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Say hello to your new favorite sandwich: the vegetarian Reuben! It’s loaded with gooey Swiss cheese, tangy sauerkraut, and homemade seitan corned beef. Serve it with a generous drizzle of Thousand Island dressing for the ultimate sandwich!

Four halves of a seitan reuben sandwich stacked on top of one another
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Your New Favorite Sandwich

Who doesn’t love a thick, melty sandwich complete with a generous amount of cheese? Enter the seitan Reuben—your new go-to for a hearty, savory sandwich that’s perfectly pressed to golden-brown perfection.

Whether you’re battling some midday munchies or looking to whip up a quick and easy dinner, this sandwich has gotchu! It’s made with only 6 simple ingredients and features my very own homemade seitan corned beef.

A close-up view of four halves of a seitan reuben sandwich stacked on top of one another

Here’s What You’ll Need

  • Bread: First up, you’ll need 2 pieces of either rye bread or sourdough bread. The thickness and texture of these types of bread make them great for hot sandwich making—they don’t get as soggy!
  • Dressing: For the sauce, use 2-4 tablespoons of Thousand Island dressing (depending on how much you like the stuff!).
  • Cheese: Next up, 2 slices of Swiss cheese. Provolone would also work well here if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Seitan: You’ll need about 2-4 slices of seitan corned beef per sandwich.
  • Sauerkraut: Last but not least, finish things off with ¼ cup of sauerkraut (learn how to make your own sauerkraut here!).
A loaf of vegan meatloaf, reminiscent of seitan corned beef, rests on a white plate with several sliced pieces beside it, set on a light blue wooden surface.

Making This Vegetarian Reuben Is So Simple

Grab your seitan corned beef and Swiss cheese because it’s time to make this vegetarian Reuben!

Step 1: Prep The Bread
Spread butter onto one side of each slice of bread.

Step 2: Assemble the Reuben
Spread Thousand Island dressing on the other side of the slices of bread. Layer half of the cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut, and the remaining cheese.

Two slices of bread coated in thousand island dressing, one of which has two small Swiss cheese slices on top
Use enough Thousand Island dressing to keep things saucy, but not so much that it drips everywhere.
Two slices of bread coated in thousand island dressing, one of which has four slices of seitan corned beef on top
For optimal meltiness, remember to divide your cheese slices (some for the bottom and some for the top). This also creates a gooey barrier that helps everything stick together and stay in place.
Two slices of bread coated in thousand island dressing, one of which has seitan corned beef and sauerkraut on top
If you’re concerned about soggy bread from the sauerkraut, you can pat it dry with a paper towel before adding it to the sandwich.
Two slices of bread coated in thousand island dressing, one of which has seitan corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese on top
Medium heat will give your sandwich time to get nice and toasty without burning. If using a panini press, just keep a close eye on it!

Step 3: Cook The Sandwich
Cook your vegetarian Reuben sandwich over medium heat in a large skillet, pan, or panini press until the outside is golden brown and the cheese melts.

Three halves of a seitan reuben sandwich stacked on top of one another
If you don’t have a skillet, you can also broil your Reuben in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Don’t forget to serve it with a side pickle spear!

Customize it

Here are some quick tips for switching things up and customizing your vegetarian Reuben sandwich to perfection!

  • Add Veggies: You can’t go wrong here. Add anything you’d like! Some of my favorites include onions, sauteed mushrooms, dill pickle chips, peppers, and tomato slices.
  • Let’s Get Saucy: Feel free to add your favorites! Try mustard (spicy or regular), Russian dressing, ketchup, or some horseradish.
  • Say Cheese: Swiss is classic, but pepper jack, cheddar, or provolone would all taste amazing as well.
  • Don’t Underestimate Seasonings: Garlic, chili pepper flakes, and oregano are an easy way to add an extra kick of flavor!
  • Go Vegan: For a vegan Reuben sandwich, use vegan butter, vegan Thousand Island dressing (or vegan mayo mixed with ketchup and pickle relish), and vegan cheese slices (provolone and cheddar are probably the easiest to find).

Savor the Seitan

Stack of grilled cheese sandwiches with a creamy, vegetarian Reuben-style filling, set on white parchment paper against a blue background.
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Vegetarian Reuben (With Easy Seitan Corned Beef)

5 from 1 rating
By: Sarah Bond
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 large sandwich
Looking for a tasty veggie twist on a classic sandwich? Say hello to your new favorite: the vegetarian Reuben! It’s loaded with gooey Swiss cheese, tangy sauerkraut, and homemade seitan corned beef. Serve it with a generous drizzle of Thousand Island dressing for the ultimate sandwich recipe!

Ingredients 

  • 2 pieces bread, rye or sourdough
  • 1 tsp unsalted butter, 5 g
  • 2 to 4 Tbsp Thousand Island dressing, 30 to 40 g
  • 2 slices Swiss cheese
  • 2 to 4 slices seitan corned beef, click for the recipe
  • ¼ cup sauerkraut, 30 g
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Instructions 

  • Bread: Spread butter onto one side of each slice of bread.
  • Assemble: Onto the other side of the slices of bread, spread Thousand Island dressing. Layer on half of the cheese, the Seitan Corned Beef, the sauerkraut, and the remaining cheese.
    Open sandwich with rye bread; top half piled high with corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese; bottom half spread generously with dressing. Perfect twist on a classic Reuben, even tempting for those eyeing a vegetarian version; served on a light blue surface.
  • Cook: Cook over medium heat in a large skillet or panini press until the outsides are golden brown and the cheese has melted. Alternatively, set the oven to broil and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
    Stacked grilled sandwiches reminiscent of a vegetarian Reuben are filled with pulled pork and sauerkraut on white paper. A small bowl of sauce sits beside them against a blue background.

Nutrition

Serving: 1large sandwich | Calories: 714kcal | Carbohydrates: 47.3g | Protein: 44.3g | Fat: 39.4g | Saturated Fat: 21.2g | Cholesterol: 292mg | Sodium: 1804mg | Potassium: 505mg | Fiber: 6.9g | Sugar: 5.3g | Calcium: 512mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
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5 from 1 vote

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3 Comments

  1. N.S. says:

    5 stars
    This is a great way to eat the Seitan Corned Beef!

    Reply
  2. Joe says:

    Sarah, this was so good!
    It was my first time making seitan and it was really easy! I used my InstaPot for steaming the loaf. I’m looking forward to making more with different flavors.
    We made huge vegan Reubens for St. Patrick’s Day. Added some air-fried sliced petite gold potatoes and some homemade coleslaw for sides. The Reubens were absolutely delicious!
    Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    1. The Live Eat Learn Team says:

      Thrilled you loved it, thanks for the review Joe!