The Reuben Reinvented: 5 Delicious Vegan Twists on a Classic Sandwich

The origins of the Reuben sandwich are a mystery. Some claim it started its life in Omaha, Nebraska, for example, when a grocer called Reuben Kulakofsky whipped it up for some local poker players during a late-night game at the Blackstone Hotel in the 1920s. The sandwich was a hit, and as a result, it made it onto the hotel’s permanent menu. Others say this sandwich was not invented in Omaha, but in New York, by wealthy restaurateur Arnold Reuben and his family. One slight variation on this particular story even attributes the Reuben’s invention to Arnold Reuben’s accountant. 

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But whether it was made by a grocer, a restauranteur, or an accountant, one fact remains: today, Reuben sandwiches are loved all over the US. In 2019, one survey by YouGov found that nearly half of Americans say they like a Reuben sandwich. This puts it ahead of the French dip and just behind other American favorites, like egg salad sandwiches and meatball subs.

Traditionally, meat and dairy are staples in Reuben sandwiches, but they don’t have to have a place in yours. Below, you’ll find five ways to make a juicy, tangy version of this American favorite using 100 percent plant-based ingredients.

What ingredients are in a Reuben?

A Reuben sandwich is a classic American grilled sandwich. According to one menu from the 1940s, which was offered at the Blackstone Hotel’s in-house restaurant The Plush Horse, the traditional recipe includes corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing, all served on Russian rye bread. This is still the classic combination that most people opt for in a Reuben sandwich. However, some prefer its close relation, the Rachel sandwich, which swaps out the corned beef for turkey and the sauerkraut for coleslaw.

Zucker & Jagdwurst

What is a good substitute for meat in a Reuben?

Of course, as with most popular dishes, you can get all the same Reuben taste and texture with meat-free ingredients. Tempeh, jackfruit, mushrooms, tofu, and seitan offer all the juicy mouthfeel of meat, while smoked paprika, soy sauce, mustard, and black pepper can bring the flavor. 

RELATED: 7 Traditional German Recipes Without the Meat, From Sausages to Schnitzel

You can also swap out the Swiss cheese for a tasty vegan version (find some of our favorite vegan cheese brands here), and even whip up your own dairy-free thousand island dressing from scratch (check out a recipe here). Other classic Reuben ingredients, like sauerkraut and rye bread, for example, are usually vegan (although watch out for honey in some rye bread options). 

5 vegan Reuben recipes

Is your stomach rumbling for a juicy, tangy, hearty Reuben sandwich? You’ve come to the right place.

Jackie Sobon

1 New York-Style Vegan Reuben With Tempeh Bacon

This New York-style vegan Reuben recipe combines crispy tempeh bacon with vegan Swiss cheese, ketchup, vegan mayonnaise, beefsteak tomato, sauerkraut, and avocado—all on rye bread, of course. The result is a rich, tangy, smoky, creamy sandwich that is guaranteed to become your new go-to comfort lunch.
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Connoisseurus Veg

2 Vegan Reuben Sandwiches With Seitan

This version of a juicy Reuben combines tender seitan with dill pickles, vegan cheese, sauerkraut, and instead of thousand island, Russian dressing. The latter is made with a tasty combination of vegan Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, horseradish mustard, and hot sauce for a kick. “I’ve never had a conventional Reuben, so I relied on my husband’s guidance for this one,” says recipe developer Alissa Saenz. “He tells me it’s pretty spot on. To this day it’s a household favorite.”
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Shane and Simple

3 Sweet Potato Reuben Sandwich

Instead of plant-based protein, this tasty Reuben recipe from Shane and Simple opts for nutrient-dense sweet potato, and the results are mouthwateringly good. “Savory roasted sweet potatoes, tangy sauerkraut, and homemade vegan Thousand Island dressings rest between two pieces of delicious marble rye bread. It’s then pan-fried, without oil, to crunchy golden perfection,” says recipe creator Shane Martin, before declaring that it is “incredibly close to its non-vegan counterpart.”
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My Goodness Kitchen

4 Vegan Reuben With Mushrooms

In this recipe, My Goodness Kitchen replaces the meaty texture of corned beef with tender, crispy pan-fried mushrooms. They’re mixed with red cabbage sauerkraut, Russian dressing, and pickles to make a sandwich that is bursting with rich, spicy, tangy flavor. Recipe creator Amanda Logan declares this sandwich to be “wonderfully messy” and “super tasty.”
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Zucker & Jagdwurst

5 Vegan Reuben With Corned Beef

Julia Jagdwurst of Zucker & Jagdwurst wanted her version of a Reuben to be as close to the original as possible, so she recreated a recipe from Sarah’s Vegan Kitchen for authentic-tasting vegan corned beef. It requires a variety of ingredients like wheat gluten, maple syrup, kidney beans, herbs, and nutritional yeast, but the effort is worth it because the textures in this vegan Reuben are next-level.
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