The Reuben sandwich is a true culinary icon, beloved for its complex flavors and satisfying crunch. Whether you’re planning a lively party, seeking a quick yet hearty weeknight dinner, or simply looking for a brilliant way to transform leftover corned beef, this classic deli-style sandwich is an absolute winner. Our simple Reuben sandwich recipe guides you with expert tips and step-by-step instructions, ensuring a perfect, flavorful creation every time. It’s hands down the best and most delicious way to utilize any remaining corned beef from your holiday feast or Sunday roast. For those who love making things from scratch, you can find a fantastic slow cooker corned beef recipe right here to prepare the star ingredient.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Reuben Sandwich
- **The Ultimate Leftover Solution:** Don’t let precious leftover corned beef go to waste! This recipe is specifically designed to turn it into an exciting, new meal that tastes even better than the first time.
- **Versatile & Crowd-Pleasing:** From casual parties and game-day tailgates to an effortlessly delicious family dinner, the Reuben sandwich consistently hits the spot. Its robust flavors and satisfying texture make it a hit with everyone.
- **Incredibly Quick & Easy:** Forget complicated recipes. This Reuben comes together in just 5-10 minutes of active preparation, proving that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to create something truly spectacular.
- **Flavor Explosion with Minimal Effort:** Experience a symphony of flavors – salty corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, melty Swiss cheese, and the perfect dressing – all wrapped in golden, buttery rye bread. It’s a taste sensation that requires very little fuss, especially when enhanced by our suggested homemade sauce.
- **A Journey Through Texture:** Enjoy the perfect balance of crispy grilled bread, tender warm meat, gooey melted cheese, and the delightful crunch of sauerkraut, creating a textural masterpiece with every bite.
📝 Essential Ingredients for the Perfect Reuben
Crafting a classic Reuben sandwich relies on a careful selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients that harmonize to create its distinctive taste. Each component plays a vital role in building the layers of flavor and texture that make this sandwich so beloved.
Here’s a closer look at the key players and what to consider when choosing them:
- **Rye Bread:** The foundation of any great Reuben. Opt for a good quality marble rye or dark rye bread. The hearty texture and slightly sour notes of rye perfectly complement the rich fillings. Don’t go for thinly sliced sandwich bread; you need something that can hold up to the generous layers and buttering.
- **Corned Beef:** This is the heart of your Reuben. While traditionally made with thinly sliced corned beef brisket, using leftover slow cooker corned beef is an excellent choice for a homemade touch. Ensure it’s tender and flavorful. If you’re buying deli meat, ask for it sliced relatively thin but not shaved, allowing for substantial layers.
- **Swiss Cheese:** Melty, nutty Swiss cheese provides the creamy, savory binder. Emmentaler or Gruyère can also be excellent alternatives, offering similar melting properties and complementary flavors. The goal is a gooey, golden layer that holds everything together.
- **Sauerkraut:** The tangy, fermented cabbage adds a crucial element of brightness and crunch, cutting through the richness of the meat and cheese. It’s essential to drain it very well to prevent a soggy sandwich. Some prefer to rinse it for a milder taste, but we love the full, vibrant tang.
- **Dressing:** The creamy, savory-sweet dressing is what truly defines a Reuben. While Thousand Island or Russian dressing are the traditional choices, a homemade “Big Mac” style sauce offers a fantastic alternative with a unique blend of tang and sweetness. This sauce often combines mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, and spices, providing a rich, zesty flavor.
- **Unsalted Butter:** For grilling, butter is non-negotiable. It creates that irresistible golden-brown, crispy crust on the rye bread, adding a depth of flavor that oil simply can’t replicate. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the sandwich.
Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You’ll find the full measurements and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
🥄 Step-by-Step Instructions to Assemble Your Reuben
Creating the perfect Reuben sandwich is a straightforward process when you follow these easy steps. The key is in the layering and proper grilling to achieve that golden, crispy exterior and perfectly melted interior.
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed steps and measurements are in the recipe card below.
- **Prepare Your Bread:** Begin by spreading a generous amount of your chosen sauce (Thousand Island, Russian, or homemade Big Mac sauce) over one side of four slices of rye bread. This ensures flavor in every bite and helps the cheese stick.
- **First Layer of Cheese & Meat:** Place one slice of Swiss cheese directly over the sauced side of each bread slice. Then, layer two slices of your tender leftover corned beef on top of the cheese.
- **Add the Tangy Sauerkraut:** Follow the corned beef with about a quarter cup of well-drained and warmed sauerkraut on each sandwich. Warming the sauerkraut slightly ensures the entire sandwich heats evenly.
- **Second Layer of Cheese & Top Bread:** Add another slice of Swiss cheese on top of the sauerkraut. This creates extra gooeyness and helps to ‘glue’ the sandwich together. Finally, place the remaining four slices of rye bread on top to complete your four sandwiches.
- **Grill to Golden Perfection:** In a cast-iron skillet or a good quality non-stick pan, melt one tablespoon of unsalted butter over medium heat. Place two sandwiches in the skillet. Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until the bread is beautifully golden brown and crisp, and the cheese is thoroughly melted and bubbly. Add more butter for the second batch if needed.
- **Serve Immediately:** Slice your Reubens in half, if desired, and serve them warm with extra dressing and dill pickles on the side. Enjoy the symphony of flavors and textures!
👍 Amira’s Expert Tips & Tricks for the Best Reuben
- **Sauerkraut Preparation is Key:** Always ensure your sauerkraut is thoroughly drained. Excess moisture can make your sandwich soggy. For an even better experience, gently warm the sauerkraut in the microwave for 30-60 seconds before adding it to the sandwich. This prevents a cold center and ensures the entire sandwich is wonderfully warm.
- **To Rinse or Not to Rinse?** If you appreciate the full, vibrant tangy flavor of sauerkraut, do not rinse it. The acidity is a crucial component of the Reuben’s signature taste profile. However, if you prefer a milder tang, a quick rinse under cold water, followed by very thorough draining, can mellow it out.
- **Butter Up for the Best Crust:** When grilling, don’t be shy with the butter! If your bread isn’t browning or becoming crisp enough, add another tablespoon of butter to the skillet. A generous amount of butter is what gives the rye bread its irresistible golden, crunchy exterior.
- **Dressing Delights:** While traditional Thousand Island or Russian dressing are classic choices, I highly recommend trying my homemade Big Mac sauce. It offers a unique, incredibly delicious twist that elevates the sandwich. If you’re short on time, store-bought dressings are perfectly fine, but for an exceptional flavor, homemade is always best.
- **Mayo as a Simple Alternative:** If you’re not a fan of the traditional dressings or simply want a minimalist approach, a good quality mayonnaise can also be used. It offers a creamy texture and subtle richness that lets the other ingredients shine.
- **Customize Your Crunch:** The grilling time determines the crispiness of your bread. For a super crunchy, golden brown crust, I recommend cooking for about 4-5 minutes per side. For those who prefer a softer, less crunchy sandwich (like kids often do), 1-2 minutes per side might be sufficient to melt the cheese and warm the fillings without over-crisping the bread.
- **The Buttering Technique:** Many people butter the outside of their bread slices before assembly. However, I’ve found this can sometimes be messy and lead to using more butter than necessary. My preferred method is to melt the butter directly in the hot skillet, then swirl the sandwich in it. This ensures even coverage and perfect absorption, resulting in a beautifully grilled sandwich every time. Experiment to see which method you prefer!
💬 Frequently Asked Questions About Reuben Sandwiches
The classic Reuben sandwich traditionally features either Thousand Island dressing or Russian dressing. Both are creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet, providing the perfect counterpoint to the rich corned beef and sauerkraut. However, personal preference often comes into play. I’m particularly fond of using my own homemade sauce, which I find offers an unparalleled depth of flavor. Making a batch at home is surprisingly easy and quick, often more convenient than a trip to the store for a specific bottle of dressing. If you prefer, a simple mayonnaise can also work well, offering a creamy texture without overpowering the other ingredients.
While a Reuben sandwich is incredibly satisfying on its own, several side dishes can complement its robust flavors beautifully. Classic pairings include creamy potato salad, crisp dill pickles, crunchy potato chips, or a refreshing coleslaw. These sides often offer a contrast in texture or a tangy element that balances the richness of the sandwich. Don’t hesitate to experiment with your favorites; a simple green salad could also be a lighter option.
The traditional and most widely recognized Reuben sandwich is made with corned beef. Its distinct briny, spiced flavor is what many consider essential to an authentic Reuben. However, there’s a popular variation called a “Rachel” sandwich, which substitutes pastrami for corned beef and often includes coleslaw instead of sauerkraut. While some purists argue that using pastrami makes it a pastrami sandwich and not a true Reuben, many people enjoy the smoky, peppery notes that pastrami brings. Ultimately, the choice between corned beef and pastrami boils down to personal preference. Both make for a delicious grilled sandwich experience.
While you can prepare some components in advance, assembling and grilling the Reuben sandwich is best done just before serving. The bread will lose its crispness and the fillings can become soggy if assembled too far ahead. You can slice your corned beef, drain your sauerkraut, and prepare your sauce beforehand. Store these components separately in the refrigerator, then assemble and grill when you’re ready to eat for the freshest and most delicious results.
Reheating a Reuben sandwich while maintaining its delicious texture can be tricky. The best method is to reheat it in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Cook for a few minutes on each side until the bread is crisp again and the cheese is re-melted. You can also use a panini press or a toaster oven for similar results. Avoid the microwave, as it will likely make the bread soggy and the meat tough.
📣 Related Recipes You’ll Love
- If you enjoyed the hearty and flavorful experience of the Reuben, you might also love a Pizza Burger. This delicious sandwich creatively combines classic pizza toppings with juicy, flavorful burger meat, offering an incredibly simple dinner option that quickly becomes a party favorite.
- For another delicious way to use up beef, check out our amazing Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli, perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
- Craving more sandwich perfection? Try our Authentic Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, packed with thinly sliced steak and melted cheese.
If you’ve tried this delightful Reuben sandwich recipe, please don’t forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and share a photo of your finished dish! I always love seeing your culinary creations and how you make my recipes your own. Your feedback and photos are truly appreciated. Thank you!
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🥣 Recommended Kitchen Equipment
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- Achieve the perfect golden crust for your Reuben with a durable Lodge Cast Iron Skillet. It heats evenly and retains heat beautifully, making it ideal for grilling sandwiches to perfection.
Reuben Sandwich with Leftover Corned Beef
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Pin
Rate
dinner, lunch
American
Halal
5 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
4 Sandwiches
506kcal
Amira
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 slices of rye bread
- 8 slices Swiss cheese
- ½ cup Big Mac sauce or thousand island dressing.
- 8 slices sliced corned beef (12-16 oz)
- 1 cup sauerkraut squeezed dry and warmed in the microwave.
Instructions
- Spread 4 slices of bread each with almost 2 Tablespoons of sauce and add 1 slice of cheese on top.
- Add two slices of corned beef on each slice.
- Top with about ¼ cup of warmed sauerkraut on each bread slice.
- Top that with another slice of cheese on each bread slice.
- Place another slice of bread on top to make a total of 4 sandwiches.
- Place a cast iron skillet over medium heat and melt 1 Tablespoon of butter, swirl to coat.
- Cook two sandwiches until golden brown and crisp.
- Flip the sandwiches and cook on the other side, add more butter if needed.
- Repeat with the other two sandwiches and cook on both sides until cheese melts and bread is crisp and golden.
- Serve with additional dressing and pickles.
Notes
- For more notes and tips check the post above.
- Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 38g |
Protein: 16g |
Fat: 33g |
Saturated Fat: 14g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 8g |
Trans Fat: 0.3g |
Cholesterol: 64mg |
Sodium: 1017mg |
Potassium: 234mg |
Fiber: 5g |
Sugar: 8g |
Vitamin A: 622IU |
Vitamin C: 6mg |
Calcium: 368mg |
Iron: 3mg