Crispy Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich

A sliced Reuben sandwich garnished with dill pickles on a white plate with BBQ potato chips.

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This is the ultimate crispy, gooey, perfectly melted Air Fryer Reuben sandwich recipe ever! This classic deli favorite is easy to assemble, cooks in under 10 minutes in your air fryer, and has the perfect balance of tangy sauerkraut, savory corned beef, and melty Swiss cheese!

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: All Recipes, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 839kcal

Author: Jeri Walker

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!

Notes

What if I don't have an air fryer? You can make a similar sandwich in a panini press or skillet. If using a skillet, cook over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes per side with a lid to help the cheese melt.

What's the best way to drain sauerkraut? For ultra-crispy results, place your sauerkraut in a fine mesh strainer and press with the back of a spoon first. Then, transfer to a clean kitchen towel, gather the edges, and twist tightly over the sink to remove all excess moisture. This extra step makes a huge difference!

Air Fryer Size Tips: Because there are varying sizes of air fryer baskets, you may need to cook one sandwich at a time. Never stack or overlap the sandwiches, or they won't crisp properly.

Storage Tips: These sandwiches are best enjoyed fresh from the air fryer. If you need to make ahead, store all components separately in the refrigerator and assemble just before cooking for best results.

Bread Options: While traditional rye is classic for a Reuben, you can substitute it with marble rye, pumpernickel, or sourdough. Just make sure it's sturdy enough to hold up to the fillings.

Better with Hand-Sliced Deli Meat! Ask your deli counter to slice the corned beef fresh and on the thinner side. Pre-packaged corned beef is usually too thick.

Quick Corned Beef Tip! Don't have corned beef on hand? Leftover pot roast or even deli roast beef can be used instead. Just add a little extra Thousand Island dressing to compensate for the milder flavor.

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