Valentina Ablaev
This recipe makes the best reuben sandwich. If you haven’t heard of this beautiful sandwich, it consists of corned beef topped with sauerkraut, swiss cheese, all between two slices of rye bread. The secret is our homemade dressing that makes this sandwich oh-so delicious!
Sandwiches are the perfect springtime lunch, and this reuben sandwich is a fun change from the classic italian sub sandwich and our grilled chicken sandwich.
What makes a classic reuben sandwich so tasty is all the unique flavors that come together so perfectly! Corned beef is well-balanced with sauerkraut and a spicy dressing. The sandwich is toasted and cooked until crispy, making for the perfect gooey sandwich, similar to our homemade grilled cheese sandwich.
Ingredients:
- Dressing – our homemade russian dressing tastes incredible on this sandwich! It has a spicy horseradish base and it compliments this sandwich perfectly.
- Rye bread – dark rye bread is a brown bread made with rye grain, but you can also make your own sandwich bread if you prefer white bread slices.
- Corned beef – corned beef is a salt-cured brisket. You can make your own or buy ready-to-eat corned beef slices!
- Sauerkraut – a tarte fermented cabbage that adds the perfect acidity to this sandwich. I highly recommend not skipping out on it!
- Swiss cheese – you can use your favorite cheese, but we love the flavor and texture of swiss on this sandwich.
Substitutions & Variations:
Don’t have a specific ingredient? Fear not, here are plenty of substitutions to still enjoy a delicious sandwich:
- Dressing: Though our homemade dressing is incredibly delicious on this sandwich, you can use a variety of other dressings to add your own twist to this sandwich. Make your own chick-fil-a sauce, or even use a store-bought thousand Island dressing!
- Corned beef: If you don’t have corned beef or are not in the mood to make it, a store-bought deli roast beef or beef brisket! You can also add in air-fried bacon for an extra crunch and flavor.
- Sauerkraut: Although we really recommend it, if sauerkraut isn’t your thing, try adding a creamy coleslaw. You can also use a pickle relish for that acidic touch.
How to Make a Reuban Sandwich
- Make a batch of the homemade Russian dressing. To make the dressing, combine all of the ingredients and whisk together.
Add dressing to both sides and layer on the beef.
2. Add extra dressing on top of the beef.
3. Add the sauerkraut, and swiss cheese and close the sandwich.
4. Butter the outside slices of bread generously. Toast the sandwich in a skillet or using a panini press until the bread is crispy and cheese completely melts. You want to cook it over medium heat so the bread doesn’t burn and the cheese has time to melt.
Serving Suggestions
Sandwich and salad combo: This is definitely a hearty sandwich that will pair beautifully with a light cucumber tomato salad.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A Reuben sandwich may be enjoyed hot or cold, we prefer the sandwich hot.
You can use brisket or pastrami as a substitute for corned beef.
Sauerkraut is the main component of a classic Reuben, we do not recommend leaving it out.
Russian salad dressing is spicy while Thousand Islands is on the sweeter side, so if that is what you’d rather use, yes!
Store & Reheat:
- Storage. This sandwich is best enjoyed right away but if you have leftovers, store them in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Freeze. We don’t recommend freezing this sandwich.
More Sandwich Recipes
If you enjoyed this reuben sandwich recipe, be sure to try our other popular sandwich recipes; here are some of our favorites:
If you tried this classic reuben sandwich recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Reuben Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
Sandwich-
- 1/2 lb corned beef
- ½ tsp olive oil
- 6 slices rye bread
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter room temp
- 1/2 cup sauerkraut drained
- 6 slices Swiss cheese
Russian dressing-
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1 1/2 tsp chili garlic sauce
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp creamy horseradish
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp onion finely grated
- ⅛ tsp paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for Russian dressing in a small bowl, set aside.
- In a large skillet, add oil. Once hot, add corned beef and cook over medium heat until the meat is heated.
- Butter one side of bread and plate bread on a plate with the buttered side down.
- Spread the Russian dressing, top with corned beef, cheese, and sauerkraut and top with a slice of bread. Butter the top of the bread.
- In a large skillet, add the sandwiches. Cook over medium heat for about 4-6 minutes, flipping once, until the cheese melts and bread is crispy.
- Serve immediately.
