Classic Reuben Sandwich
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It’s so quick and easy to make a classic Reuben sandwich, which is overloaded with melted Swiss cheese, tender corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, and scrumptious Thousand Island dressing.
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
Today I’m bringing you a quick and easy way to get your corned beef and cabbage in! I love to make this treat, particularly around ‘s Day.
As the title suggests, this classic Reuben sandwich recipe features everything you’d find on a traditional Reuben sandwich, including melted Swiss cheese, tender corned beef, sauerkraut, and rye bread. It’s so delicious and most importantly, quick and easy to make. Plus, I’ve included some suggestions below to make the sandwich your own (and please everyone in the family if you have a picky eater or two).
While we’re on the topic of delicious sandwiches, there is this place in Decatur, Alabama that I just love called The Brick. They serve these great sandwiches, overflowing with freshly sliced meats and cheeses and toasted to perfection. Located inside an old brownstone downtown, there is usually live music in the evenings and while the service tends to be a wee bit on the slow side when I’ve been before, you can’t complain because that just means you get to soak up the atmosphere a little more.
Now, if you’re a fellow fan of all things Reuben-flavored, you also have to try this ridiculously good Reuben dip recipe. Let’s get cookin’!
Recipe Ingredients
- Swiss cheese
- Corned beef
- Rye bread (any kind, I’m using )
- Sauerkraut
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Pickle relish
How to Make a Classic Reuben Sandwich
First, we need to make a homemade Thousand Island dressing. You can skip this step if you have a bottle of dressing already open.
But if not, what you want to do is simply combine the ketchup, mayonnaise, and pickle relish in a bowl. Stir well until combined.
Spread some butter on the outside of each bread slice.
I put a layer of Swiss cheese first.
Top with sliced corned beef.
Have you ever noticed how much prettier a sandwich is if you fold and layer the meat rather than just laying them flat?
Add sauerkraut.
At this point, I realized that no one in my house eats sauerkraut but me (dropped on their heads as children – the whole lot of ’em!) so I decided I might as well add one more thing that no one likes but me).
Sliced banana peppers, that is. You can also opt for sliced bell pepper.
Our classic Reuben sandwich is now ready to be toasted! That was easy, wasn’t it?
Place it in a skillet and brown on both sides over medium heat.
We just want our bread golden brown and toasted and our cheese a little melted.
Yum yum yum!
I gotta be lucky today to get to eat one of these!
Recipe Notes
- Oh my goodness, how I love sauerkraut! When we were little, Mama browned it in a skillet with slices of weenies for supper. We usually had that and fried potatoes and pinto beans with cornbread for supper. I would put ketchup on my sauerkraut and weenies and it was the best dinner as a kid! You can get these at your local deli counter and just get whatever you need so there is no waste or additional cost.
- If you like though, substitute the sauerkraut for coleslaw to keep kids happy!
- Add more flavor to your butter by sprinkling it with garlic powder.
- A classic Reuben sandwich is often made with Russian dressing, which is very similar to Thousand Island dressing. They each have a ketchup and mayonnaise base. However, homemade Russian dressing also includes a teaspoon of horseradish, hot sauce (to taste, depending on how spicy you like it), a tablespoon of chopped onion or green onion, 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, and a dash of sweet paprika.
- Now, a traditional Reuben sandwich is always made with corned beef, but if you’d prefer to use pastrami go ahead.
- My favorite Swiss cheese to use is Gruyere.
Recipe FAQs
What do you serve with a Reuben sandwich?
You can keep it simple and serve your Reuben sandwich with a side of potato chips. Otherwise, opt for a side like French fries, potato salad, coleslaw, or pickles.
Here are some more sensational sandwich recipes:
Chicken Salad Recipe for Sandwiches
Pimento Grilled Cheese Sandwich
French Dip Sandwiches (Recipe With a Twist)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp pickle relish
- rye bread 2 slices per sandwich
- butter enough to spread over the inside and outside of the bread
- Swiss cheese enough to cover the meat on both sides
- corned beef roughly a 1/4-pound for each sandwich
- sauerkraut roughly a 1/4-cup per sandwich, drained
- bell pepper, sliced optional
Instructions
- Mix the mayo, ketchup, and pickle relish together into a nice sauce and set it aside.1 tbsp ketchup, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp pickle relish
- Butter each side of the rye bread. Layer Swiss cheese slices, corned beef, another layer of Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and banana peppers (optional).rye bread, butter, Swiss cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut, bell pepper, sliced
- Spread the sauce over the sauerkraut.
- Toast in skillet until golden brown and the cheese is melted.
Sounds yummy! I love reubens and I try them almost everywhere I go if they are on the menu. The Brick is good, try The Daily Brew also in Decatur, AL. Their reuben is wonderful! Have a great trip, can’t wait to hear all about it.
Hi Christy! Have you ever tried putting cole Slaw on your reuben?? along with thousand island dressing?? It is to die for. I love reubens with sauerkraut too, but have just recently eaten one with coleslaw and it is out of this world!! You just have to TRY this!!
My gosh he I am a northerner and I remember my mom fixing us kraut and weiners as I always called them. I still on ocassion throw them in my crockpot. And I always have sourkraut on a hot dog. Love it. Now a Reuban there is no better eating than that. Hubby does not like corned beef but this year asked me to try one again and use just half of the seasoning . There is just something in the seasoning that he can not handle. I always used to bring a bit of corned beef home from work for my reuben but not this year. I rushed right out and bought me a big old corned beef before he could change his mind. So Corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and carrots on thursday and Friday will be eating reubens for lunch. I do use thoughsand island dressing on mine though wehen I make it. Already having a hard time waiting to cook on Thursday…
I had to chuckle to myself, because when I saw the picture of catsup and mayonnaise and then the other picture where you had stired it together I thought I was the only one that did that. Everyone teases me and gets the biggest kick out of me because I use this sauce over everything. I mix mayonnaise and catsup up when I’m at a restaurant to put on my french fries, my hamburgers, my salad, my onion rings. I also use it for a dipping sauce and a sauce over my vegetables…..LOL…. Now I’ll use it for this delicious Reuben recipe.
Hey, Christy! I host a corned beef boiled dinner with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots on St. Patrick’s Day with slices of Irish soda bread. It’s a bring your own bowl/plate. Come on back to Memphis or more specifically Millington on your road trip!
Great with catalina or Russian dressing as well. Some folks use Thousand Island. Local Greek Deli taught me that one. I love their deli meats since there are no preservatives extra and no MSG.
I so love Reubens and sauerkraut! I can’t wait to make some with the left over corned beef! I love your website, although I live in California (grew up in AZ) and am from a long family of New Yorkers. We love good food and that is a great common demoninator! Thanks for doing this…I look foward to your posts!