This Reuben Sandwich uses leftover corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese, and my signature creamy Russian Dressing to make the most delicious sandwich you’ve ever had. Leftovers have never tasted so good!
MY FAVORITE WAY TO USE LEFTOVER CORNED BEEF
You might have an inkling from some of my previous posts that I love me some corned beef! It’s so juicy and full of flavor – especially when slow simmered in Guinness, ya know?
But, I have a secret… I actually like having the leftovers BETTER than the meal itself. I can’t lie. It’s because I make a killer Reuben sandwich. Seriously, ask my friends.
I think I know what makes it so good. It’s my homemade Russian dressing. If you love a good Reuben as much as I do, you’ll definitely need to try this recipe!
What is a Reuben Sandwich?
A traditional Reuben is made on buttered and toasted rye bread and then stacked with sauerkraut, corned beef, Swiss cheese and topped with Russian or Thousand Island dressing. When you bite into it, it’s crispy and crunchy on the outside and full of creamy goodness on the inside. The flavor and texture combos in this sandwich are bonkers.
There is legit no way to eat a Reuben without getting messy, so load up on the napkins before you dig in.
Reuben Sandwich Ingredients
You just know any sandwich that starts with rye bread is going to straight up kill it.
Here’s what you’ll need for the best Reuben sandwich you’ve ever tried:
- Rye bread
- Butter
- My homemade Russian Dressing
- Thinly sliced corned beef
- Sauerkraut
- Swiss Cheese
How to Make Russian Dressing
Here are the ingredients you need to make homemade Russian Dressing:
- mayonnaise
- sour cream
- ketchup
- pickle juice
- lemon juice
- hot sauce
- Horseradish
- Salt and fresh ground pepper
Once you have all your ingredients together, making Russian dressing is easy! Just follow these steps:
- In a small jar or bowl, combine all the ingredients for the Russian Dressing
- Whisk them until they are well combined.
That’s it! You can cover and refrigerate this dressing for up to 2 weeks! Use it on sandwiches, and salads, too.
How to Make a Reuben Sandwich
- Prep: Preheat your oven broiler to HIGH. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- Toast: Place your bread, buttered side up, on a baking sheet and toast under the broiler until golden brown. Remove from the oven; flip over the bread slices and spread remaining butter over each slice. Set under the broiler and toast until golden brown.
- Make: Remove your bread from the oven and spread the Russian dressing on each slice. Add sauerkraut on two slices of bread. Add sliced corned beef on the other two slices of bread. Add Swiss cheese on top of each slice.
- Set your baking sheet back under the broiler for a couple of minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and close the sandwiches together. Cut them in half and serve.
Fixing Ideas for the Best Reuben Sandwich
If you’re a Reuben traditionalist, you’re going to find the following to be complete blasphemy. But, if you’re open to the idea of making some culinarily exciting modifications to the classic Reuben… this is for you!
- Pickles: I’ve found that pickles go so well with Reubens, sometimes, I’ll add pickle slices in the middle of my sandwich right before I close them.
- Coleslaw: Another idea is using your favorite coleslaw on the sandwich in place of the Russian dressing and sauerkraut.
- Bacon: We all know bacon makes everything better – so throw two slices on your sandwich for some extra flavor.
- Blue Cheese Dressing: You could sub out Russian dressing for Blue Cheese dressing.
- Mustard: Throw some mustard in the mix.
What Goes with a Reuben?
For me, a Reuben simply MUST have a pickle on the side. This is a non-negotiable for my Reuben eating.
I also love to have crispy kettle cooked chips on the side. Of course, I love a good french fry, too, or even a potato wedge. You can’t go wrong with potato salad, either. Are you noticing a trend? Any kind of potato will be great with a Reuben.
Really, this sandwich is so large and in charge that you could go without any side dish and still be completely satisfied!
MORE SANDWICH RECIPES
ENJOY!
TOOLS USED IN THIS RECIPE
Reuben Sandwich
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1½ tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ tablespoon hot sauce, optional, but I recommend it
- 1 teaspoon grated horseradish from a jar
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 4 slices rye bread
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup Homemade Russian Dressing, you can also use Thousand Island Dressing
- ½ pound thinly sliced corned beef
- ½ cup sauerkraut, well drained
- 8 thin slices Swiss cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven broiler to HIGH.
- Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- Place bread, buttered side up, on a baking sheet and toast under the broiler until golden brown.
- Remove from oven; flip over the bread slices and spread remaining butter over each slice.
- Set under the broiler and toast until golden brown. Watch it closely because it browns quickly.
- Remove bread from oven and spread Russian dressing on each slice.
- Add sauerkraut on two slices of bread.
- Add sliced corned beef on the other two slices of bread.
- Add Swiss cheese on top of each slice.
- Set under the broiler for a couple minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and close sandwiches together.
- Cut in half and serve.
Notes
WW FREESTYLE POINTS: 15
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Hi, I have a question: Why specify 8 slices of Swiss cheese when there are only 4 slices of bread specified in the recipe? I’d love to make this recipe but I feel I am missing something. Thank you! Joan
I used 2 slices per sandwich.
Reubens are so great. That mayo looks perfect and so flavorful!
Thank you, Tisha! 🙂
Oh my goodness! How mouthwatering this sandwich is!
THANK YOU! 🙂 🙂
Packed full of amazing flavors! This is such a great sandwich!
Thank you, Toni!! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I love this recipe so much my family cannot get enough of it!
Thank YOU!! I am so happy you and your family enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
This is one of my mom’s favorite sandwiches! I can’t wait to make her this. She will love it!
Thank YOU, Dorothy! I hope your mom enjoys it! 🙂
Now THIS is a Reuben sandwich! Looks amazing! 🙂
Thanks SO much, Carrie! 🙂
This is a classic done right, delicious! Made a perfect lunch!
Thank you! I am very happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Oh I can’t wait to try this! Looks amazing and so easy!!!!
I hope you enjoy it!! Thank YOU! 🙂
This is my husbands favorite sandwich! He loved it!
That’s great! I am very happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
I could seriously eat this sandwich every day! It’s the best!
THANK YOU!! 🙂