Manna Sandwiches – easy ground beef sandwiches with comeback sauce and swiss cheese. Hands-down the BEST sandwich we've eaten. Ground beef, onion, soy sauce, parsley, basil, and garlic. The sauce puts these sandwiches over the top – mayonnaise, Catalina dressing, ketchup, spicy brown mustard, and sugar. Served on hoagie buns with melted cheese. YUM!

manna sandwiches

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Best Loose Meat Sandwiches

I came across this recipe via a Facebook friend. She posted a link to the recipe and said these Manna Sandwiches were the BEST sandwich ever. BEST ever? How could I not check them out with an endorsement like that?!?! I looked over the recipe and it sounded really good.

What is a Manna Sandwich? A Manna Sandwich is basically a loose meat sandwich. Think Sloppy Joe's without the tomato sauce. The recipe is from Hoody's Hoagies in Claxton, GA. I've never been to Claxton, GA, but I am considering a road trip after making these sandwiches. The home version was SOOOO good. I'd love to taste the original.

manna sandwiches

How to Make Manna Sandwiches

Manna Sandwiches are super easy to make. Start with making the sauce. Whisk together mayonnaise, Catalina dressing, ketchup, spicy brown mustard, and sugar. Let the sauce hangout in the refrigerator while you make the sandwich meat.

I like to make the sauce the day before we eat the sandwiches so the flavors can come together. This recipe makes more sauce than you will probably need for the sandwiches. The leftover sauce will keep in the refrigerator for at least a week. The sauce is great on burgers, fries, chicken fingers, fried pickles.

Now to the sandwich meat. Brown some ground beef in a skillet. Drain the fat. Add onion, parsley, basil, and soy sauce to the skillet. Simmer for a few minutes and then assemble the sandwiches,

Slather the sauce on both sides of the hoagie bun. Top with swiss cheese. Pop the buns under the broiler to melt the cheese. Scoop the meat onto the buns and enjoy.

manna sandwiches

What to Serve with Loose Meat Sandwiches

These Manna Sandwiches were a huge hit at our house. Chicken Legs took one bite and said, "Wow! These are good!". I agree! I was shocked that such a simple recipe could taste so good. These are definitely going on the menu again very soon! And that sauce – OMG! SO good! We like to serve these sandwiches with some fries, chips, pasta salad, fruit salad. Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with these yummy Manna Sandwiches:

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Grilled Potato Salad

Grilled Greek Potato Salad Recipe – the BEST potato salad EVER! SO much amazing flavor! Grilled red potatoes tossed in…

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Chick-fil-a Coleslaw

Chick-fil-a Coleslaw – They might have taken it off the menu, but I was able to get the recipe directly…

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Sweet Macaroni Salad

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BBQ Ranch Broccoli Salad

BBQ Ranch Broccoli Salad BBQ Ranch Broccoli Salad – only 3 ingredients! Everyone RAVES about this crazy simple side dish!!…

manna sandwiches

Manna Sandwiches

Yield: 6 sandwiches

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Manna Sandwiches – easy ground beef sandwiches with comeback sauce and swiss cheese. Hands-down the BEST sandwich we've eaten. Ground beef, onion, soy sauce, parsley, basil, and garlic. The sauce puts these sandwiches over the top – mayonnaise, catalina dressing, ketchup, spicy brown mustard, and sugar. Served on hoagie buns with melted cheese. YUM!

Sauce

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup Catalina or French dressing
  • 2½ Tbsp ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp spicy brown mustard
  • 2 Tbsp sugar

Sandwiches

  • 2½ lb ground chuck
  • 2 Tbsp dried minced onion
  • 2 Tbsp water
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp dried parsley
  • 1½ tsp dried basil
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ lb Swiss cheese slices
  • 6 (6-inch) hoagie rolls

  • Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.

  • In a large skillet, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Drain fat. Add onion, water, soy sauce, parsley, basil, and garlic powder. Simmer for 10 minutes, until liquid is evaporated.

  • Split the hoagie rolls. Slather them with sauce, and put cheese on top. Place them under the broiler until cheese melts, 1-2 minutes. Divide ground beef between the buns and serve.

Can make sauce in advance and refrigerate until ready to serve.

The sauce will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Can swap ground turkey for ground beef.

Can make the meat filling ahead of time and reheat when ready assemble the sandwiches.

Steph

Remember this recipe.

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loose meat sandwich on a bun with fries
jar of sauce with sandwich in the background