Air Fryer Reuben Sandwich

Ingredients

Sandwich Foundations

• Rye Bread: $4$ thick slices of authentic seeded rye bread or pumpernickel bread.
• Corned Beef: $\frac{1}{2} \text{ lb}$ ( $225 \text{ g}$ ) high-quality deli corned beef, thinly sliced (pastrami also works wonderfully).
• Sauerkraut: $\frac{3}{4} \text{ cup}$ sauerkraut (Crucial step: squeeze out excess liquid thoroughly in a paper towel to prevent soggy bread!) .
• Swiss Cheese: $4$ large slices of Swiss cheese (Emmental or Gruyère).
• Butter: $3 \text{ tbsp}$ unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (or mayonnaise for an extra crispy crust).

The Classic Russian Dressing

• Mayonnaise: $\frac{1}{4} \text{ cup}$ full-fat mayonnaise.
• Chili Sauce or Ketchup: $2 \text{ tbsp}$ .
• Sweet Pickle Relish: $1 \text{ tbsp}$ .
• Horseradish (Optional): $1 \text{ tsp}$ prepared horseradish for a spicy kick.
• Worcestershire Sauce: $\frac{1}{2} \text{ tsp}$ .
• Lemon Juice: $\frac{1}{2} \text{ tsp}$ .

Instructions

Step 1: Mix the Russian Dressing (Time: 3 minutes)

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, chili sauce (or ketchup), sweet pickle relish, prepared horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and fresh lemon juice.
2. Whisk thoroughly until smooth and pink. Set aside.

Step 2: Prep and Squeeze the Sauerkraut (Time: 2 minutes)

1. Place the sauerkraut into a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
2. Squeeze tightly over the sink to expel as much liquid brine as possible. Dry sauerkraut is the secret to a non-soggy, perfectly textured Reuben!

Step 3: Assemble the Sandwiches (Time: 5 minutes)

1. Lay out the 4 slices of rye bread on a clean cutting board.
2. Spread a generous tablespoon of homemade Russian dressing on the inside of each bread slice.
3. Place one slice of Swiss cheese onto the bottom side of each sandwich.
4. Layer the thinly sliced corned beef generously over the cheese, folding the meat loosely to trap warm air pockets.
5. Add an even layer of the squeezed, dried sauerkraut directly on top of the corned beef.
6. Top with the second slice of Swiss cheese, then close the sandwich with the top slice of rye bread.
7. Spread softened butter (or mayonnaise) evenly across the exterior top and bottom crusts of both sandwiches.

Step 4: Air Fry to Crispy Perfection (Intensity: Medium-High | Time: 8–10 minutes)

1. Preheat your air fryer to $380^\circ\text{F}$ ( $193^\circ\text{C}$ ) for 3 minutes.
2. Carefully place the assembled sandwiches into the air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches if your air fryer basket is compact).
3. Air fry at $380^\circ\text{F}$ ( $193^\circ\text{C}$ ) for 4 minutes .
4. Open the basket, gently flip the sandwiches over using a spatula, and air fry for an additional 3 to 5 minutes , until the rye crust is deeply golden, crispy, and the Swiss cheese is completely melted and bubbling.

Step 5: Slice and Serve

1. Remove sandwiches from the air fryer basket and let them rest for 2 minutes so the melted cheese sets slightly.
2. Cut diagonally down the center with a sharp serrated knife and serve immediately with dill pickle spears and extra Russian dressing for dipping!

Nutrition

Calories: 620 kcal — · Protein: $32.4 \text{ g}$ $65\%$ · Fat: $36.5 \text{ g}$ $47\%$ · Carbohydrates: $42.5 \text{ g}$ $15\%$ ↳ Dietary · Saturated Fat: $14.2 \text{ g}$ $71\%$ ↳ Trans · Fiber: $5.2 \text{ g}$ $19\%$ ↳ · Sugar: $6.8 \text{ g}$ — · Sodium: $1420 \text{ mg}$ $62\%$