose meat sandwich
Using a slotted spoon, strain out some of the meat and press it into a pile on top of the center of a cut Hawaiian sweet roll.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add the toppings of your choice (lots of options below). I’m opting for mustard…
But they also taste so good with pickles.
Then I say you should serve them with a side of potato chips.
Enjoy!
Storage
- If you happen to not eat all your meat, simply store it in the fridge for up to three days. Then when you would like some, heat it up in the microwave or add it to a skillet with a splash of water. This will warm it up and prevent the meat from burning.
- Go right ahead and freeze any of the ground beef you don’t eat right away. It will freeze for up to three months in the freezer. You can freeze the meat in a freezer bag or airtight container that is freezer-friendly.
Recipe Notes
- I have gotten away from using bouillion cubes to keep salt levels low and substituted them with beef and chicken broth. I find these give the meat even more flavor. But use whatever you feel comfortable with.
- Feel free to use yellow onion, white onion, or even green onion.
Recipe FAQs
What is a loose meat sandwich made of?
A loose meat sandwich or tavern sandwich includes seasoned ground beef sauteed with onions served on a bun and topped with condiments such as dill pickles, ketchup, mustard, and cheese.
What is a loose meat sandwich called?
A loose meat sandwich can be called a variety of names, depending on where in the Midwest you are. This includes the aforementioned tavern sandwich, a Maid-Rite after its birthplace, a Nu-Way, a Steamer, a Big T, or a loose hamburger sandwich.
Does this recipe double?
Grab a larger pan and go right ahead and double, triple, or even quadruple the recipe. This is a great ground beef recipe to serve up for birthday parties, family gatherings, and more.
What do you eat with loose meat sandwiches?
Okay, there are endless ways to serve your loose meat sandwich, so here are just some serving suggestions:
- These loose meat burgers are absolutely sublime when topped with ketchup, mustard, and pickles.
- But use your favorite condiment, whether that’s ketchup, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, or mayonnaise.
- My husband insists that purity is best and has them as they are, nothing added, just on the roll.
- Add your favorite burger toppings: red onion, tomato slices, lettuce, crispy bacon, and American cheese.
- Serve them as a main dish with a side, like mac and cheese, roasted sweet potato wedges, onion rings, or parmesan oven fries.
- Add a side salad. They’d also taste great with my burger slaw or coleslaw on the side.
Can I use ground turkey to replace ground beef?
If you want a leaner loose meat sandwich recipe, opt for ground chicken or turkey. It will of course change the flavor a bit, but it will still be just as delicious as the beef.
What is the difference between a loose meat sandwich and a sloppy joe?
The biggest difference between these two sandwiches is that the latter is known for its tomato-based sauce. Loose meat sandwiches are meat without sauce. But both recipes are just as messy as each other!
This loose meat sandwich recipe is one of those recipes you just have to try.
You may also enjoy these sensational sandwich recipes:
Ingredients
- 3 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 whole onion, finely chopped
- 1.5 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 3 to 4 cups water eliminate this step if you are using broth
- 2 beef bouillon cubes or two cups of broth
- 2 chicken bouillon cubes or two cups of broth
Instructions
- Put beef and onion in a large skillet along with water. Chop up beef really really fine while bringing it to a low boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and chopping often, until no longer pink.3 pounds lean ground beef, 3 to 4 cups water, 1 whole onion, finely chopped
- Add everything else and continue lightly boiling, stirring often, until water is cooked down and the ground beef mixture gets thick.2 tablespoons cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1.5 tsp seasoned salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 beef bouillon cubes, 2 chicken bouillon cubes
- Strain beef out and press small mounds of beef onto cut Hawaiian sweet rolls. Top with your choice of condiments. Mustard is highly recommended.
Notes
Nutrition
Made these tonight for supper. Wonderful – we all loved them and ate waaaaaaaay too many. Everyone is wanting to take leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Christy, I appreciate your simple recipes – love your cookbooks – I just appreciate how simple and down to earth you and your recipes are. I am thankful for how well you explain everything so simple minded people like myself can come home from work and get a good supper on the table and I am sorry for “Ann’s” comments. That was so uncalled for and you didn’t deserve it. I guess she wasn’t blessed to have a mother who taught her that rule of if you cannot say something nice, just don’t say anything at all.
I am so glad that everyone liked the sandwiches!!! Thank you for all of your support and such kind words!!!
Ok, I know I already told you how good we thought these were over in the video post, but now *I* am going to go “on and on” about them. LOL!
I made these again last night – full batch this time – so my hubby could try them. I was a little nervous because he’s kind of picky. He even asked if there were onions in there. I said, yes, but just eat it anyway because you really can’t even tell.
Well, he got three. And he ate them all. Then he went back and got three more. So I knew it was a winner right there. Well, he texted me today and said he had some for lunch and that he really liked them. THEN, I got the highest praise I could think of from him – he said he liked them better than burgers! This man LOVES burgers. Like, he could live on them. LOL!
So, just wanted you to know that these are a real winner and everyone should listen to you when you tell them they need to make them! (and I just noticed the “rate the recipe” stars below – is that new?? 🙂
my mother-in-law use to make something like this and used dry onion soup in hers
yum can’t wait to try. We try to eat lots of vegetables so I would add some zucchini and carrot grated in the meat.
Great idea to sneak some extra vegetable in!!
Hi Christy! We don’t have Accent or seasoned salt here in Australia. Can you or anyone else out there help with some substitutions? Or let me know the ingredients? I can’t wait to try this recipe! Of course, there aren’t any Hawaiian rolls here either, or anything like them. I’m going to have to make them too!. Fortunately I have found a great recipe on another blog called Little Spice Jar. http://www.littlespicejar.com/hawaiian-sweet-rolls/ (I hope it’s ok to plug her site, Christy!) It’s an easy recipe, even for yeast-phobes!! I have been waiting for a reason to make these rolls and this recipe sounds like a great one.
Cheers from Aus!
Hey Laura!! Just add 1/2 teaspoon of salt in place of the Accent and it will be just fine. Accent and Salt are kissing cousins in terms of chemistry makeup. I’ll check out that recipe, thanks so much!!!! It’s always a treat to hear from folks near and far, but as far as you are it is an extra treat! We’ve been studying the animals of Australia in homeschool over the past few weeks 🙂
Gratefully,
Christy
Thanks Christy! Enjoy the Aussie animals-they are a very interesting bunch of critters! From spiders as big as your hand that are not venomous & generally leave humans alone to tiny pretty little blue ring octopi that will kill a human in minutes. And the platypus that looks like it was made from spare parts when God was finished making the animals!! We’ve got the lot here, but I wouldn’t leave this beautiful country for love or money. That’s why it’s called the Lucky Country!!
Cheers from Aus
PS I’m happy to help out with any resources you may need for this study unit. Just shoot me an email. 🙂
Thank you so much Laura!!
To Laura from the Land of Aus:
Here’s what I use for seasoned salt: 2 tablespoons salt, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch. Mix well and store in an old spice bottle.
Love loose meat sandwiches and I’m from NC! Christy’s recipe is wonderful. I served mine with mustard, ketchup and a little dill pickle relish.
Oh I’m sorry! I thought you meant Accent, I must have missed where you asked about seasoned salt. I’m a bad skimmer :[
Thank you so much Jennifer! I just happen to have all those ingredients, so it looks like Loose Meat sandwiches are back on the menu!! 🙂
Cheers from Aus!
Hey Christy
Made these for my family tonight and they LOVED them. Thanks for bringing me another great recipe that is fast and delicious.
Thank you for trying them and I am so glad to hear that you liked them!!!
We had loose meat burgers in our school “lunch room” when I was in elementary school back in the 50’s. They were delicious! I haven’t had one since. Guess it’s time cook some up!
I hope you like them and they bring back some wonderful memories!!!
These are so good. Made them for my daughter and family last weekend as she recovers from knee surgery. We all agree they taste just like the Tastee Inn and Out burgers we get from Sioux City, Iowa. We don’t go back to Iowa much but when we do we drive the hour to Sioux City to get them. Thank you so much for the recipe it’s great!!
Lisa in Fort Worth
In the Mid-West we used to visit a place called the Hasty Tastee. They had something similar. Good but not Maid-Rite, for sure. Had no idea loose meat sandwiches would be such of big hit on here. I will bet Christy makes them now! ha ha The pressure is on!
I am so glad you liked them Lisa!!!! I hope your daughter has a speedy recovery!!!
We are praying she does! They moved into their new house two days before her surgery and she has a three year old! Plus, she’s a teacher and wants to get back to work! Crazy times!! Thanks for the well wishes.