Reuben Sandwich Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a classic Reuben sandwich made of? ›

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.

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.

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.

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.

I actually prefer mine hot with fresh sliced pastrami. It helps melt the cheese and keeps the kraut warm as well. Reuben sandwiches have corned beef (or pastrami), Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and either Thousand Island or Russian dressing on rye bread. Definitely HOT!!

Corned beef is made from the leaner flat brisket. Pastrami is made with point brisket, which contains more marbling and fat. Pastrami can also be made with other cuts of beef, such as deckle (a lean shoulder cut) or navel (aka beef belly, which comes from the plate, a juicy section just below the ribs).

You can certainly make a sandwich without sauerkraut, but it won't be a reuben sandwich since one of the ingredients that defines the sandwich as being a reuben is sauerkraut.

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.

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.

The Reuben sandwich is a North American grilled sandwich composed of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing or Thousand Island dressing, grilled between slices of rye bread. It is associated with kosher-style delicatessens but is not kosher, as it combines meat and cheese.

What is the difference between a Cuban and Reuben sandwich? ›

Did you know that although similar, a Reuben sandwich uses pastrami whereas a Cuban uses sliced ham or pork loin?

Fried Haddock filet, Swiss cheese, homemade coleslaw & Russian dressing served on marble rye.

Both kinds of meat are cured, but pastrami is then coated with a flavorful spice rub and smoked. 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.

Reuben + kettle salt & pepper chips

To balance it out, a simple bag of Kettle salt and pepper chips really does the trick. You still get the satisfying crunch, but aren't overwhelmed with other flavors that will clash with the 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.

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.

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.

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. Each may include chili sauce in addition to, or sometimes instead of, ketchup.