This Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich is a classic deli favorite you can make at home in under 10 minutes. With tangy sauerkraut, savory corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, and creamy dressing between crispy slices of rye bread, this sandwich is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.
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Easy Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich Recipe
Quick and Easy. This is one of those super simple air fryer recipes that my family can't get enough of! Ready in under 10 minutes, these Reubens are perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without any effort.
Restaurant-Quality at Home. Even though we're using basic ingredients, this air fryer Reuben tastes like it came straight from a New York deli! The outside of the bread gets nice and crispy while the Swiss cheese melts perfectly around the corned beef and sauerkraut.
Serve it with Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup or Red Pepper and Gouda Soup.
Ingredients
Rye Bread: To keep things simple, use store-bought rye bread. But if you're feeling ambitious, use my Homemade Sourdough Bread (you can even add some rye flour), Smoked Sourdough Bread, or Sourdough Discard Sandwich Bread.
Mayonnaise and Butter: Together, these create that gorgeously crispy golden crust.
Thousand Island Dressing: Brings that creamy, tangy flavor essential to a classic Reuben. You can also make your own by combining 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon ketchup, 1 teaspoon finely chopped dill pickles, and a dash of salt and pepper. Or substitute with my Best Smashburger Sauce, Russian dressing, or this homemade Comeback Sauce.
Corned Beef: Use thinly sliced or shaved corned beef at your deli counter. You can also use pastrami if you like.
Swiss Cheese: Makes everything melty and delicious. Freshly sliced from the deli melts so much better than the pre-packaged stuff.
Sauerkraut: Drain and squeeze it well, or your sandwich might get soggy!
How to Make Air Fryer Reuben Sandwiches
Prep Your Ingredients
Start by gathering everything you need. Drain and squeeze that sauerkraut REALLY well - this step is so important for a crispy sandwich! Then spread a thin layer of butter and then mayonnaise on one side of each slice of rye bread - this will be your "outside" that gets gorgeously golden in the air fryer.
Build Your Sandwich
Place two slices of bread mayo-side down on your cutting board. Spread some Thousand Island dressing on the inside face, then layer with Swiss cheese, corned beef, and sauerkraut.
Add another slice of Swiss on top (because more cheese is always better!), drizzle more dressing, and top with the remaining bread slices, mayo-side out.
Air Fry to Perfection
Preheat your air fryer to 370°F for about 2 minutes. Carefully place your sandwiches in the air fryer basket. (Depending on your air fryer size, you might need to cook them one at a time). Air fry for 4-5 minutes, then gently flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is all melty and delicious.
Slice and Serve
Let your classic Reuben sandwich rest for just a minute (if you can wait that long!), then slice diagonally and serve immediately. That first bite with the crispy bread, gooey cheese, and savory fillings is absolute sandwich heaven!
Tips for Making Air Fryer Reuben Sandwiches
Squeeze That Sauerkraut! I can't stress this enough - REALLY get the moisture out of your sauerkraut or you'll end up with a soggy sandwich. I like to put mine in a clean kitchen towel and give it a good squeeze.
Even Layers. Place your ingredients evenly across the bread so every bite has that perfect Reuben balance. Nothing worse than getting to the end and having all sauerkraut and no corned beef!
Don't Overstuff. I know it's tempting to pile on the fillings, but too much will cause everything to spill out when you press the sandwich.
Watch Closely. Every air fryer is different, so keep an eye on your sandwiches the first time you make them. They can go from perfectly golden to too dark pretty quickly!
Variations
Rachel Sandwich (The Reuben's Cousin): Swap the corned beef for Smoked Turkey and add my Miracle Whip Coleslaw instead of sauerkraut.
Reuben with a Twist: Add caramelized onion or bacon.
Double Protein Reuben: Mix corned beef and pastrami together for an extra-hearty sandwich.
Cheesy Upgrade: Add a slice of cheddar along with the Swiss cheese.
Reuben Melt: Make it open-faced with extra cheese on top for a knife-and-fork sandwich!
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover sandwich fillings separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, then assemble fresh sandwiches when ready to eat. (Though honestly, we rarely have leftovers!)
Reheating Tips
For best results, these sandwiches should be made fresh. If you must reheat a leftover assembled sandwich, pop it back in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes to crisp up the bread again.
Serving Suggestions
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! A panini press works great for Reubens too. Press for about 3-4 minutes until golden and melty.
Thousand Island is sweeter and has relish, while Russian dressing is spicier with a horseradish kick. Either works great on a Reuben!
If needed, secure your sandwich with toothpicks before air frying; just remember to remove them before eating!
Definitely! Use small rye bread slices or cut regular bread into rounds with a cookie cutter for adorable, bite-sized Reuben appetizers. Reduce cooking time to about 5-6 minutes total.
This depends on the size of your air fryer. Most standard-sized air fryers can fit 1-2 sandwiches at a time. Cook in batches if needed, keeping the first batch warm in a low oven.
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Printable Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices rye bread
- ⅛ cup butter
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Thousand Island dressing or Russian dressing (divided)
- ½ pound corned beef (shaved or thinly sliced)
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- ½ cup sauerkraut (drained and squeezed dry)
Instructions
- Drain your sauerkraut (½ cup) extremely well by placing it in a clean kitchen towel and squeezing out all excess moisture. This is CRUCIAL to prevent soggy sandwiches!
- Spread a thin, even layer of butter (about 1½ teaspoons per slice) and then mayonnaise (about 3 teaspoons per slice) on one side of each slice of rye bread. This will be the outside of your sandwich that gets golden and crispy.
- Place two slices of bread mayo-side DOWN on your work surface, then spread Thousand Island dressing (about 1 tablespoon per sandwich) on the facing-up sides.
- Layer each sandwich with 1 slice of Swiss cheese, half of the corned beef (¼ pound per sandwich), half of the drained sauerkraut (¼ cup per sandwich), another slice of Swiss cheese, and the rest of the dressing (about 1 tablespoon per sandwich).
- Top each sandwich with the remaining bread slices, positioning them mayo-side UP. Gently press down on the sandwiches to compact them slightly, but don't press too hard or the fillings will spill out. Note: If your sandwiches are quite full, you can secure them with toothpicks for the first half of cooking, then carefully remove them when flipping.
- Preheat your air fryer to 370°F.
- Place the sandwiches in your preheated air fryer basket, making sure they aren't touching. You may need to cook one at a time depending on your air fryer size. Air fry at 370°F for 4-5 minutes until golden brown on the bottom, then CAREFULLY flip the sandwiches using a spatula and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and both sides are crispy golden brown.
- Test doneness by looking for a deep golden-brown color on both sides and ensuring the cheese is completely melted. If the bread is browning too quickly but the cheese isn't fully melted, lower the temperature to 350°F for the remaining cook time.
- Once cooked, remove the sandwiches from the air fryer and let them rest for 1-2 minutes before slicing diagonally. This brief rest lets the cheese set slightly so it doesn't all ooze out when you cut it.
- Serve immediately with extra Thousand Island dressing on the side for dipping if desired. Enjoy!
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Notes
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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