Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (2024)

A Reuben sandwichisn’t complete without brined pastrami or corned beef sandwiched between slices of rye bread, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing!This copycat Reuben sandwich recipe was recreated from a little local Diner called Little George’s Restaurant and is one of the tastiest grilled sandwiches!

Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (1)

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Rueben Sandwich

So, what is a Reuben Sandwich? Thousand Island dressing or Russian French Dressing? Well, either dressing will work but I love my Reuben sandwich with homemade Thousand Island dressing rather than Russian dressing! A Reuben sandwich is a hot cheesy grilled sandwich, typically grilled from slices of rye bread, juicy corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing (or Russian dressing.)

Is it Russian? No, actually claimed to be an American Grilled Sandwich, so I think Thousand Island dressing is safe enough to use. This meat and cheese grilled sandwich is an all-time American favorite sandwich, which is no surprise why Arby’s, Diner’s, and fast-food chains carry this delicious sloppy joe version of corned beef or pastrami!

Eat it Hot or Cold, but the meat tastes way better once heated in the skillet with swiss cheese oozing out of it! I never really cared for a Reuben Sandwich until I tried Little Georges take on the Reuben Sandwich. Little George’s is a small town Diner that has an open kitchen, which means you can watch the employees make your food right in front of you. So, after watching how the lady slapped some black cured pastrami slices onto the huge griddle and bunches of sauerkraut the soon to be Reuben sandwich was one of the best I ever had. She finished the grilled sandwich off with a reddish-orange sauce and some swiss cheese and grilled the whole thing until the cheese melted and sauce oozed out. It was incredible!

Corned Beef or Pastrami?

Although Little George’s uses pastrami, corned beef could also be used in place of pastrami. The difference between the two is the making method and ingredients used to season the meat. Pastrami (also usually beef) is brined and corned beef is cured. Both are prepared differently but are similar, so either one could be used. This recipe has been adapted from the diner version and heating the sour kraut and pastrami before assembling the sandwiches helps the inside of the sandwich stay HOT. Make this with quick homemade thousand island dressing (with ingredients you may already have on hand) and enjoy one tasty Reuben Sandwich!

Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (2)

How to make a Reuben Sandwich:

Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (3)

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Reuben Sandwich Recipe

Servings: 4 sandwiches

Author: Alyona Demyanchuk

AReuben sandwichisn't complete without brined pastrami or corned beef sandwiched between slices of rye bread, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing!This copycat Reuben sandwich recipe was recreated from a little local Diner called Little George's Restaurant and is one of the tastiest grilled sandwiches!

Ingredients

  • 8 slices rye bread

  • 1 lb pastrami

  • 7 oz Swiss cheese

  • 1 cup Sauerkraut

  • 1 cup Thousand Island Dressing

Instructions

How to Make a Reuben Sandwich:

  • Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (4)

    Butter each slice of bread and place buttered side down to work on the rest.

  • Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (5)

    Heat a large skillet to med-hi heat. Heat the meat then the sauerkraut separately. Wipe clean skillet and assemble the sandwiches.

  • Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (6)

    Place 3 slices of swiss cheese on the tops of each non-buttered bread slice. Layer with the meat, sauerkraut, and dressing. Sandwich together and cook on each side until golden and cheese melts.

  • Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (7)

    Cut in half and serve!

Notes

Rye Breads-use pumpernickel, marbled rye, Lithuanian Bread, or traditional rye bread.

Corned Beef or Pastrami-can be used when making a Reuben Sandwich. Pastrami is black-cured meat and has a deeper pink hue.

Nutrition per serving

Serving: 1sandwichCalories: 698kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 42gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 2169mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 5gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 561IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 467mgIron: 6mg

Q&A

What ingredients go in a Reuben Sandwich?

  • Meat-corned beef or pastrami can be used to make a Reuben Sandwich. Little George’s Diner used a black-cured deli-meat known as pastrami which has a deeper pink hue. Check your local deli department in a grocery store near you to find the perfect meat.
  • Sauerkraut-I used my homemade sauerkraut recipe, which has bits of carrots, but that can be omitted, especially if making for a Reuben Sandwich. The extra flavor won’t hurt (not that you can really detect them.)
  • Thousand Island Dressing-I used Thousand Island dressing, but making a Homemade Russian dressing is similar since both dressings use ketchup.
  • Cheese-A Reuben sandwich isn’t complete unless you use Swiss Cheese! Use baby swiss for a milder cheese.

Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (8)

What is a Reuben Sandwich?

A Reuben Sandwich is a popular grilled cheese sandwich, layered from slices of rye bread, corned beef (or pastrami), sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and a Russian type of dressing. Although it is an American grilled sandwich, it is said to have been invented from Jewish man, by the name of Reuben. Read more about the Reuben Sandwich facts at Wiki.

Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (9)

How to Make a Reuben Sandwich?

  1. Make the dressing first, if making a homemade Russian or Thousand Island Dressing.
  2. Butter the slices of rye bread.
  3. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Place the corned beef (or Pastrami) into the skillet and heat thoroughly, remove. Heat the sauerkraut, then remove.
  5. Assemble the sandwiches by placing the cheeses onto the bread slices. Add the hot pastrami, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing. Sandwich together.
  6. Cook each buttered side of the sandwich in a hot skillet until cheeses melt and bread crisps up.
  7. Enjoy hot and eat leftovers warm or cold.

Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (10)

Russian Dressing or Thousand Island?

Making homemade dressing is easy! SInce either Russian or Thousand Island dressing call for common pantry ingredients it is not hard making your own at home. Both dressings have a pink and orange hue although depending on how much ketchup and paprika is used will determine how red of hue you want to go. If you want to go with a Russian Dressing check out this simple recipe or you can make my favorite Thousand Island dressing which is super tasty!

What’s the difference between Corned Beef and Pastrami?

The difference between the two deli-meats is the making method and ingredients used to season the meat. Pastrami (also usually beef) is brined and corned beef is cured. Both are prepared differently but are similar, so either one could be used.

Tips for making a Reuben Sandwich:

  1. Take a shortcut and heat the meat and sauerkraut first to ensure a hot sandwich inside.
  2. Spread the dressing between the meat so it doesn’t sog up the bread as quickly.
  3. Butter the bread slices for nicely toasted sides.
  4. Enjoy warm or cold!

More Sandwich Recipes:

  • Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
  • Chipotle Chicken Panini Sandwich (Panera Bread Copycat)
  • Asiago Cheese Bagel Sandwich Recipe
  • Ultimate Burger Recipe
  • Frontega Chicken Panini Sandwich Recipe (Panera Bread Copycat)

New Be featured here!

Hashtag #yesalyonascooking on both Instagram and Pinterest to be seen here!

Categories

  • Beef
  • Copycat Recipes
  • Main Dish
  • Quick Dinners
  • Sandwiches

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1 comment

  • Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (11)

    • adry

    mmmmmmmm
    looks yummy in my tummy
    want some NOW

    • Reply
Classic Reuben Sandwich Recipe - Alyona’s Cooking (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.

Is a classic Reuben sandwich made with corned beef or pastrami? ›

That makes a Reuben—toasted rye bread stuffed with corned beef, a heap of warm sauerkraut, gooey layers of melted swiss cheese, and a generous dose of Russian dressing—pure sacrilege...or, should I say, sacrilege that's purely delicious.

How do you make a Reuben sandwich not soggy? ›

Why is my Reuben sandwich soggy? The culprit is most likely the sauerkraut. 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.

Why is my Reuben soggy? ›

Why is my Reuben soggy? Any sandwich can get soggy if bread comes in contact with excess liquid or wet ingredients. In the case of a Reuben sandwich, the sauerkraut can make the bread soggy. To overcome this, drain the sauerkraut and then use paper towels or the back of a spoon to remove as much liquid as you can.

What is a dirty Reuben sandwich? ›

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

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.

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.

Which is healthier, corned beef or pastrami? ›

Though pastrami and corned beef have the same nutritional elements, like protein and fat content, they have different quantities of salt. The sodium content in corned beef is higher compared to pastrami. Because of this, many people consider pastrami healthier and more flavorful than corned beef.

What is a good substitute for corned beef in a Reuben? ›

This easy vegan corned beef recipe can turn tofu, tempeh, seitan or any meat substitute into a delicious corned beef dish. Serve with cabbage and potatoes, sliced in a vegan Ruben sandwich or chopped up in a vegan corned beef hash. It's perfect for a special St. Patrick Day dinner or just a delicious sandwich!

Should a Reuben be pressed or toasted? ›

Place each of the slices of bread with dressing, buttered-side out on top of the slices of bread topped with corned beef. Place the sandwiches in the skillet and cook until golden and toasted, about 5 minutes, using a spatula to press down a few times.

Does a Reuben have Russian or Thousand Islands? ›

Sauce - A traditional Reuben sandwich uses creamy Russian dressing for the sauce, but Thousand Island dressing is another popular option that tastes really similar, albeit slightly sweeter with a bit less kick than Russian dressing.

Do you eat a Reuben 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.

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.

How was the original Reuben sandwich made? ›

Another story has it that one Reuben Kulakofsky, at a weekly poker night in Omaha, Nebraska, requested a corned beef and sauerkraut sandwich from a local restaurant. The chef improvised a little, and the classic Reuben's was born, finding its way onto the restaurant menu during the late 1920s.

Is Russian dressing the same as Thousand Island? ›

While there are a lot of overlapping ingredients, there are also some key differences between these two iconic slathers. To start, both are mostly made from a mix of mayonnaise and ketchup, but generally, Russian dressing is a little spicy while Thousand Island tends to be on the sweeter side.

What is the difference between Rachel and Reuben? ›

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 a Reuben sandwich German or Irish? ›

But the Reuben is a deeply early-20th-century American Midwestern creation, a Jewish sandwich that isn't kosher, made by an assimilated Eastern European whose family left Russia, Poland, and Germany several generations before World War II.

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