How to store leftovers?

If you happen to not eat all your meat, simply store in the fridge for up to three days. Then when you would like some, heat it up in the microwave or add to a skillet with a splash of water. This will warm it up and prevent meat from burning.

Can you freeze cooked ground beef?

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.

Loose Meat Sandwiches - Southern Plate

Name: Loose Meat Sandwiches
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
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)

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.

Loose meat sandwiches on the perfect dinner 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, they’re 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 the 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!

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 realise 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 chicken broth and beef broth instead)
Hawaiian sweet rolls

How To Make Loose Meat Sandwiches

Chop up your onions kind of fine.

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.

Add onions and beef to a large skillet. Pour in water or if you are using the 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 quick 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.

Place loose meat on a Hawaiian sweet roll.

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.

2 open loose meat sandwiches with mustard.

Add the toppings of your choice (lots of options below) and 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

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.

How do you serve 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, 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 turkey or even chicken. 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 a loose meat sandwich and a sloppy joe 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

Easy Sloppy Joes

Pimento Cheese Sandwich

Steak Sandwiches

Club Sandwich

Italian Beef Sandwiches