Reuben Sandwich Recipe (2024)

Reuben Sandwich Recipe (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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This classic Reuben sandwich recipe is made with rye bread, and stuffed with tender corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, melty Swiss cheese, and creamy Thousand Island dressing. It’s such an easy thing to make for St. Patrick’s Day, or any lunch. The distinct flavor of these sandwiches is unbeatable!

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Table of Contents

What’s on a Reuben Sandwich?

This is the best reuben sandwich recipe, and you only need a few ingredients to make it. There’s so much flavor packed into these easy sandwiches!

  • Rye Bread: Marbled rye lends a distinct flavor and look to this popular sandwich. The best substitute would be pumpernickel, sprouted bread, or whole grain wheat.
  • Corned Beef: Corned beef is salt-cured brisket, and it’s one of the highlights of a reuben. You can get slices of it at your local deli or grocery store.
  • Sauerkraut: This fermented cabbage adds a distinctly tangy and salty flavor.
  • Swiss Cheese: Swiss compliments the flavor of corned beef perfectly.
  • Thousand Island Dressing: This creamy dressing is deliciously tangy, sweet, and sour.
  • Butter: Use butter to grill up the sandwiches in a skillet.

Reuben sandwiches are one of my favorite St. Patrick’s Day foods. And you can use leftover corned beef to makes these too.

Can I use Russian dressing on this Reuben?

Absolutely! When it comes to making a classic reuben, you can use either Thousand Island dressing (as we did here) or Russian dressing.

Buy a bottle at the store, or make your own Russian dressing by whisking together the following ingredients:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
  • 2-4 teaspoons jarred horseradish
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon ground paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
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What is a Reuben sandwich?

The Reueben is a grilled sandwich consisting of corned beef, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing with Swiss cheese. It’s a North American sandwich that has been around for decades.

Is a Reuben made with pastrami or corned beef?

When you are making a Reuben, it’s always made with corned beef.

Is a Reuben sandwich considered Irish or German?

Believe it or not, this amazing sandwich was made right in America. Rumor has it that it was made in Nebraska or New York City!

Can I use roast beef instead of corned beef?

It won’t taste quite the same, but yes, feel free to use roast beef if that’s what you have on hand.

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How to Store and Make Ahead

As with most sandwiches, you’ll want to store ingredients separately and make the reubens as you serve them for best quality. If you’re making any of the ingredients yourself (like the corned beef, sauerkraut, or dressing), make them ahead of time so they’re ready to use at lunch time!

You can put a whole sandwich in the fridge if you like, either in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap/foil. But storing bread/sandwiches in the fridge means it might get a little soggy. They can be eaten warm or cold.

What to Serve with Reuben Sandwiches

Serve your Reuben with potato chips and pickle slices for a simple deli-style lunch. Or serve them with any of your favorite potato side dishes. I recommend colcannon potatoes, these Air Fryer baked potatoes, or German potato salad. Refrigerator pickles or pickled beets would both add a bit more tanginess to compliment the sauerkraut.

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe

Reuben Sandwich Recipe

4.82 from 16 votes

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 10 minutes minutes

Total: 15 minutes minutes

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Serves4 people

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This classic sandwich is a deli-staple thanks to its distinct flavor, and it's so easy to make at home.

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Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

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Ingredients

  • 8 slices marble rye bread
  • Butter
  • 1 pound sliced corned beef
  • 1 1/2 cups sauerkraut drained
  • 4 slices Swiss cheese
  • 1/2 cup thousand island dressing

Instructions

  • Butter each slice of bread.

    8 slices marble rye bread, Butter

    Reuben Sandwich Recipe (8)

  • Flip the slices over, and spread a thin layer of dressing on each slice.

    1/2 cup thousand island dressing

  • Top 4 of the slices with an even amount of corned beef and sauerkraut and 1 slice of Swiss cheese.

    1 pound sliced corned beef, 1 1/2 cups sauerkraut, 4 slices Swiss cheese

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  • Place the 4 remaining slices of bread, buttered side up, on the top of the cheese.

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat.

  • Once heated, cook the sandwiches on the skillet for a few minutes on each side. Cover the skillet for a minute or two to ensure the cheese is melted and gooey.

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 581kcal (29%) Carbohydrates: 39g (13%) Protein: 27g (54%) Fat: 35g (54%) Saturated Fat: 10g (63%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g Monounsaturated Fat: 13g Cholesterol: 85mg (28%) Sodium: 2420mg (105%) Potassium: 580mg (17%) Fiber: 6g (25%) Sugar: 8g (9%) Vitamin A: 221IU (4%) Vitamin C: 39mg (47%) Calcium: 210mg (21%) Iron: 5mg (28%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Reuben Sandwich Recipe (10)

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More Corned Beef Recipes We Love

  • Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage
  • Reuben Casserole
  • Reuben Egg Rolls
  • Corned Beef Hash

More Sandwich Recipes we Love

  • Copycat McRib Sandwich
  • Patty Melts
  • BLT Sandwich
  • Classic Grilled Cheese
  • Homemade Maid Rite Sandwiches
  • Air Fryer Grilled Cheese

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Reuben Sandwich Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What was on the original Reuben sandwich? ›

He decided to try something new for his friends and put together the first reuben sandwich using swiss cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut, and his special deli sauce on rye. It was such a big hit with his poker group, he decided to include it on the menu of a nearby hotel and it grew in popularity ever since.

How do you keep a Reuben from getting soggy? ›

Be sure to drain off as much liquid as possible from the sauerkraut before piling it onto your Reuben sandwich to prevent any sogginess. It's also best to serve Reubens soon after griddling to keep the toasted bread nice and crisp.

What is a good substitute for rye bread on a Reuben sandwich? ›

Bread: We prefer marble rye bread, but light rye, dark rye, Jewish rye, or pumpernickel bread are all acceptable alternatives. Rachel Sandwich: Pastrami is also acceptable (and delicious) although a traditional reuben is made with corned beef, not pastrami.

Should a Reuben be pastrami or corned beef? ›

A Reuben sandwich is typically made with corned beef. It would taste great with pastrami too, it just wouldn't be a classic Reuben! Bottom line: You can't go wrong with either of these flavor-packed deli meats.

What is a dirty Reuben sandwich? ›

Dirty Reuben: Roast Beef, Dirty Dressing, Purple Slaw, America (I added Mozzarella Sticks & Avocado) #AvailableAtEveryLocation #Ikes...

What is a Reuben without sauerkraut called? ›

The Rachel sandwich is one of several variations on the famous sandwich. Instead of the classic corned beef and sauerkraut, the Rachel is usually made with turkey or pastrami and coleslaw. Both sandwiches are made with Swiss cheese and rye bread.

Should a Reuben be pressed or toasted? ›

A Reuben is a classic deli sandwich made with rye bread, corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and either Russian or Thousand Island dressing. You could serve the sandwich cold, but it gains a warm, melty consistency when the sandwich is toasted. You don't need a panini press to pull it off, either.

Are Reubens supposed to be hot or cold? ›

A Reuben can be served cold, but it's far better when it is served hot like the recipe calls for. The melted cheese blends all the ingredients together for a messy and delightful sandwich.

Is a Reuben Thousand Island or Russian? ›

The Reuben sandwich is a traditional American grilled sandwich made with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing, grilled between slices of rye bread. While Russian dressing is the time-honored dressing of choice, it is extremely common to find thousand island dressing being used as well.

What is a redneck Reuben sandwich? ›

The Redneck Reuben Sandwich is the best BBQ sandwich on the planet! Pork, cheese, collard greens and Texas toast, what more could you need ...

What kind of bread does Arby's use on their Reuben sandwich? ›

Marbled rye bread filled with freshly sliced corned beef, melty Swiss Cheese, tangy sauerkraut and creamy Thousand Island dressing. This is a Reuben sandwich inspired by the New York standard.

How unhealthy is a Reuben sandwich? ›

About the Reuben

Unfortunately, this traditional sandwich is NOT one that I consider "heart healthy" as it provides approximately 800 calories, 50 grams fat, 20 grams of the artery-clogging saturated fat, 40 grams carbohydrates, 36 grams protein, and a whopping 3200 mg.

What is a Texas Reuben? ›

“a deli classic reinvented for. south Texas tastes…”

This Texas Reuben features our own lean smoked brisket thrown over some buttered and griddled rye bread. Our sauerkraut is cooked in-house and not like what you usually imagine when it comes to this German staple.

What's the difference between a Reuben and a Rachel? ›

Perhaps owing to its absence of an exact origin story, the Rachel is certainly more of a pliable sandwich than the classic Reuben as far as ingredients are concerned. The first major difference is that the Rachel swaps brisket-based corned beef for pastrami, which comes from a comparatively leaner cut of the cow.

Is corned beef the same as pastrami? ›

The main difference between corned beef and pastrami is the way they're cut and processed. Plus, after cutting and curing, corned beef is boiled, whereas pastrami is smoked and steamed. Whether you have a taste for Corned Beef or Pastrami, you will find an expansive list of items on the Brent's Deli menu.

What is on a Katz Reuben sandwich? ›

Your choice of pastrami, corned beef or turkey breast with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and homemade Russian dressing, all on grilled rye bread...

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