Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich
This Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich is piled high with slices of corned beef, swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. This easy-to-make and irresistible spin on the classic deli-style sandwich is perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or have yet to try a classic Reuben sandwich, all it takes is just one bite of a delicious Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich and you won’t want to make them any other way!
If you love a good deli-style sandwich as I do, you are going to love how easy this air fryer Reuben sandwich recipe is to make and how utterly delicious they turn out. The bread gets nice and crispy, the corned beef is warmed through, but still tender and juicy, and the cheese is perfectly melted. Yeap, the air fryer just makes everything perfect.
Making an Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich is a great St. Patrick’s Day celebration meal, but it’s also an ideal way to enjoy leftover St. Paddy’s day air fryer corned beef the next day. Either way, you slice it (pun intended!), these hearty and satisfying sandwiches are a perfect lunch or easy dinner any time of the year.
Why Make This Recipe
- Great for Leftovers – Perfect for using up leftover air fryer corned beef.
- Only 6 Ingredients – This great sandwich only requires 6 ingredients.
- Perfect In Every Way – The air fryer gives you a Reuben sandwich that’s toasty on the outside and warm and cheesy on the inside.
Ingredient Notes
- Bread – Use your favorite sandwich bread but choose something substantial like rye, sourdough or pumpernickel.
- Cheese – Swiss cheese is a traditional choice.
- Corned Beef – Use leftover sliced corned beef roast or purchase corned beef from the deli.
- Sauerkraut – You can also use pickled cabbage but make sure either choice is well-drained.
- Dressing – Russian or Thousand Island dressing are both excellent choices.
- Oil or Butter – Used to help crisp up the outside of the sandwich.
Ready to make this Reuben sandwich? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…
How To Make Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Preheat an air fryer to 390 degrees F or 200 degrees C and spread the Russian dressing onto the 8 slices of bread.
- Assemble the sandwiches by dividing the corned beef slices evenly among 4 pieces of bread, then top with sauerkraut and a slice of cheese. Close up the sandwiches with the remaining 4 pieces of bread. You may want to use a toothpick to hold them together.
- Place the sandwiches into the air fryer basket, and spray or brush the tops with oil or melted butter.
- Cook for 3 – 4 minutes, then open the air fryer, carefully flip the sandwiches over, and then butter the tops.
- Cook for another 3-4 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
Pro Tips
- Use a substantial bread that will hold up to this meaty sandwich.
- Ensure the sauerkraut or pickled cabbage is well-drained so you don’t end up with a soggy sandwich.
- Slice the corned beef to your preference. I prefer thick slices, but you can shred the beef.
- Feel free butter the bread before assembling the sandwich.
- Omit the sauerkraut if you prefer.
- Can’t find corned beef? Use pastrami instead.
- Use a toothpick to hold the sandwich together while it cooks. Remove the toothpick before serving.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
- Air fryer temperatures vary depending on the make and model. Use the cooking time listed as a guide, check your food for doneness, then adjust the time as needed.
Delicious Variations
- Omit the Sauerkraut – Not a fan of sauerkraut? Use coleslaw instead.
- Use Pastrami – Although the flavor will be slightly different, pastrami is a great substitute if you can’t find corned beef.
- Make It A Rachel – Swap the corned beef for turkey and use coleslaw instead of sauerkraut to turn your Reuben into a Rachel sandwich.
Prep And Storage
- Prep Ahead – Slice the leftover corned beef as desired for your sandwiches. Use the corned beef within 3 days.
- Store – Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a day or 2, but the sandwich may become soggy.
- Freeze – Freezing is not recommended.
FAQs
A Reuben is a classic deli sandwich with corned beef, sauerkraut, and swiss cheese piled high on rye bread. The sandwich is usually dressed with either Russian or Thousand Island dressing. Reubens can be served hot or cold.
Reuben sandwiches are typically made with rye or marble rye bread. The best selection is a thick heavy bread that can hold up to all of the ingredients. Pumpernickel, sourdough, or any artisan bread will be a good choice.
Yes! To make this in a skillet, you will cook this similar to making a grilled cheese sandwich. I like to cover the pan with a lid as each side of the sandwich grills as this helps the meat to heat through and the cheese to melt.
More Recipes You May Like
- Air Fryer Corned Beef.
- Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches.
- Easy Shrimp Po Boy Sandwich.
- Air Fryer Grilled Cheese.
Serving Suggestions
Thank you for reading my Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
Get The Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich Recipe:
Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.
Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread rye or pumpernickel
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 1 pound (453g) corned beef sliced
- 8 tablespoons sauerkraut well-drained
- ½ cup (132g) Russian dressing or Thousand Island dressing
- oil or melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F or 200 degrees C and spread the Russian dressing on four slices of bread.
- Assemble the sandwiches by dividing the corned beef slices evenly among the 4 pieces of bread, then top each with sauerkraut and a slice of cheese. Close the sandwiches with the 4 remaining slices of bread. If needed, use a toothpick to hold the sandwiches togther.
- Place the sandwiches in the air fryer basket, and spray or brush the tops with oil or melted butter.
- Cook for 3 – 4 minutes, then open the air fryer, carefully flip the sandwiches over, and add butter to the tops.
- Cook for another 3-4 minutes, until crispy golden brown.
Video
Notes
- Use a substantial bread that will hold up to this meaty sandwich.
- Ensure the sauerkraut or pickled cabbage is well-drained so you don’t end up with a soggy sandwich.
- Slice the corned beef to your preference. I prefer thick slices, but you can shred the beef.
- You can butter the bread before assembling the sandwich.
- Omit the sauerkraut if you prefer.
- Can’t find corned beef? Use pastrami instead.
- Use a toothpick to hold the sandwich together while it cooks. Remove the toothpick before serving.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
- Air fryer temperatures vary depending on the make and model. Use the cooking time listed as a guide, check your food for doneness, then adjust the time as needed.
Love how quick and easy the sandwich is easy to put together!