Baked Pumpernickel Reuben Rolls with Reuben Sauce

These Baked Reuben Rolls combine all the things that make Reuben Sandwiches a favorite. Super soft Pumpernickel or Rye bread is rolled flat, then layered with homemade Reuben Sauce, Swiss cheese, sliced Pastrami, and tart Sauerkraut. Then it’s all rolled up nice and neat, and baked for just a few minutes until lightly crispy on the outside and warm and melty on the inside!

This recipe was originally posted March 2018. Images and recipe updated March 2022.

Ingredients for Baked Reuben Rolls

• Super fresh, soft Pumpernickel or Rye Bread
• Homemade Reuben Sauce or your favorite Thousand Island Dressing
• Lacey Swiss Cheese (I used Boar’s Head here) or other Swiss
• Deli-sliced Pastrami (I used Boar’s Head here) or Corned Beef
• Good Sauerkraut
• Cornichons or baby pickles – for garnish

Kitchen Tool Suggestions for Baked Reuben Rolls

• Small Paring Knife – to trim bread crusts and any uneven areas
• Rolling Pin – to roll the slices of bread flat
• Off-Set Spatula or similar – to spread the Reuben Sauce on the bread
• Parchment Paper – to line the baking sheet
• Rimmed Baking Sheet – to bake the Baked Reuben Rolls on
• Cocktail Toothpicks (optional) – for the cornichon garnish
• Small Bowls for the Homemade Reuben Sauce – because everyone will want to double dip the deliciousness!

REUBEN LOVE

Reuben Sandwiches are simple, really, but the ingredients have to be the best! When I make my Reuben sandwiches, the layers of flavors are the priority. 

About The Bread

There are several varieties of rye bread – which is the bread usually used to make Reubens. Marble ryes and ryes with caraway seeds are delicious options, but pumpernickel – a dark, dense German bread made from coarsely ground whole-grain rye – is also a wonderfully flavorful option.

RECIPE TIP: Whatever bread you use for your Baked Reuben Rolls, make sure it’s super fresh and really soft. That way, it’ll be easier to roll out and the flavor and texture will be best.

WHAT’S TO LOVE ABOUT *THIS* RECIPE

There are literally millions of recipes for Reuben Rolls out there using other types of wrappers, and I’m sure they’re all amazing! But, when I think about the undeniably distinctive flavor that dark, flavorful bread brings to Reuben sandwiches, that’s when it hit me… What the world didn’t have (yet) was Reuben rolls wrapped in pumpernickel or rye.

So, with a crazy idea and a rolling pin in hand, I set out to make these pumpernickel Reuben rolls happen. After lots of testing and figuring out what works and what doesn’t, this totally crave-worthy Baked Reuben Rolls recipe is ready to share.

As always, I’m including several Cook’s Notes below – not because this is a difficult recipe by any means – but because sometimes even the smallest details make the biggest difference in the way a recipe turns out. Even a relatively simple sandwich recipe like this. And I want you to enjoy these wonderfully flavorful Baked Pumpernickel Reuben Rolls just as much as we do!

Seriously Savory Serving Suggestions

Baked Pumpernickel Reuben Rolls are perfect for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Game Day Gatherings, and casual lunches and dinners of any kind. Serve these dip-able delights along with a beautiful beer cheese soup or Colcannon Gratin with Whiskey Caramelized Onions and Melted Dubliner (or any of the other dishes below) for a total win!

Enjoy!

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Baked Pumpernickel Reuben Rolls with Dipping Sauces

These Baked Reuben Rolls are a hearty, bite-sized treat! Soft pumpernickel bread is rolled flat, then layered with homemade Reuben Sauce (or sauce of your choice), Swiss, Pastrami, and Frank’s Kraut. Then it’s all rolled up nice and tight, and baked until lightly crispy on the outside, and warm and melty on the inside!

Course Hearty Appetizers, Sandwiches

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Author Michele Phillips, BaconFatte.com

Ingredients

• 12 slices soft Pumpernickel or Rye bread
• ½ - 3/4 cup homemade Reuben Sauce (recipe links in post) - or Thousand Island dressing
• ½ lb. Deli-Sliced Lacey (or other) Swiss Cheese
• ½ lb. Deli-Sliced Pastrami or Corned Beef
• 1, 14 oz. can Sauerkraut, drained
• Cornichons or baby pickles for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. Drain the sauerkraut well.

3. Using a small paring knife, trim any "tough" crusts or uneven edges from the bread. Stack the trimmed slices of bread on a microwave-safe plate.

4. Microwave trimmed bread for 5 – 8 seconds to warm and soften (repeat as needed; leave bread in microwave until ready to use). Remove one slice at a time to roll and assemble.

5. TO ASSEMBLE:

6. Using a rolling pin, roll each slice of bread individually until flat (like a tortilla).

7. Thinly spread Reuben Sauce (or dressing) on rolled bread, leaving 1/2-inch DRY around the edges.

8. Starting at the long/wide end of bread closest to you, add a single layer of Swiss cheese on the lower half of the bread. Then add a single layer of pastrami over that, and finally a couple of tablespoons or sauerkraut. Make sure to layer ingredients on just 3/4 of the piece of bread so everything stays inside the roll when you roll it up.

9. Place rolls – open edge down – on the baking sheet, leaving an inch of space between each roll. Bake for 5 minutes, then turn the rolls and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

10. Serve warm with additional Reuben Sauce or prepared dressing.

Recipe Notes

*It’s very important that the bread you use is “squeezably soft” because dryer, coarse breads don’t roll out well.
*Warming the bread in the microwave softens the bread even further so it rolls out to a thin tortilla-like consistency. Don’t over-warm the bread, or allow it to cool completely before rolling. Keep the bread in the microwave until ready to roll.
*If making ahead, roll the slices of bread and place in an air tight container for up to a day before making Reuben rolls.
*Lacey, or Lacy, Swiss is a U.S.-made Swiss cheese that has a unique “lace” pattern. Its delicate flavor and wonderful melt-ability make it a great choice for sandwiches, wraps and Pumpernickel Reuben Rolls! "Regular" Swiss cheese slices will also work well.
*IF MAKING AHEAD: (1) Make sure sauerkraut is completely drained so it doesn’t saturate the rolled bread. (2) Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. (3) Add 5 minutes baking time to allow cold rolls to warm through.
*TO RE-WARM REUBEN ROLLS: Microwave for 20 – 30 seconds, or bake in a 350 degree oven for 3 - 5 minutes. Microwaving will merely warm the rolls, while baking will create a slightly crispy exterior.

In the mood for more kraut to cure your cravings?

Try these recipes!

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• You’ve got to love a good mash-up, and this Turkey Burger Rachel Sandwich recipe is definitely a good one! We enjoy both versions of this sandwich around St. Patrick’s Day, but we re-visit it often because it’s too good to only enjoy once a year.

Rustic 3-Meat, Veg and Sauerkraut Cottage Pie

• This is an incredibly hearty dish absolutely brimming with rich flavors and textures. The cottage pie recipe is perfect for dinner parties or a hungry family. It fills a full-size 3-quart casserole dish, or six to eight soup terrines for nice, neat individual servings.

Swiss Sauerkraut Noodle Casserole with Herbs

• The tangy kraut flavor in this sauerkraut noodle casserole is distinctive, but not in the deliciously tart way that we’re used to eating it when it’s piled on top of a brat, for example. The kraut flavor mellows when combined with noodles and ground beef, and it brightens the flavors of all the ingredients to create a wonderfully warm, delicious comfort food dish.

Creamy Sauerkraut Spread with Bacon, Garlic and Shallots

• Creamy Sauerkraut Spread with Bacon, Garlic & Shallots is a great addition to any well-rounded #snackuterie menu. This is not your typical dip or spread – its tangy, bacon-y, garlic-y goodness makes it completely crave-worthy. Enjoy as a dip with crackers, veggies, meatballs and wings, or spread it on sandwiches, sliders and burgers for a wonderfully flavorful twist!

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