Homemade Reuben Sandwiches Recipe
For those who’s always wanted to make a deli-worthy reuben sandwich at home, my easy homemade reuben sandwiches recipe has you covered. I took it one step further and made the reuben sandwiches in an air fryer which cuts down on the overall amount of olive oil or butter you need to get a perfectly crispy exterior while the interior is soft and warm with melted cheese. Toasted marbled rye bread is what gives you a crunchy exterior and holds everything together. Plus there’s a slightly earthy flavor from the caraway seeds. Melted Swiss cheese is mild flavored but there are sour, tangy bites from the sauerkraut while the corned beef has a hearty salted and peppery taste. Russian dressing adds creaminess and hint of spiciness and marries all the flavor elements together.
Ingredients in Reuben Sandwiches
A classic reuben sandwich is made with a handful of ingredients, but each have their place in this classic sandwich recipe. But I include stovetop cooking instructions, too. And I think it’s better to go with tried-and-true ingredients for the best tasting reuben. Here’s what’s on a reuben sandwich (with acceptable substitutions in parentheses):
Marbled rye bread (or rye bread)Olive oil (or melted butter)Russian dressing (or Thousand Island dressing)Swiss cheeseCorned beef (or pastrami)Sauerkraut
What’s in Russian Dressing?
If you’re wondering what the heck is Russian Dressing it’s really just doctored up and spicier homemade Thousand Island dressing. Thousand Island works just fine if you don’t have the ingredients on hand to make Russian Dressing, which you whisk together in a small bowl. Here’s what you’ll need to make the reuben sandwich sauce:
MayonnaiseSour creamKetchup, spicy ketchup, sriracha, or chili garlic sauceHorseradishWhite onionWorcestershire sauceSweet paprikaSalt, to tastePepper, to taste
How to Make a Reuben Sandwich in an Air Fryer
Making reuben sandwiches in an air fryer is a cinch and what I love about it is the really crispy exterior the bread develops while the hallmarks of a reuben sandwich including the warmed corned beef, sauerkraut, and melted Swiss remain the same. Follow these straightforward steps: Step 1: Preheat a large or XL air fryer to 390F. Step 2: Mix together all the ingredients for the Russian dressing or simply use store bought Thousand Island dressing and set it aside. Step 3: Brush each slice of bread on one side with olive oil or melted butter. Step 4: Place the two pieces of bread (oiled sides down) in the air fryer. Step 5: Spread Russian dressing over the top. Step 6: Add a slice of Swiss cheese or two. Step 7: Add the corned beef. Step 8: Top with sauerkraut. Step 9: Drizzle more Russian dressing over the top. Step 10: Top each with another slice of bread (oiled sides up). Step 11: Air fry for about 8 minutes, flipping once midway through. Step 12: Repeat with the remaining ingredients and process to make 2 more sandwiches, slice, and serve!
How to Make a Reuben Sandwich (Without an Air Fryer)
Making reuben grilled sandwiches in a skillet on the stovetop is easy and the traditional method for making reubens. Stovetop preparation and cooking instructions include:
Are Reuben Sandwiches Always Served Hot?
I should note that not everyone actually makes reuben sandwiches by heating them and they serve them like you’d eat a basic turkey sandwich found in a convenience mart with cold cut turkey, cheese, tomato, lettuce, mayo, and untoasted bread. However, this isn’t the way we like our reubens! We are team warm, melty, and gooey!
What to Serve with Reuben Sandwiches
Serve your reuben sandwiches made in an air fryer or on the stovetop with classic sides like:
Potato chipsFriesPicklesDill picklesOr whatever sounds great to you – for us it’s something crunchy and a bit salty!
Storage Instructions
Without a doubt, air fryer reuben sandwiches or skillet reuben sandwiches are best served warm and fresh. Melted cheese is undoubtedly at its peak when it’s warm and gooey! For this reason while you can technically hang onto leftover sandwiches and store them airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days, they’re not going to taste nearly as good as they do when fresh which is when I advocate devouring them.
How to Reheat a Reuben Sandwich in an Air Fryer
If you do find yourself with a leftover reuben sandwich and you want to reheat it, you can do it in an air fryer. Set your air fryer to about 320F so that it just reheats the reuben, and doesn’t actually cook it too much (burn it).
What Kind of Air Fryer is Best?
If you don’t have an air fryer and are looking to possibly purchase one, I always advocate go with the biggest model you can find storage space for. Even XL models are by no means “huge”. I am able to fit and make two sandwiches at one time in my Cosori XL Air Fryer with 5.8-quart basket. It’s a Generation II model and one of the most popular air fryers out there. Many people who jumped on the bandwagon bought this model. There’s now a Generation III model Cosori with a 6.8-quart basket. There are also other brands with double baskets if you have the room for them.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Reuben Sandwiches
Making sandwiches isn’t rocket science and that holds true for homemade reuben sandwiches! However my biggest tips and takeaways are as follows: Preheat your Air Fryer – Air fryers can take a bit to come up to temperature. By preheating it before you even start making the recipe, you’ll get a headstart on this. Plus you’ll know it’s at the proper temperature after you add the sandwiches so they cook properly. Watch the Food – Since all models of air fryers vary, and if you’re doing this on the stove all stoves and skillets vary, therefore so will cooking time. If your food looks done quicker than the indicated cook times, by all means, pull it out. Conversely, if the cheese hasn’t melted or the bread really doesn’t seem very toasted, don’t be afraid to cook it a bit longer. Russian Dressing vs. Thousand Island – Russian dressing is going to give you more of a kick or spiciness (and you can make it spicier than I indicate by tweaking the seasonings), and depth of flavor than Thousand Island, which is not at all spicy nor kicked up. If you don’t have the ingredients on hand for Russian dressing and just want to crack open a bottle of Thousand Island, Ken’s Steakhouse Thousand Island or Kraft Thousand Island are tried and true.
More Easy Sandwich Recipes:
Ham and Cheese Sliders – Baked juicy ham and Swiss nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls and brushed with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping!! Fast, EASY, and a party FAVORITE!! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Pepperoni Pizza Sliders – Pizza by way of supremely cheesy sliders!! EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect for parties because everyone LOVES them! Totally IRRESISTIBLE!! Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders – Grilled pineapple slices brushed with a soy and ginger marinade add a Hawaiian-inspired twist to these irresistible sandwiches! Chicken Enchilada Sliders — Juicy shredded chicken is tossed in spicy enchilada sauce and is layered in soft Hawaiian rolls along with plenty of melted cheese! Brush them with a melted garlic butter and oregano mixture and garnish with cilantro and avocado! PERFECT for entertaining, game days, Superbowl, or a FAST and EASY weeknight dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes! Beer and Bourbon Barbecue Chicken Sliders – Chicken is cooked with beer and bourbon before being soaked in bbq sauce! So juicy, flavorful, easy, and ready in 25 minutes! Caramelized Onion and Portobello Mushroom Sliders with Fry Sauce – Meatless comfort food at its finest! Hearty, satisfying and so good! Homemade Sloppy Joe’s — The BEST and most flavorful homemade Sloppy Joe’s that the whole family will ADORE! So EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and can be made with either ground beef or ground turkey to keep them HEALTHIER! Perfect for get-togethers, parties, or a fast family dinner on busy weeknights! Big Mac Sliders — For anyone who likes the restaurant version, you’re going to LOVE this copycat Big Mac recipe in handheld slider form! Complete with a COPYCAT Big Mac special sauce, melted cheese, pickles, and tender beef all nestled between soft buttery buns. Cheese Lover’s Fontina and Mozzarella Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Warm, gooey comfort food at its finest! Best & cheesiest grilled cheese ever!
