Tasty Corned Beef Reuben Recipe

corned beef Rueben

St. Patrick’s Day is on Sunday so I need to plan recipes for the weekend. Saturday night is gonna be Corned Beef Reubens. Bob is not a corned beef guy, this is gonna be a tough sell.

It's Saturday, March 16th. I'm planning a St. Patrick's Day weekend of food, but my husband does not like corned beef. Too bad, we're having Corned Beef Reubens tonight. Gotta win him over.

All of the ingredients are prepped and ready for the pan, including a homemade Thousand Island dressing

All of the ingredients are prepped and ready for the pan, including a homemade Thousand Island dressing.

I go to the grocery store and get a pound of corned beef, sliced thin, from the deli. I also get the best quality Swiss cheese and prepared Sauerkraut. The bakery has a lovely store-made rye bread and I plan to make my own Thousand Island dressing because it it ridiculously easy. Here we go.

FOR THE SANDWICH:

  • 1 lb. corned beef, sliced thin
  • 1/2 lb best quality Swiss cheese, sliced medium
  • 1 loaf rye bread with caraway seeds
  • 1 container prepared sauerkraut
  • Softened butter for the bread

FOR THE DRESSING:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup chopped dill pickles
  • 1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1 tsp. ground black pepper

First, spread one side of the bread with the softened butter, coast to coast. Then, arrange a large pile of corned beef to fill the sandwich to the thickness you prefer. I stacked a good inch, because we are splitting one! Put a bit of sauerkraut, a few slices of the swiss on the top, and don't be stingy, because we are gonna put cheese on both sides. And prepare your dressing (super easy).

buttered and dressed bread, Swiss cheese, meat stack, kraut and more cheese in the pan before the buttered and dressed lid goes on.  Use gentle heat and wait for the brown and the melt to happen

The buttered and dressed bread, Swiss cheese, meat stack, kraut and more cheese in the pan before the buttered and dressed lid goes on. Use gentle heat and wait for the brown and the melt to happen.

When it is time to apply the heat, warm your pan to medium low, put one slice of bread, butter side down, lay some dressing on (go easy) and then two slices of Swiss cheese. Next add your corned beef/sauerkraut/cheese stack. Then top with the other buttered piece of bread, butter side out with the dressing on the inside. Butter, bread, dresssing, cheese, meat, sauerkraut, cheese, dressing, bread, butter. This is important, don't screw it up. Grill over medium low, with a cover so that the meat warms and the cheese melts. Flip when well browned -- be patient -- and then assuming the meat is warm and the cheese is melted, take the cover off. When both sides are done, remove to a plate or cutting board and let set up for a minute or two so that things don't slide around when you cut it. Enjoy. I served it with a small cup of the sausage and bean soup from a few days ao and it was darn delicious. Bob asked me what corned beef was. He asked about the bread and the type of cheese, as well as what was in the dressing. He totally did not expect to like this but he did! Gonna rock his world with Guinness Stew Pie tomorrow, check in for the recipe! Happy St. Paddy's day y'all!

finished toasted reuben with corned beef

The finished product, served with a cup of soup. A tasty and surprisingly light dinner when shared between two people!!