The Reuben Sandwich is the holy grail of sandwiches. If you can make your own corned beef from scratch, it’s pretty extraordinary, but if you buy a high-quality corned beef, you will end up with a spectacular Reuben Sandwich. The cheese, the crunchy toasted rye bread, the sauerkraut, and the homemade sauce combine to make a simply lovely meal.  It’s the sandwich by which all other sandwiches will be judged.

stacked reuben sandwich

Embracing St. Patrick’s Day: My Personal Connection and Family Traditions

St. Patrick’s Day is such a fun holiday. In addition to being from Chicago—a city that dyes a river green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and proclaims that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day—I also find personal meaning in the holiday. I have a sister named Patty, and I named my son Patrick after my mother, Patty, and I celebrate them all as part of St. Patrick’s Day. 

St Patricks Day collage of images.

Life Lessons Passed Down Through Generations

If there’s one thing I have not only learned from my mother but given to my kids and hope to pass along to you, it is the idea of curating a celebration. We live in a world where often there’s not a lot to celebrate, so we have to find joy. When I see my kids having their own celebrations, I know it’s a gift from my mom and from me, and it makes me so happy! 

Keep scrolling past the recipe card for even more fabulous St. Patrick’s Day recipe ideas!

How to Make a Reuben Sandwich

sauce ingredients
Sauce ingredients.
sandwich ingredients
Sandwich ingredients.
mixing sauce
Mix up the sauce.
ingredient shot
Assemble the sandwich.
cook the reuben
Cook the Reuben on the griddle.
teri holding sandwich

Keep scrolling past the recipe card for even more fabulous St. Patrick’s Day recipe ideas!

If you make Teri’s Reuben Sandwich, rate and review it below to let me know what you think! And if you’re looking for more fun, sign up for our Friday Favorites newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok!

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stacked reuben sandwich

Reuben Sandwich with Thousand Island Dressing

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Teri Turner
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2 sandwiches
  • Category: Sandwich
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Irish
Print Recipe

Description

I love corned beef on Saint Patrick’s Day, and a Reuben Sandwich is one of my favorite lunches to celebrate! A sandwich like this is all about low and slow, so take your time and build that lovely brown crust on the bread before flipping.

Ingredients

For the Sandwich:

5 ounces corned beef
6 ounces swiss or gruyere cheese
6 tablespoons sauerkraut
4 slices rye bread
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons light olive oil

For the Thousand Island Dressing:

3/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon vinegar (I used Red Wine Vinegar)
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 tablespoons onions, chopped finely
1/4 cup cornichons, chopped finely
1 hardboiled egg, grated
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 300F.

Make the Thousand Island Dressing: 

Combine all ingredients for the dressing in a bowl and stir until fully combined. Set aside. 

Assemble the sandwich: 

Split the cheese into four equal parts. Add one part to a slice of bread, then add 1/2 of the corned beef. Top the beef with 1/2 of the sauerkraut and another part of the cheese. Top with a slice of bread and set aside.

Repeat this process for the second sandwich. 

Cook the sandwich:

In a sauté pan over medium-low heat, add the butter and light olive oil and allow the butter to melt. Add the sandwiches to the pan and cook. After 8 minutes check to see if the first side is golden brown (it can take up to 12 minutes). Once it is golden brown, carefully flip and cook until the second side until golden, about 8 minutes. 

Once both sides are golden brown, place the pan in the oven until the cheese is completely melted, about 4 minutes.

Serve the sandwich with a side of Thousand Island Dressing, and enjoy!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: sandwich
  • Calories: 982
  • Sugar: 7.7 g
  • Sodium: 1644.6 mg
  • Fat: 72.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 40.9 g
  • Protein: 36.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 197.6 mg

Mouthwatering Recipes for the Festivities

I sure do love a celebration that involves food, and don’t they all? Make my corned beef and cabbage for dinner, and definitely make my Ruben Sandwich.

finished corned beef & cabbage plate

The Best Recipe For Corned Beef And Cabbage

On St. Patrick’s Day, I’ve always made a delicious dinner of corned beef and cabbage, a tradition that has been passed down in America over the decades. Whether or not it’s truly an Irish dish, it is definitely an Irish American one, and corned beef itself is said to have originated in Eastern Europe, where beef was cured with “corns” of salt. Corned beef and cabbage is such a wonderful family dish, and when you make it only once a year, it’s both exciting and fun. Kids love it, and the leftovers are amazing!  

Click here to make my Corned Beef
Teri wearing all green while drinking a green juice

Green Juice

After beginning intermittent fasting last July, I found that the best way to break my fast was with fresh green juice…made in my own kitchen!

Click here to make my green juice!

Teri’s Reuben Sandwich Recipe That Is Better Than Any Other


Do you have a copy of the No Crumbs Left cookbook yet?

Food is my love language, and this book is a guide to getting you in the kitchen with me, rolling up your sleeves, and reigniting your passion for everyday cooking. Woven throughout the book are my Teri’s Tips as well.

This cookbook is a love letter to my mother because it offers the recipe for a well-lived life.

Click here to grab your copy!