12 Iconic Midwest Sandwiches You Absolutely Need to Try

ByJD Alewine Published On Updated on

The Midwest is where comfort food rules, and the sandwiches here are as bold and unique as the folks who make them. Check out these legendary picks for a taste of heartland tradition and a few wild surprises along the way.

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

Soft, golden bread wrapped around a hot pocket of seasoned beef, onions, and cabbage. Nebraska’s proud answer to the hand pie will keep you coming back. Where: Nebraska. GET THE RECIPE

Fried 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

Pounded thin, breaded, and fried until golden, then sandwiched in a bun so small the meat hangs over the edges. Indiana makes this the king of crispy bites. Where: Indiana. GET THE 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

Thick slices of roast beef on soft bread, drowned in brown gravy and paired with mashed potatoes. Midwestern comfort doesn’t get more classic. Where: Minnesota. GET THE RECIPE

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

Ground beef, simply seasoned and piled onto a soft bun. It’s messy, juicy, and pure Iowa nostalgia in every bite. Where: Iowa. GET THE 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

A Michigan classic loaded with briny olive mayo and sharp cheddar. It’s bold, punchy, and unforgettable. Where: Michigan. GET THE RECIPE

Italian Beef Sandwich

A hand holds an Italian Beef Sandwich filled with sliced beef, mozzarella cheese, pickled carrots, red peppers, and yellow pepper rings on a sub roll.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Thin-sliced beef simmered in garlicky juices, piled onto a roll and drenched with hot giardiniera. Pure Chicago magic. Where: Chicago, Illinois. GET THE 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

Cheese stuffed inside a burger patty, not on top. Bite in and watch the molten cheddar pour out. A Minneapolis classic. Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota. GET THE RECIPE

Pepperoni Rolls

pepperoni rolls out of the oven
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Soft, doughy rolls stuffed with pepperoni and baked until golden. These are lunchbox legends across West Virginia and parts of the Midwest. Where: West Virginia. GET THE RECIPE

Beef on Weck

A beef on weck from the side, so you can see the entire sandwich.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Slow-roasted beef, caraway-seeded kummelweck roll, and a smear of horseradish. Buffalo’s proudest, juiciest invention. Where: Buffalo, New York. GET THE RECIPE

Fried Bologna Sandwich

A Primanti Brothers Sandwich on thick white bread is filled with tomato slices, coleslaw, French fries, melted cheese, and grilled meat, all stacked high on a wooden cutting board.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Thick-cut bologna, pan-fried and loaded onto white bread with American cheese. A blue-collar favorite from the Southern Midwest. Where: Southern United States. GET THE RECIPE

Patty Melt

Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Beef patty, onions, and melty cheese, grilled between slices of buttery rye. Simple, timeless, always hits the spot. Where: United States. GET THE RECIPE

Primanti Brothers Sandwich

Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Thick Italian bread, grilled meat, provolone, vinegar slaw, and a fistful of fries—stacked high and served Pittsburgh-style. Where: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. GET THE RECIPE

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *