American · Lunch

Reuben Sandwich

Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing between rye, griddled in butter until the cheese runs and the bread is lacquered. A New York deli institution with a contested origin story.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 20 min total Serves 2 servings Easy
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Reuben Sandwich — American lunch recipe, served and ready to eat

Photograph credit: Reuben sandwich by sarahstierch · CC0 1.0 · Flickr

Method

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  1. Whisk all the dressing ingredients together and chill 15 minutes.

  2. Squeeze the sauerkraut hard in a clean cloth until no more liquid comes out. Do this twice.

  3. Warm the corned beef briefly in a dry pan or steamer so it is not fridge-cold in the finished sandwich.

  4. Butter one side of each slice of rye. Lay four slices butter-side down.

  5. On each, build in this order: a slice of cheese, dressing, corned beef, sauerkraut, more dressing, a second slice of cheese. The cheese on both sides seals the wet filling away from the bread.

  6. Top with the remaining slices, butter side up.

  7. Griddle in a heavy pan over medium-low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, pressing gently with a spatula, until deep golden.

  8. Flip carefully and cook 4 minutes more, until the second side is browned and the cheese has fully melted at the edges.

  9. Rest 2 minutes, then cut in half on the diagonal and serve with pickles.

Chef’s Tips

  • Medium-low heat. A Reuben cooked hot is burnt outside with cold cheese in the middle.
  • Cheese against both slices of bread creates a moisture barrier. This is the professional trick.
  • A Rachel swaps the corned beef for turkey and the sauerkraut for coleslaw, and is excellent in its own right.

Pairing Suggestions

  • A dill pickle spear, non-negotiable
  • Potato crisps or fries
  • A cold lager or a cream soda

Storage & Reheating

Eat immediately. The dressing keeps 1 week refrigerated and is excellent on anything.

Common questions

How long does Reuben Sandwich take to make?

About 20 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 10 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 2.

What are the key tips for making Reuben Sandwich?

Medium-low heat. A Reuben cooked hot is burnt outside with cold cheese in the middle. Cheese against both slices of bread creates a moisture barrier. This is the professional trick. A Rachel swaps the corned beef for turkey and the sauerkraut for coleslaw, and is excellent in its own right.

What should I serve with Reuben Sandwich?

A dill pickle spear, non-negotiable; Potato crisps or fries; A cold lager or a cream soda.

How should Reuben Sandwich be stored?

Eat immediately. The dressing keeps 1 week refrigerated and is excellent on anything.

Is Reuben Sandwich suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is high-protein and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Reuben Sandwich?

About 842 kcal per serving, with 46 g protein, 48 g carbohydrate and 52 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

842Calories
46gProtein
48gCarbs
52gFat
6gFibre
10gSugar
2180mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.