Reuben Sandwich Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Lori Penner

I find it makes for a less mushy sandwich if you cook the sauerkraut separately in a small frypan prior to putting on the sandwich. This way rhe sauerkraut is already hot and dry, and the sandwich will not get soggy.

EW

Can’t the sandwich just be enjoyed for the sheer goodness of it? Does there always have to be something “beneficial“ about what we eat? Maybe we can just eat cold sauerkraut another time to get those beneficial bacteria

John

Russian dressing MUST include horseradish. That is the main thing that distinguishes it from Thousand Island. And it is essential to the Reuben. Why? The reason the Reuben is a great sandwich is because it contains, among its various ingredients, a good balance of all the basic flavors (sweet, sour, salt, bitter, umami). Without the horseradish the bitter is missing, and the sandwich just isn't the sublime creation it can and should be.

Mike S

Very tasty, but one note. Restaurant owner is Arnold Reuben, not Arthur. I went to grade school with his grandson Arnold III and ate lunch at his granddads restaurant many Saturdays followed by Broadway matinees.

Steve Hanegan

This is one of my favorite sandwiches! I regularly make my own corned beef and/or pastrami just to make these. There is, however, a MUCH better recipe for Russian Dressing:3/4 cups mayonnaise1/4 cup plus 2 to 3 tablespoons chili sauce2 tablespoons sour cream2 teaspoons chopped curly parsley leaves1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon minced Spanish onion1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon minced dill pickle1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice1/2 teaspoon grated horseradish1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Christina

Health is not the purpose of this sandwich. Drink some kefir or kombucha with it if that makes you feel better about it. :-)

Jeff

Yeah, but cold sauerkraut on a warm sandwich = bummer.

Emily

Black pastrami Reubens on dark pumpernickel with Hengenstengs Bavarian sauerkraut, baby Swiss & homemade Russian dressing topped with celery salt & ground pepper, butter liberally & make in cast iron skillet. Each side crunchy, buttery, luscious goodness my favorite sandwich & I live Kansas who woulda thunk it?

Madeline

Hope nobody swoons as I confess I use bottled Thousand Island dressing on my Reuben sandwiches instead of homemade Russian. Also, be very careful as you flip this baby or it will deconstruct in mid-air.

Ed Shalkey

Pastrami Reubens are just as good, maybe better. Prepare an 8 ounce container of sauerkraut by adding 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion, 1-1/2 tablespoons of sugar, simmer in just enough kraut juice to cover until onions become soft. Good with corned beef, or pastrami.

Susie

I've learned recently when I made my first pattymelt, that grilled sandwiches really are better with mayo on the bread rather than butter (on the grilled side/outside). We have tried it with Reubens--delicious. I recommend it!

David Estroff

Russian Dressing:3/4 cups mayonnaise1/4 cup plus 2 to 3 tablespoons chili sauce2 tablespoons sour cream2 teaspoons chopped curly parsley leaves1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon minced Spanish onion1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon minced dill pickle1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice1/2 teaspoon grated horseradish1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

david

i don't think my kids ever caught onto the fact that one weekend i made reubens with home-cured corned beef, homemade sauerkraut, rye bread and russian dressing. i made everything but the swiss cheese. and this year i celebrated st. patrick's day with reubens.

jeanne lese

Hold the dressing on mine -- I like my sandwich grilled with just the corned beef, swiss, and extra sauerkraut.

nancy c

I use a german brand of sauerkraut. Often the one in wine. I like it better, not as sour like the U.S. brands. I have also used Gruyere cheese on occasion.

Tammy

I made this with thin-sliced leftover corned beef from St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage. I made the recipe exactly as described (including lowering the burner heat to make sure everything got hot and gooey while the bread toasted). I gave the sauerkraut a light squeeze before layering it on, and did not have any trouble with a mushy sandwich. It was delicious!

Betsy

Used homemade pumpernickel rye from Artisan Bread bookHomemade sauerkraut from Fermented Vegetables bookHomemade Russian dressing Used Monterey Jack cheese instead of Swiss Used corned beef as St Paddy’s Day and served Guinness Extra Stout

PNW via Montreal, P.Q.

Wonderfull. Easy. Made with home made sauerkraut, mayonnaise and ketchup (tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce) for the Russian dressing. Don't forget the horseradish in the Russian dressing! The amount of dressing added to the bread seemed like a lot, but it tempered the pan heat from burning the bread, added lots of flavor as well as a nice reddish color to the top slice of bread. I don't think of this as a sandwich. I eat it with a knife and fork.

mmkay

I made this with a little less meat (pastrami), a little less cheese, a little less dressing and I should have stopped after eating half the sandwich. But I didn’t and I wish that I had. Less was still more. Hefty food guilt!

vivian y.

Just lightly toasted the bread in toaster, no butter and no messing around with a skillet. Also used sourdough bread because I dislike rye. I added a teaspoon of wasabi to the dressing (didn’t have regular horseradish like others suggested) and it brightened up the sauce nicely. Didn’t need to cook the sauerkraut, I just shook off extra juices. Zapped the sandwich in microwave to warm it. Delicious and quick.

cat

I now make the best Reuben sandwich I’ve ever had. The ratios of ingredients are perfect. I used pastrami and found it helps to use paper towels to squeeze the liquid out of the sauerkraut before adding it.

Josie

7-30-23 Very good! The Russian dressing is excellent!

Sarah

This sammich is lovely, I agree with the needed horseradish. Want to make it non-meat or try something different? Use canned beats instead of corned beef, marinate them with their can juices plus a small amount of vinegar and general corned beef spices for an hour or so, then slap them on with everything else. Tastier than you would expect. Must have the swiss and Russian though, no compromise there.

Kathi Bailey-Allen

A much easier (and less messy/soggy) method is to cook one sandwich at a time, starting with both pieces of bread buttered side down in your pan. Put the cheese on one side and build the other side as it melts. Meat (we prefer pastrami), sauerkraut that has been drained & warmed (if colder than room temperature), and dressing on top of the sauerkraut. When the cheese is melty and both slices of bread are crispy and browned, top the meat side with the cheese bread and serve!

Sissy

I make a basic co*cktail sauce that includes ketchup, lemon juice, horseradish and some kind of hot sauce or cayenne and minced onion. Keeps a long time in the freezer. The leftover co*cktail sauce becomes Russian dressing with the addition of mayo/Greek yogurt.

Fish

Made these with leftover corned beef from corned beef and cabbage. Added horseradish sandwich sauce to Russian dressing, warmed meat in microwave, and pan-warmed the kraut to dry it out. Best Reubens I've had.

LCROOKE

I completely riffed on this and it was fabulous. I think I have to call it a Western Reuben. Not a fan of rye bread so I used San Francisco sourdough and hatch chilli pepper cheddar cheese. I also added horse radish to the sauce as others suggested. For grilling, I spread mayo on the bread instead of butter. Yum!

Margarita

Great recipe- loved the Russian dressing. It was a big hit with the family. I kept the left over corned beef in the beer brine so it would dry out.

Abe

Only change used was a "no sugar added" ketchup (figured worth mentioning).Tasted GREAT!

Lisa V

This was perfect! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Reuben Sandwich Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a classic Reuben sandwich made of? ›

The Reuben Sandwich is an American classic made with savory corned beef piled on our favorite marble rye bread and topped with plenty of baby swiss cheese, crunchy, tangy sauerkraut, and zippy Russian dressing, then griddled to perfection until the cheese melts and the bread is toasted.

How do you make a Reuben sandwich not soggy? ›

Reubens traditionally rely on rye bread, which is dense and can soak up any extra juices — so don't swap it for another variety if you can manage. To further fight sogginess, toast the rye bread so that it holds up to the sauerkraut's texture along with ingredients like the sauce and melted cheese.

Should a Reuben have 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.

Should a Reuben be pressed or toasted? ›

The Best Method for Making Reuben Sandwiches at Home

We have a grilled-cheese philosophy here at Serious Eats, which is that both sides of each slice of bread should be toasted to maximize the crunch against the soft melted cheese. In some cases, this rule works for melts, which is what a Reuben technically is.

What is a dirty Reuben sandwich? ›

Dirty Reuben: Roast Beef, Ike's Dirty Dressing, Purple Slaw, American Cheese. ( I added. #MozzarellaSticks & #Avocado) #YOUreWorthMore.

Is Thousand Island dressing the same as Russian dressing? ›

The ingredient that differentiates Russian dressing from Thousand Island is—drumroll, please—horseradish. When you have Russian dressing accenting a hearty sandwich like a Reuben, the horseradish can be hard to detect, especially when you've got the sharp, funky flavors of sauerkraut to contend with.

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.

How was the original Reuben sandwich made? ›

The request came from a city store owner and casual poker player named Reuben Kulafofsky. Schimmel chose to add Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing on dark rye bread. This version originated in 1925 and was quickly put on the hotel's menu by owner Charles Schimmel.

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

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.

What is a substitute for Swiss cheese in a Reuben sandwich? ›

Swiss cheese: Swiss cheese is generally used for a Reuben Sandwich because of its mild flavor. You may also try mozzarella or provolone cheese, two more mild-tasting kinds of cheese.

What animal does pastrami come from? ›

» Type of Cuts

While beef is the common meat source for corned beef and pastrami, they have different types of cuts. Usually, brisket is used for corned beef. It is the lower area of a cow's chest. Meanwhile, brisket for pastrami comes from the beef plate, shoulder, or cow's naval area.

Does a Reuben have Russian or Thousand Islands? ›

A good Reuben isn't anything too complicated. All you need is corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and rye bread—but the one ingredient that really ties the room together is the Russian dressing.

What does Arby's put on their Reuben sandwiches? ›

About the 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.

What chips go best with a Reuben? ›

Reuben + kettle salt & pepper chips

There's the salty, smoky flavor of corned beef, the tongue tingling acidity of sauerkraut, and creamy Russian dressing all sandwiched between slices of rye bread, sour with caraway seeds. To balance it out, a simple bag of Kettle salt and pepper chips really does the trick.

Can you eat a cold Reuben? ›

With Thousand Island dressing, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and corned beef all on rye bread, this may sound like a schmorgesborg of ingredients, but the flavors marry perfectly. A Reuben can be served cold, but it's far better when it is served hot like the recipe calls for.

Does a reuben have Russian or Thousand Islands? ›

A good Reuben isn't anything too complicated. All you need is corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and rye bread—but the one ingredient that really ties the room together is the Russian dressing.

Are corned beef and pastrami the same? ›

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's the difference between a Reuben and a corned beef special? ›

Both feature corned beef and sauerkraut on rye bread, but where a corned beef sandwich keeps it simple with mustard and relish, the reuben takes things an extra step further by adding Russian dressing and melty cheese. What's on a corned beef sandwich?

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