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    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches

    The Rachel Sandwich aka Turkey Reuben Sandwich

    Published: Nov 23, 2018 · Modified: Jul 10, 2024 by Eileen Murphy Kelly

    Jump to Recipe

    Do you have leftover turkey, enjoy a turkey Reuben, also known as A Rachel! A delicious sandwich that assembles in minutes and tastes amazing! Thanksgiving leftovers at its finest, delicious!

    A delicious turkey reuben sandwich with leftover roasted turkey, melted swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, on toasted crispy rye bread.

    Now that we have enjoyed our Thanksgiving Celebration, we have leftovers! Boy, do we have leftovers! What do we do with all that turkey, cranberry, and dressing?

    To begin, make yourself a delicious grilled Rachel sandwich filled with turkey, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and Russian dressing!

    When I started experimenting with my Thanksgiving ingredients I got to thinking what can I do that is a little different this time!

    That got me thinking about Saint Patrick’s Day, don’t ask, I have no idea why! Well, part of my favorite part of Saint Patrick’s Day is leftover corned beef. See, there is a method to my madness!

    Clearly, there is no corned beef today. There is turkey, lots of turkey! I told the family we were giving Turkey Reuben’s a try and it went well, really well! Darn delish!

    Turkey reuben sandwich which crispy golden rye bread, melted swiss cheese, and leftover roasted turkey on a white plate with pickles.

     FAQs about Reubens and Turkey Reubens:

     Can I use Turkey from the deli counter if I don’t have leftover turkey?

    Absolutely! The first time I had a Rachel Sandwich was at a NYC diner. They used a deli cut turkey and it was delish.

    Where did the Reuben originate?

    A few versions! One is a gentleman from Nebraska called Reuben Kulakofsky made it for his buddies during a poker game. Another version is that it was made in New York City by William Hemmerly for a restaurant owner Arnold Reuben. I love Reuben Sandwichs so I am just happy it was invented!

    Why is a Turkey Reuben called a Rachel?

    I looked around a lot for an explanation, all I could is that there was a song in the late 1800s called Reuben and Rachel. Some say the origins of the Turkey Reuben stem from the song. Again, I am just happy to eat a Turkey Reuben

    What is the difference between a Reuben and a Rachel Sandwich?

    A Reuben is made with corned beef and a Rachel is made with Turkey and some put coleslaw on the sandwich.

     What sauce do you put on a Rachel?

    I prefer Russian dressing. Some like Thousand Island. BTW, I wouldn’t turn away a Turkey Reuben made with Thousand Island

    Can I use turkey that is not from leftovers to make the Reuben Sandwich?

    Absolutely! I love using Thanksgiving leftover turkey but any type of turkey can be used to make the sandwich, smoked turkey works well. Feel free to swap and use corned beef as well!

     Why is a Turkey Reuben called a Rachel?

    I looked around a lot for an explanation, all I could is that there was a song in the late 1800s called Reuben and Rachel. Some say the origins of the Turkey Reuben stem from the song,

    A grilled turkey reuben sandwich that has been grilled and sliced in half with melted Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and sauerkraut on a white plate with pickles.

     What can be served with a Turkey Reuben:

    • Homemade pickles
    • Lighter Macaroni Salad 
    • Garlic and Herb Roasted Red Potatoes 
    • Baked Spicy French Fries
    • Cheesy Foil Packet Potatoes

    This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission which helps keep my blog up and running but it won’t cost you a penny more!) We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com 

    I also have a store where I am always updating great finds for not just cooking, I hope you check it out here, Everyday Eileen I will continue to update it regularly! Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

    Thank you so very much for being apart of Everyday Eileen!   

    Tools You May Need To Make a Turkey Reuben:

    Cast Iron Skillet: I love the sear the bread gets when using a cast iron skillet. I highly recommend using one for Reuben Sandwiches!

     How to Make a Turkey Reuben:

    1. Use 2 slices of Rye Bread. Lightly butter outside of each slice of bread
    2. Place swiss cheese on unbuttered side of bread. two slices of rye bread with a slice of swiss cheese on each piece as the beginning step of a Turkey Reuben
    3. Add sliced turkey to one side of the sandwich.
    4. Put some sauerkraut on the other slice. A delicious turkey reuben in the assembly process with sauerkraut on one side and turkey pieces on the other slice of bread
    5. Top the turkey side with Russian Dressing. two slices of rye bread one half with swiss cheese and sauerkraut. the other have with swiss cheese, turkey and Russian dressing to assemble a Turkey Reuben
    6. Put either butter spray or a little butter in a hot pan.
    7. Place the sandwich in the pan. Grill till golden brown. A turkey reuben being grilled on a cast iron skillet.
    8. Flip, do the same, grill until golden-brown. A delicious turkey reuben on a cast iron grill with melting swiss cheese!
    9. Serve warm. Enjoy! A delicious turkey reuben that has been grilled and cut in half and stacked on a white plate.

    It’s always awesome seeing your recreations of my recipes! When you make any of my recipes, tag me on Instagram #everydayeileen or @everyday_eileen

     I love any comments or questions! I would love for you to share your comments or questions below!

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    Enjoy a favorite sandwich at home with a healthy kick by using turkey! Better yet, use leftover turkey to make an amazing sandwich in about 5 minutes! 

    Enjoy this recipe, please give it a 5-star rating! Also, any comments are super helpful for me and very much appreciated!

    📖 Recipe

    A delicious grilled golden brown crispy reuben sandwich with melted swiss cheese, Russian dressing, sauerkraut on a white plate with pickles.

    Turkey Reuben Sandwich

    An easy sandwich that uses leftover turkey to make the most delicious Turkey Reuben Sandwich! Feel free to also use deli-sliced turkey or corned beef to make delicious Reuben Sandwiches, better than a diner!
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    Course: dinner, lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: leftover corned beef, leftover turkey, turkey sandwich
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
    0 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 13 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 serving
    Calories: 476kcal
    Author: Eileen Kelly

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

    Equipment Needed:

    Ingredients

    • 2 slices Rye Bread Note 1
    • ½ Tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 2 slices low-fat Swiss Cheese
    • 4-6 ounces cooked turkey Note 2
    • 4 ounces Sauerkraut, drain and squeeze out liquid Note 3
    • 1 Tablespoon low-fat Russian dressing or homemade Note 4
    • non-stick butter spray
    US Customary - Metric

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    Instructions

    • Lightly butter one side of each slice of the bread. 
    • On the other side of the bread, lay a slice of Swiss Cheese on each slice of bread. 
    • On one side of bread, place the drained sauerkraut. On the other slice, place the turkey.
    • Spread the Russian dressing over the turkey. Close the sandwich.
    • Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Spray with butter spray. When the pan is hot, place the sandwich in the skillet.
    • Grill till golden brown, about 4 minutes.
    • Flip sandwich and grill another 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and cheese melted. (Note 3)

    NOTES

    Note 1: If you have an amazing bakery, buy a loaf of their rye bread if possible, or make a home-made loaf of rye bread.
    Note 2: This recipe calls for leftover turkey meat. Deli sliced turkey can be used. Corned beef and leftover corned beef can also be used.
    Note 3: Drain the liquid from the sauerkraut. You can also use a cotton towel to place the sauerkraut in and drain the kraut thru the cotton cloth.
    Note 4: I prefer low-fat Russian Dressing. You can use regular Russian Dressing. Some use Thousand Island dressing.
    Note 4: If the sandwich is browning quickly and the cheese is not melting, place a pot cover over the sandwich for a few seconds to melt the cheese quicker.
    Note 5: Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 476kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 2831mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 260IU | Vitamin C: 16.7mg | Calcium: 631mg | Iron: 4.7mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

    📖 Recipe

     

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    Thank you for sharing!

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