11 Midwest Sandwiches That Stick To Your Ribs
The Midwest doesn’t do small sandwiches. These are the kind that fill you up, warm you through, and make you wonder how anyone could stop at just one. Here are eleven Midwest legends that prove comfort food is a full-contact sport.
Loose Meat Sandwich
Simple, saucy, and served hot, this Iowa staple is comfort in its purest form. Ground beef, onions, and a buttered bun; no frills, no extras, just good Midwest honesty.
Runza
Nebraska’s beef-and-cabbage-filled bread pocket is the definition of sturdy comfort. It’s handheld warmth for long winters and proof that practicality can be delicious.
Olive Burger
Michigan’s creamy olive topping takes a regular burger and turns it into something unforgettable. It’s rich, tangy, and proudly Midwestern in its bold simplicity.
Hot Beef Sandwich
Served open-faced and drowning in gravy, South Dakota’s Hot Beef Sandwich is pure stick-to-your-ribs comfort. This isn’t fast food; it’s full-stop, fork-required food.
Horseshoe Sandwich
Springfield, Illinois gave us this mountain of fries, Texas toast, meat, and cheese sauce. It’s less of a sandwich and more of an edible challenge that nobody’s trying to win fast.
Jucy Lucy
Minneapolis knew exactly what it was doing when it stuffed cheese inside a burger. The molten core turns every bite into a reward for patience; Midwest engineering at its best.
Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
Indiana’s crispy cutlet sandwich is huge, crunchy, and unapologetically over-the-top. It spills over the bun like it’s daring you to pick it up. That’s the point.
Detroit Coney Dog
Chili, mustard, and onions; Detroit’s Coney Dog is a study in balance. It’s meaty enough to fill you up but simple enough to eat two. That’s not bragging, that’s experience talking.
Cudighi Sandwich
Up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this spicy sausage sandwich packs bold flavor and local pride. It’s Italian-inspired, Midwest-made, and hearty enough to skip dinner afterward.
Patty Melt
Equal parts burger and grilled cheese, the patty melt is diner royalty. It’s buttery, oniony, and built for coffee-counter chatter and slow afternoons.
Italian Beef Sandwich
Soaked in jus and loaded with giardiniera, Chicago’s Italian Beef is a messy love letter to Midwest ambition. It’s proof that a sandwich can be both comforting and chaotic in the best way.