Reuben Burger

Love a good burger? How about a good Reuben? Find the best of both worlds in this EPIC Reuben Burger! Topped with slices of Swiss cheese, corned beef, Frank’s Sauerkraut and Thousand Island Dressing, this melty Reuben burger is hearty, bursting with flavor, and perfect for your next meal or cookout!

If you don’t know what a Reuben is, it’s a sandwich made of corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island Dressing on grilled rye bread. Ironically, the Reuben was said to originate right here in my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. It was served at the Blackstone Hotel in 1920. Needless to say, you can find Reubens or variations of them on menus all over now. In fact, March 14th is actually “National Reuben Day.” This Reuben burger takes the flavors of a classic Reuben and turns it into the most amazing burger ever!

This post is sponsored by Frank’s Kraut, but my lifelong love and opinion of their delicious sauerkraut are all my own.

REUBEN BURGER

It’s time to fire up the barbecue grills and get the family together for some outdoor fun and outdoor eats!

I love coming up with recipes for new ways to make age-old favorites. 

These burgers were super easy, and you should have heard the “mmm’s” and the “yums” that were coming from my family!

While the burgers were grilling, I warmed together my Kraut and my corned beef. I used deli corned beef, but this would be a perfect way to use up any leftovers when you make a corned beef meal. Perfect for those days following St. Patrick’s Day!

 

Prefer to make this recipe completely from scratch? Try out my Homemade Thousand Island Dressing!

Want other yummy burgers to try? Try my Red, White & Bleu Burger, Swiss Cheese Krautburgers or my Hangover Burger recipe!

Frank’s Kraut – The BEST Sauerkraut

The first time I made this Reuben Burger, it was in honor of National Burger Month in 2015. I was contacted by Frank’s Kraut to make a Reuben Burger for National Burger Month, I jumped at the chance!

Frank’s Kraut originally found me when I posted a “How To” on making Polish Sausage & Sauerkraut like my grandma always did. I have never purchased another brand of kraut in my life. I am Polish, so, trust me, that is saying something!

Their products are always fresh, and always taste delicious. I love the 2-pound poly bags like you see here. It’s also available in glass jars and in cans. The best part is it lasts for quite a long time in the fridge. I took the rest of this bag and placed it in a canning jar in my fridge. It’s going to make the perfect topper for our grilled hot dogs next weekend!

WHAT IS AN ORIGINAL REUBEN?

If you don’t know what a Reuben is, it’s a sandwich made of corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island Dressing on grilled rye bread. Try my Traditional Reuben Sandwich for yourself! Want to know more about this delicious type of sandwich? My post, Everything About the Reuben Sandwich & How to Reuben-ize Everything, will teach you everything you need to know about this satisfying dish.

Ironically, the Reuben was said to originate right here in my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. It was served at the Blackstone Hotel in 1920. Needless to say, you can find Reubens or variations of them on menus all over now. In fact, March 14th is actually “National Reuben Day.”

 

INGREDIENTS FOR REUBEN SANDWICH RECIPE

This recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients that you may already have in the refrigerator or pantry! To see the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.

FOR THE BURGERS

• Lean Ground Beef
• Thousand Island Dressing – you can use store-bought dressing or take these rueben burgers over the top with my Homemade Thousand Island Dressing!
• Onion – your choice, I typically use yellow
• Salt & Black Pepper

 

FOR THE TOPPINGS

• Frank’s Sauerkraut
• Corned Beef – I buy it in the deli and have them slice it a little on the thicker side. Chop it finely with a sharp knife or use your food processor.

TO SERVE

• Rye Buns – Sometimes I can find these at HyVee in the bakery – if I give them a little heads up they will make them for me. If I can’t find them I buy brioche buns.
• Swiss Cheese – again I have the deli cut the slice of Swiss cheese a little thicker. Lots of melty cheese goodness that way!
• Thousand Island Dressing – more for topping!

HOW TO MAKE REUBENS BURGERS

My recipe for Reuben burgers is so incredibly easy to prepare! To see even more detailed steps, please scroll down to the recipe card.

PREP

Combine burger ingredients together, and form 6 burger patties. Grill or pan-fry in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until done.

Note: The internal temperature of a hamburger should be 160 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

Top with a slice of cheese and cover until the cheese melts.

WARM

In a small saucepan, warm corned beef and kraut while burgers are grilling. Alternatively, you could warm it in a small bowl in the microwave, too.

TOAST

Butter insides of rye rolls or burger buns and toast buns in a skillet or on the grill.

SERVE

Build the burger: Place the burger with melted cheese on the bottom bun. Top with a heap of kraut/corned beef mixture. Drizzle with Thousand Island dressing. Add top bun and serve.

 

Love them? Pin them!

Don’t forget where you found these savory sandwiches! Pin it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest before you go!

 

There are many variations of this classic recipe. Instead of using lean ground beef, substitute with turkey or salmon burgers. Prefer a spicy sauce on your burger? Switch out the Thousand Island Dressing for a Russian Dressing with horseradish and chili pepper.

 

Looking for side dishes that pair well with these delicious burgers? Try my Homemade Double Fried French Fries, Copycat Olive Garden Salad & Dressing, or my Baked Sweet Potato Chips.

 

With my Polish and German heritage, of course, I am passionate about kraut. Although you may prefer to call it sauerkraut, I like it just the same. Small wonder, the terms are actually synonymous and derive from the German word for Cabbage or herb.

Kraut can be used in a variety of recipes, from soups to salads, and entrees to appetizers. I have a ton of kraut recipes to check out. If you haven’t guessed, I am a big fan. 

 

Before we get to the recipe, I would like to offer up a HUGE thank you to Frank’s Kraut! This burger recipe was the beginning of what is now a seven-year relationship of making recipes that use their most excellent sauerkraut! 

Here are some more scrumptious recipes I made with Franks’ Kraut:

Smoked Polish Sausage & Sauerkraut – Hot Reuben Dip – Sauerkraut, Bratwurst & Potato Soup

Love Kraut like we do?

Find oodles more sauerkraut recipes at FranksKraut.com

You can see all of the goodness they share on social media, too:  Facebook , YouTube ,  Pinterest and Twitter.

 

Love Reubens? Want to know more? The Reuben actually has a couple of origin stories, it just depends on who tells it. Learn all about Reuben and how to Reubenize anything! 

 

OTHER RECIPES TO ENJOY

• Italian Burger
• Italian Meatloaf Sliders
• Easy Garlic Mushroom Burgers
• Reuben Stuffed Baked Potatoes
• Reuben Casserole

 

Let’s grill up these yummy burgers!     

 

 

This recipe was originally posted on May 4, 2015. It has been updated to improve user experience and re-shared on June 24, 2022.