sloppy Joe
The Iconic Iowa Sandwich That Puts A Spin On The Sloppy Joe

NEWS

RAVEN BRUNNER
Iowa makes its own iconic version of the Sloppy Joe, a tangy sandwich made with ground beef, a sweet tomato-based sauce, onions, green bell peppers, and garlic.
The Maid-Rite, also referred to as a loose meat sandwich, was invented by Fred Angell of Muscatine, Iowa, in 1926 and has been a state tradition ever since.
Featuring most of the components of a Sloppy Joe, the Maid-Rite forfeits the sauce, so it resembles the taste and feel of a cheeseburger but has loose meat and not a patty.
The dish is made of crumbled ground beef that is scooped on a bun with American cheese and other toppings like ketchup, mustard, pickles, onions, lettuce, bacon, and tomato.
Angell went on to found the Maid-Rite restaurant chain, which serves the Maid-Rite sandwich and now has 16 locations across Iowa.