Instant Pot Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich: An Effortless Classic

Craving the classic deli experience at home without the fuss? Our Instant Pot Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich recipe brings you the tender, succulent flavors of slow-braised corned beef brisket, perfectly nestled between toasted rye bread, tangy sauerkraut, rich Swiss cheese, and creamy Thousand Island dressing. This isn’t just a sandwich; it’s a culinary journey made incredibly easy thanks to the magic of your pressure cooker. Whether you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, looking for a delicious way to enjoy leftovers, or simply desiring a quick, hearty weeknight meal, this Reuben delivers on all fronts. Prepare to be amazed by how effortlessly you can achieve restaurant-quality results, yielding impossibly tender corned beef that’s the star of this iconic sandwich.

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Every year, as St. Patrick’s Day approaches, my kitchen is filled with the comforting aroma of corned beef. While traditional dishes like Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage are a beloved staple, the versatility of pressure-cooked corned beef extends far beyond the holiday feast. This year, transform your leftover brisket (or a fresh batch!) into something truly special: a mouthwatering Reuben sandwich. The Instant Pot ensures the corned beef is incredibly tender and flavorful, making it the perfect foundation for this iconic deli sandwich. Get ready to elevate your meal prep and treat your taste buds to a truly satisfying experience.

Table of Contents

Why the Instant Pot for Corned Beef?

The Instant Pot is a game-changer when it comes to cooking corned beef. Traditionally, braising corned beef can take hours of simmering on the stovetop or in the oven, requiring constant monitoring to ensure it remains tender and doesn’t dry out. The Instant Pot drastically cuts down this cooking time, delivering unbelievably tender, flavorful brisket in a fraction of the time.

Pressure cooking works by trapping steam and increasing the internal temperature and pressure, which allows food to cook much faster while retaining moisture and flavor. For a tough cut like corned beef brisket, this means a tender, fall-apart texture that would otherwise require hours of slow cooking. The sealed environment also locks in all the aromatic flavors from the broth, garlic, and onions, infusing the meat deeply. It’s truly the easiest and most efficient way to prepare this classic meat, ensuring perfect results every time with minimal effort on your part.

Key Ingredients Explained

Creating an exceptional Instant Pot Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich starts with understanding the role each ingredient plays in building that perfect flavor profile and texture. Here’s a closer look at the stars of this dish:

• Corned Beef Brisket: The undisputed centerpiece. Opt for a quality brisket, usually found pre-brined (corned) and often with a spice packet included. The Instant Pot transforms this tough cut into melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Its salty, savory notes are foundational to the Reuben’s character.
• Broth (Chicken or Beef): Essential for pressure cooking the brisket. The broth adds moisture and flavor, preventing the meat from drying out and contributing to the rich liquid that helps braise the beef. Chicken or beef broth both work wonderfully, with beef broth often intensifying the savory depth.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic infuses the corned beef with an aromatic kick, enhancing the overall savory profile of the meat as it cooks. It’s a subtle but crucial background flavor.
• Onions: Sliced onions add a foundational sweetness and complexity to the braising liquid, slowly caramelizing and softening around the corned beef, further enriching its flavor.
• Rye Bread: The quintessential bread for a Reuben. Its distinctive caraway seed flavor and hearty texture hold up beautifully to the moist fillings. Toasted to a golden crisp, it provides the perfect structural and textural contrast.
• Sauerkraut: This fermented cabbage is key to the Reuben’s signature tang and crunch. Its sour notes cut through the richness of the meat and cheese, creating a balanced and vibrant flavor.
• Thousand Island Dressing: The creamy, sweet, and tangy dressing is a non-negotiable element. Its blend of mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, and spices binds all the flavors together, adding a luscious texture and a burst of savory-sweetness.
• Swiss Cheese: Known for its nutty, slightly sweet flavor and excellent melting properties. When gently warmed on the toasted rye, it becomes wonderfully gooey, adding a creamy, savory layer that complements the other strong flavors.

Making Tender Corned Beef in Your Instant Pot

The secret to an unforgettable Reuben lies in the corned beef, and the Instant Pot makes achieving perfectly tender, flavorful brisket incredibly simple. Here’s how you’ll prepare the star ingredient for your sandwiches:

First, ensure your Instant Pot is ready. Place the trivet, which is the metal rack that comes with your Instant Pot, at the bottom of the inner pot. This keeps the brisket slightly elevated from the liquid, allowing it to braise evenly in the steam and broth.

Next, carefully place your corned beef brisket on top of the trivet. Pour 2 to 3 cups of chicken or beef broth into the pot. The exact amount can vary based on the size of your brisket and your Instant Pot model, but ensure there’s enough liquid to come up to about half the height of the brisket without exceeding the maximum fill line. Add the minced garlic cloves and sliced onion around the brisket; these aromatics will infuse the broth and the meat with fantastic flavor.

Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensuring the sealing valve is set to the “Sealing” position. Cook the corned beef on high-pressure for 90 minutes. This extended cooking time under pressure is what transforms the brisket into its signature tender state.

Once the cooking cycle is complete and the Instant Pot beeps, resist the urge to perform a quick release. Instead, allow the steam to release naturally for at least 10 minutes. This natural pressure release (NPR) is crucial for tenderizing tougher cuts of meat, preventing them from becoming dry and tough. After 10 minutes, you can carefully turn the sealing valve to the “Venting” position to release any remaining pressure. Once the float valve drops, it’s safe to open the pot.

Remove the beautifully cooked beef from the Instant Pot and transfer it to a cutting board. Allow it to cool slightly, making it easier to handle. Using two forks, shred the beef against the grain into tender, juicy strands. This shredded texture is ideal for loading into your Reuben sandwiches, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor and melts in your mouth.

Assembling the Perfect Reuben Sandwich

With your perfectly tender corned beef ready, assembling your Reuben sandwich is the exciting final step. Each layer contributes to the iconic flavor and texture, creating a symphony of savory, tangy, and creamy notes.

Start by toasting your rye bread slices to a golden crisp. You can do this in a toaster for convenience or, for an even meltier cheese experience, toast them in a skillet. If using a skillet, lightly spray it with olive oil over medium-high heat. As the bread toasts, place the slices of Swiss cheese on one side of one piece of toasted rye bread. The residual heat from the bread will gently melt the cheese, making it wonderfully gooey and ready to cling to the delicious fillings.

Once your bread is toasted and the cheese is melting, it’s time to build your masterpiece. Generously load a hearty portion of the shredded, tender corned beef brisket onto the cheese-covered rye slice. Don’t be shy; this is the main event!

From there, add a generous helping of sauerkraut directly on top of the corned beef. The tangy, crunchy sauerkraut is essential, providing a refreshing counterpoint to the rich meat and cheese. Spread your desired amount of Thousand Island dressing on the other toasted slice of rye bread. This creamy dressing ties all the flavors together with its unique sweet and savory profile.

Finally, carefully place the dressing-coated bread slice on top of your piled-high sandwich. Gently press down to secure all the layers. VOILA! In just a few quick steps, you’ve created a fantastic, satisfying Instant Pot Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich.

Just look at that yummy dressing oozing from the side of this sandwich! These sandwiches are not only incredibly easy to make, especially when utilizing leftover corned beef, but they are also such a delightfully tasty treat for any meal. The combination of textures and flavors is simply irresistible.

Serving Suggestions & Variations

A classic Reuben sandwich is often a meal in itself, but a few simple sides can complete the deli experience. Crisp potato chips, a dill pickle spear, or a creamy coleslaw are traditional pairings that offer a refreshing crunch and balance to the rich sandwich. For a heartier meal, consider serving it alongside a warm bowl of tomato soup or a light green salad with a vinaigrette dressing.

Feeling adventurous? Here are a few ways to customize your Instant Pot Corned Beef Reuben:

• Cheese Swap: While Swiss is classic, consider provolone or white cheddar for a different flavor profile.
• Dressing Alternatives: If you don’t have Thousand Island, a Russian dressing (similar, but with horseradish and chili sauce) is a fantastic substitute. You can also whip up a quick homemade version with mayo, ketchup, relish, and a dash of hot sauce.
• Spice It Up: Add a thin slice of jalapeño or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the corned beef for a hint of heat.
• Extra Veggies: Thinly sliced red onion or a layer of fresh spinach can add extra crunch and nutritional value.
• Open-Faced Reuben: For a lighter option, serve it open-faced on one slice of rye bread, piled high with all the delicious fillings.

Storage and Leftovers

This recipe is designed with efficiency in mind, making it perfect for utilizing leftover corned beef, especially after a St. Patrick’s Day feast. Cooked corned beef brisket can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The assembled Reuben sandwiches are best enjoyed fresh, as the bread can become soggy over time.

If you’re prepping ahead, store the shredded corned beef, sauerkraut, and dressing separately. When ready to eat, simply toast your rye bread, melt the cheese, and assemble the sandwich. This way, you can enjoy a fresh, hot Reuben anytime with minimal effort.

Instant Pot Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich Recipe

This Instant Pot Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich is an easy pressure cooker recipe featuring tender, braised corned beef brisket. These sandwiches are perfect for enjoying as delicious leftovers from your St. Patrick’s Day celebration or for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner. Each sandwich is generously loaded with tangy sauerkraut, creamy Thousand Island dressing, and savory Swiss cheese on perfectly toasted rye bread.

Author: Brandi Crawford

★★★★★ 5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe | Pin Recipe

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 1 hr 40 mins | Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins

Course: Dinner, Lunch | Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 | Calories: 471 kcal per serving

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Equipment

• Instant Pot

Ingredients

Corned Beef

• 3-4 pounds corned beef brisket
• 2-3 cups chicken broth (or any broth, 3 cups recommended for optimal tenderness)
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ onion, sliced

Sandwich

• Sliced rye bread
• 1-2 tablespoons sauerkraut for each sandwich
• 1 tablespoon Thousand Island dressing for each sandwich
• 2 slices Swiss cheese for each sandwich

Instructions

Preparing the Corned Beef

1. Place the trivet (metal rack) into the bottom of your Instant Pot’s inner pot.
2. Add the corned beef brisket, chicken broth, sliced onions, and minced garlic to the pot, ensuring the brisket is resting on the trivet.
3. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, ensuring the sealing valve is set to the “Sealing” position. Cook on Manual (or Pressure Cook) > High-Pressure Cooking for 90 minutes.
4. Once the cooking cycle is complete, do not perform a quick release. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes.
5. After 10 minutes of natural release, carefully turn the sealing valve to the “Venting” position to release any remaining steam. Once the float valve drops, open the pot and carefully remove the tender beef. Set it aside to cool slightly.
6. Using two forks, shred the corned beef against the grain into delicious, tender pieces.

Assembling Your Reuben Sandwich

1. Toast the rye bread slices to your preferred golden crispness using a toaster or a skillet.
2. While the bread is still hot from toasting, immediately place two slices of Swiss cheese on one side of one piece of toasted bread. The heat will help the cheese melt perfectly.
3. Next, pile a generous amount of the shredded corned beef onto the cheese-covered bread slice. Follow with a layer of sauerkraut.
4. Spread a tablespoon of Thousand Island dressing evenly onto the other toasted slice of rye bread.
5. Carefully place the dressing-coated bread slice on top of the assembled layers to complete your sandwich.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade Instant Pot Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich!

Notes

This recipe is often made using leftover corned beef from a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner. The instructions are tailored to ensure even freshly cooked brisket becomes the perfect base for your Reuben. You can adjust ingredient quantities to suit your taste, adding more or less sauerkraut or dressing as desired.

Nutrition Information

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