10 Legendary Midwest Sandwiches Worth the Drive

ByJD Alewine Published On Updated on

The Midwest knows how to pile it on; beefy, cheesy, hearty sandwiches that keep you full (and happy) for hours. Here are ten legends worth a road trip.

Loose Meat Sandwich

A Loose Meat Sandwich with toasted bread, ground beef, chopped onions, mustard, mayonnaise, and pickles sits on a wooden board beside a pile of diced raw onions.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

This Iowa staple is ground beef, simply seasoned, and heaped onto a bun. It’s basic in the best way and perfect with pickles and onions. Get the Loose Meat Sandwich recipe

Steamed Burger

A close-up of a steamed burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, melted cheese, and a beef patty on a bun, placed on a wooden surface.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Connecticut may claim it, but the Midwest loves this juicy steamed cheeseburger, blanketed in melty cheese. It’s a burger with a cult following. Get the Steamed Burger recipe

Runza

A white bowl filled with freshly baked golden brown runza bread rolls sits on a white cloth on a dark wooden table.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Nebraska’s classic: a bread pocket stuffed with seasoned beef, cabbage, and onions. It’s hot, filling, and portable; Midwest ingenuity at its finest. Get the Runza recipe

Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

A crispy Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and a sesame seed bun, placed on a wooden board.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Indiana’s breaded pork tenderloin, pounded thin and fried, takes up the whole plate. Served with pickles and onions, it’s a Hoosier rite of passage. Get the Pork Tenderloin Sandwich recipe

Cudighi Sandwich

A toasted Cudighi Sandwich with melted cheese, sautéed green and red bell peppers, and tomato sauce sits on a wooden board. Bowls of tomato sauce and bell peppers are beside the sandwich.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Upper Michigan’s Italian sausage patty, topped with marinara and cheese on a hoagie. This Yooper creation is bold, spicy, and unforgettable. Get the Cudighi Sandwich recipe

Olive Burger

An Olive Burger featuring a juicy beef patty and grapes covered in white sauce is served on a wooden cutting board. A hand rests behind the burger, with extra grapes scattered nearby for a unique twist.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Michigan’s Olive Burger tops a juicy beef patty with a briny green olive mayo. It’s salty, tangy, and uniquely Midwestern. Get the Olive Burger recipe

Jucy Lucy

A person holds a Juicy Lucy Burger cut in half, revealing melted cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomato, and ground beef between two golden buns. The filling is juicy and layered with fresh vegetables.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Minneapolis gets credit for this: a burger with molten cheese sealed inside the patty. It’s oozy, gooey, and worth every minute of the wait. Get the Jucy Lucy recipe

Hot Beef Sandwich

A plate featuring a classic hot beef sandwich: two slices of bread piled with shredded roast beef and brown gravy, served with a scoop of mashed potatoes smothered in rich gravy.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Minnesota’s classic comfort food: roast beef on white bread, smothered in brown gravy. Grab a fork and dig in; it’s stick-to-your-ribs good. Get the Hot Beef Sandwich recipe

Bison Burger

bison burger
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Wyoming’s bison burger is lean, juicy, and stacked with fresh toppings. It’s a meaty Midwestern adventure on a bun. Get the Bison Burger recipe

Turkey Reuben

A close-up of a Turkey Reuben toasted sandwich with melted cheese and sliced turkey on golden brown bread, resting on a wooden surface.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Turkey, sauerkraut, Swiss, and Russian dressing on rye; this lighter spin on the Reuben is every bit as craveable and totally at home in the Midwest. Get the Turkey Reuben recipe

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