Name: Reuben Sandwich
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients: 1/4 head Cabbage; 1/2 a large Lemon; 1 tbsp Olive Oil; Salt and Pepper; 2 tbsp Stone Ground Mustard; 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard; 8 slices Pumpernickel or Rye Sandwich Bread; 3 tbsp Thousand Island or Russian Dressing; 3/4 pound thinly sliced Pastrami or Corned Beef; 1/2 pound sliced Swiss or Gruyere Cheese; Lemon Roasted Cabbage

This Reuben Sandwich is a great way to use up leftover St. Patrick’s Day corned beef. This unique reuben sandwich recipe features roasted cabbage, melted Swiss cheese, and corned beef. Imagine the combination of a grilled cheese sandwich and a great reuben – it’s the perfect sandwich!

close up shot of a reuben sandwich using leftover corned beef on a cutting board with a pickle

Creating this Reuben Panini

I hope you all have a happy Saint Patrick’s Day and enjoy a big plate of your favorite Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe.

I grew up eating Corned Beef and Cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day every year, but around 2010 was the first time I ever made it in my own kitchen. Reminiscing lead me to miss that traditional meal, so I put together a recipe for Honey Marmalade Mustard Glazed Corned Beef.

Years ago, when the kids were tiny, in our little family there was often the dilemma of what to do with the extra meat when larger cuts, such as roasts or corned beef, are prepared.

Reuben Sandwich: The Best Easy Leftover Corned Beef Recipe

Then, one year I created this delicious leftover reuben sandwich, panini style, to use up our leftover Corned Beef. Reubens happen to be one of my favorite sandwiches of all times, so I loved creating a new take on the sandwich.

It was a big hit and the perfect way to use up leftover corned beef.

So popular, in fact, that we have made the recipe several times over without it being St. Patrick’s Day. All you have to do is head to the deli and ask for thinly sliced corned beef or pastrami meat.

overhead shot of reuben sandwich ingredients using leftover corned beef

What are the Ingredients in a Reuben Sandwich

A classic reuben sandwich recipe is made from corned beef, Swiss cheese, tart sauerkraut, and Russian Dressing on rye bread, but I decided to mix things up from a traditional reuben.

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this delicious sandwich:

Cabbage
Lemon
Olive Oil
Salt and Black Pepper
Stone Ground Mustard
Dijon Mustard
Rye Bread, Pumpernickel Bread, or Marbled Rye
Tangy Russian Dressing
Thinly Sliced Corned Beef or Pastrami
Slices of Swiss Cheese or Gruyere Cheese
Butter

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

Ingredient Notes for this Leftover Corned Beef Sandwich

A classic Reuben uses the Russian Dressing but feel free to use Thousand Island Dressing, which is similar, if you can’t find Russian at your grocery store. Thousand Island is less spicy than Russian Dressing and has sweet pickle relish in it.

If you prefer to use prepared sauerkraut in place of the roasted cabbage, you can do that. You probably need about a cup of tangy sauerkraut for 2-3 reuben sandwiches.

overhead shot of assembling a reuben sandwich

Is a Reuben Sandwich Made with Corned Beef or Pastrami?

A true Reuben Sandwich is technically made using corned beef, however corned beef and pastrami are often used interchangeably for this sandwich.

When we don’t have leftover corned beef, I love being able to get sliced Pastrami from the deli on the rare occasions I have a craving for this homemade reuben sandwich. Sometimes you can find corned beef at the deli counter, but depending on the store you might not always find it.

How to Make a Homemade Reuben Sandwich

Because sandwiches are very much about personal preference, feel free to use this recipe for a Reuben Panini as a guideline. For example, if you prefer more mustard or less meat, for example, go ahead and adapt the recipe according to your personal tastes.

Here is a quick overview of the process for preparing this tasty corned beef sandwich:

overhead shot of shredded cabbage with lemon on a parchment lined sheet pan

Assembling a Reuben Sandwich

First, preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine sliced cabbage with lemon juice and olive oil on the prepared baking sheet. Season with Salt and Pepper. Roast the cabbage until tender.
While the cabbage roasts, combine the two mustards. Then, spread both inside slices of bread with a thin layer of your preferred dressing.
Then, top the meat with the mustard. Add cabbage on top of the mustard covered meat.
Next, add a slice of Swiss cheese on top of the cabbage. Top with the other piece of bread.

Cooking the Reuben Sandwich

After you’ve assembled the sandwich, butter the outward facing side of each slice of bread.
Grill using a panini press,
Then, flip and cook the other side until the cheese melts and the outer of the bread slices are nice and toasty .
After cooking, slice and serve.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

reuben sandwich using leftover corned beef on a cutting board with a pickle

How Can I Make a Reuben Panini without a Panini Press?

If you want to make this Reuben Sandwich without a panini press, you can use a small skillet or frying pan and grill the sandwich over medium low heat.

To mimic the panini press, you can press down on the sandwich with a weighted plate, a bacon press, or a brick wrapped with aluminum foil.

What To Serve with this Leftover Corned Beef Sandwich

I’m a big fan of the deli favorite options like potato chips or potato salad, and a pickle.

St. Patrick’s Day Side Dishes like Colcannon or Baked White Cheddar Mac n Cheese with Kale and Bacon (use Irish Cheddar for St. Patrick’s Day!) always taste great alongside this sandwich!

However, if you’re making this Reuben Panini and it isn’t St. Patrick’s Day or you just want to serve something else with it, I always love a good sandwich with a side of Sweet Potato Fries.

For something fresher, try a green salad. It doesn’t have to be fancy at all. We often use mixed greens, lettuce, cucumber, shredded carrot, and tomato for a basic side salad. Check out these 3 Simple Salad Dressing Recipes to go along with your salad.

And, for dessert, try these fun Leprechaun’s Rainbow Cookies.

close up shot of a reuben sandwich using leftover corned beef on a plate with a pickle

More of My Best Sandwiches

Looking for another good sandwich recipe? I think grilled sandwiches are some of the best sandwiches, so here are a few easy recipes with toasty bread and gooey, melted cheese that I love:

This recipe for Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese recipe definitely takes the classic sandwich up a notch! Cheddar cheese, bacon, green apple, and caramelized onions are piled in between two slices of toasted sourdough and grilled to crispy perfection.

In this Slow Cooker French Dip Panini Recipe, the classic sandwich is converted to a Panini Recipe, crispy sourdough bread being the perfect medium to soak up the delicious au jus.

Crispy, salty bacon; soft Brie that melts if you so much as look at it; your favorite jam; rustic bread. All of these ingredients work together in this Bacon and Brie Grilled Sandwich.

Try this Easy Reuben Sandwich Recipe!

Next time you’re looking for an easy lunch, give these homemade reubens a try! Did you think it was the best reuben sandwich? Leave a comment section below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this great sandwich.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this Reuben Sandwich!

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What are your favorite St. Patrick’s Day Recipes?

Reuben Sandwich

Yield: 4 sandwiches

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

This Reuben Sandwich is a great way to use up leftover St. Patrick's Day corned beef. This unique reuben sandwich recipe features roasted cabbage, melted Swiss cheese, and corned beef. Imagine the combination of a grilled cheese sandwich and a great reuben - it's the perfect sandwich!

Ingredients

For the Cabbage

1/4 head Cabbage
1/2 a large Lemon
1 tbsp Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

For the Sandwich

2 tbsp Stone Ground Mustard
2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
8 slices Pumpernickel or Rye Sandwich Bread
3 tbsp Thousand Island or Russian Dressing
3/4 pound thinly sliced Pastrami or Corned Beef
1/2 pound sliced Swiss or Gruyere Cheese
Lemon Roasted Cabbage

Instructions

To Prepare the Lemon Roasted Cabbage

Preheat oven to 425˚ F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Thinly slice the cabbage.
Place the thinly sliced cabbage on the lined baking sheet.
Drizzle the cabbage with the juice of half a lemon and the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper according to personal preference and toss to coat evenly.
Roast the cabbage until tender, about 7-15 minutes, checking occasionally on the progress.

To Assemble the Reuben Sandwich

Meanwhile, add the stone ground and Dijon mustard to a small bowl.
Stir to combine. Set aside for later use.
Spread both insides of both slices of bread with a thin layer Thousand Island or Russian dressing.
Add a few slices of the pastrami or corned beef, however much meat you prefer. I used about 3-4 slices per sandwich.
Spread mustard on top of the meat.
Divide the roasted cabbage evenly between the four sandwiches, placing it on top of the mustard-covered meat.
Top the cabbage with 2-3 slices of cheese.
Top with the other slice of bread.

To Grill The Reuben

Grill using a panini press or in a cast iron skillet. If using a skillet, you can press down on the sandwich with a weighted plate to mimic the panini press.
Flip and cook the other side.
Then slice and serve.

Notes

How Can I Make this without a Panini Press?

If you want to make this Grilled Reuben Sandwich without a panini press, you can use a small skillet or frying pan and grill the sandwich over medium low heat.