The first time I ever had a Reuben sandwich at a deli, I was instantly in love. This sandwich has everything: crispy, buttery bread, gooey cheese, salty meat, and tons of flavor from the sauce and sauerkraut. I’ll almost always order a Reuben if I see it on a menu, and I’m very rarely disappointed. The good news is that you don’t have to go out to get an amazing Reuben sandwich, I’m teaching you how to make it at home! My homemade Russian dressing makes this Reuben the best I’ve ever had, and I think you’ll agree.
What is a Reuben Sandwich?
A Reuben sandwich is a corned beef and swiss sandwich with sauerkraut and creamy dressing on rye bread, typically grilled. This classic sandwich combines flavors from a variety of regional groups, and so it makes sense that it is an American creation! There are a couple of different origin stories for this sandwich. One states that a hotel customer in Omaha, Nebraska started ordering a corned beef and sauerkraut sandwich at a weekly poker game. His name was Reuben, and so the sandwich had his name. The hotel eventually put the sandwich on their menu, adding thousand islands dressing and swiss cheese. Another story gives credit for the Reuben to Arnold Ruben, the owner of Ruben’s Delicatessen in New York City. Either way, this sandwich has been in existence in the US since the mid 1930’s, and its delicious flavors have kept it popular for over 90 years. This recipe is for a traditional Reuben and includes all of the expected toppings. While this sandwich can be served cold, we are grilling to get the best flavors and textures. Need a different recipe? Try my Corned Beef Hash and Eggs!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need to make the Russian dressing and the sandwich:
Russian Dressing: We’re making our own! The ingredients for that include mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and seasonings.
Rye Bread: I like to use a marble rye because I think it just looks so pretty, but plain rye bread can work here too. Butter: Butter goes on the outside of the sandwich so that when we grill it in a hot pan it gets brown and crispy. Corned Beef: Thinly sliced corned beef from the deli is perfect for this sandwich. If you make a corned beef roast, thinly sliced leftovers will be delicious here as well. Swiss Cheese: The cheese will get melty and delicious inside of our Reuben sandwiches. Get it at the deli while you’re picking up the corned beef! Sauerkraut: You can buy sauerkraut in cans or bagged in the produce section of your grocery store. Drain the liquid out before adding it to your sandwiches.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How to Make Russian Dressing
In a bowl, whisk together mayo, ketchup, grated onion, prepared horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper. That’s it! It’s super easy.
How to Make a Reuben Sandwich
Recipe Success Tips
Make a “Rachel”. A Rachel Sandwich is similar to a Reuben, except the corned beef is replaced with turkey (or sometimes pastrami) and the sauerkraut is replaced with cole slaw or shredded cabbage. Make it extra cheesy. Put a slice of cheese on both the bottom and top of the sandwich for an extra melty Reuben sandwich.
How to serve Reuben Sandwiches
Sandwiches like this one, or Tuna melt sandwiches or Cuban sandwiches make amazing simple dinners. I like to serve sandwich dinners with a simple tossed salad or oven baked fries to make things super easy. Want to try this in an egg roll form? Try my Reuben Egg Roll recipe! You can also cut these sandwiches into 4ths, pop in some fancy toothpicks, and serve them as appetizers at your next holiday or football party. Enjoy this classic Reuben sandwich recipe! I can’t wait to hear how you like it. Make sure to pin this recipe so you don’t lose it! © Little Sunny Kitchen
