Your love for the Reuben sandwich just got a whole more interesting. Classic ingredients like Manny's corned beef are mashed up with Swiss cheese, spicy pickles and sauerkraut for a creamy, baked Reuben dip recipe perfect for a party or your next game day celebration. You can even use a slow cooker!
The creation of a dip...the backstory
Recipes have backstories. And this baked Reuben dip has one. I know—not everyone wants to hear them and if you don't (and I won't be one bit offended if that's the case), hit the "jump to recipe" button at the top. See you at the recipe 😊
Real quick...my BIL loves a Reuben sandwich which in case you've never tried one, is layers of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread. For the past five years (at least!), John has been on the hunt for the best Reuben dip recipe. He's tried 'em all.
So he set out to make his own. Again. And again. and again.
As a family, we've eaten our way through many a Reuben dip until this one. The one that finally hit the mark. It's the corned beef recipe alternative to Reuben sandwiches that people will love dipping into at your next graduation or St. Patrick's Day party.
Ingredients to take you from sandwich to dip
Stand-out Reuben dip ingredients
Corned beef. The star of the show, we use Manny's Corned Beef from Costco's refrigerated case. One package makes enough for two dips so make one now and freeze the rest for later. Or make yourself a toasted Reuben sandwich and call it a day. You can use your favorite deli corned beef too.
Swiss cheese. Gruyere or Emmental are the Swiss cheeses of choice because of their flavor and creaminess. Gruyere is nuttier and stronger in flavor and Emmentaler is milder. They are used together a lot for fondue.
If you choose to use a domestic shredded Swiss cheese, check out this info where you can learn all you need about Swiss cheese. I love Wisconsin's own Hook's Cheese and Edelweiss Emmental cheese.
Everything Bagel Seasoning. This yummy goodness gets sprinkled on top of the dip right before baking and not all brands are the same when shopping for EB seasoning. Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning has my vote for the best flavor!
Homemade Thousand Island dressing. No need to buy another dressing. We are mixing up ketchup, mayo, sour cream and some other ingredients to make thousand island dressing.
Sauerkraut. Use either bottled sauerkraut or canned for authentic Reuben sandwich flavor.
Step-by-step instructions
Brown corned beef in a dry skillet for a few minutes until a little crispy (left above).
Stir the browned corned beef, pickles and sauerkraut to the Swiss cheese and cream cheese mixture. See below for mixing options.
Mixing options for the best Reuben dip texture
Start by mixing Swiss cheese, softened cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, horseradish, ketchup, and mustard to make a thick version of homemade Thousand Island dressing. You can mix it together:
- by hand with a wooden spoon
- using a stand mixer
- in a food processor
- Spread into a pie plate.
- Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning and bake until golden.
Tips and tricks to make your dip stand out
- If you have the time, mixing the dip by hand gives you the best texture.
- The food processor will make a finer dip while the stand mixer will help the dip have more of a chunky texture. It's totally up to you!
- Spicy pickles add a great bite but not are not necessary. Vlasic Bold and Spicy Pickles are easy to find and a good choice.
Serving Suggestions
- Cube up a loaf of unsliced rye bread to serve alongside reuben dip.
- Baby carrots, pita chips or even rye chips are great dippers.
- Make a crockpot reuben dip by cooking it on low and serving it for a party or large gathering. The dip will stay creamy on the warm setting.
How to store and reheat Reuben dip
Store leftover dip in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To reheat, microwave covered on high in 30 second increments to desired temperature.
Make ahead options
Mix up the Reuben dip ahead up to two days and store in an airtight container. On the day you plan to bake it, spread in a pie plate and bake according to recipe directions.
FAQ's
Can I use low fat sour cream, mayo and/or cream cheese?
You bet! We've tried it with all of those and even used olive-oil mayo. They all work. Just don't substitute the sauerkraut or horseradish! Or EB seasoning!
Can this Reuben dip be cooked in a microwave?
Since everything is essentially just being heated, yes! But keep in mind, you won't have that golden top on your dip.
Any chance I can use something other than corned beef in the Reuben dip?
You could always make it a Rachel by substituting turkey for the corned beef. Leftover pastrami is a great alternative too!
Made this recipe?
I'd love it if you'd share your review and leave a star rating and comment!
📖 Recipe
Baked Reuben Dip Recipe with Everything Bagel
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup chopped pickles or relish, spicy pickles really good here
- Corned Beef or Pistromi - chopped 10 oz. used Manny's from Costco
- ½ cup white onion, chopped; can use green onions
- ½ lb grated Swiss cheese , German Swiss from Costco if you can find it
- ¼ cup sour cream, can use light
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons creamy horseradish
- 1 teaspoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ¼ cup sauerkraut
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- Trader Joe's Everything Bagel seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚.
- Dice pickles and onions. Chop corned beef into bite sized pieces.⅓ cup chopped pickles or relish, ½ cup white onion, Corned Beef or Pistromi - chopped 10 oz. used Manny's from Costco
- Add corned beef and onions to a dry skillet on low temperature. Cook for 8 minutes until corned beef is crisp and onions are softened and a little golden. Set aside.
- Add all other ingredients into a bowl and mix. Can also use a food processor and pulse 5-7 times to mix everything together.½ lb grated Swiss cheese, ¼ cup sour cream, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons creamy horseradish, 1 teaspoon ketchup, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, ¼ cup sauerkraut, 8 oz cream cheese
- Stir in pickles and warmed corned beef to the bowl until everything is incorporated.
- Spread dip in a pie plate.
- Sprinkle over Everything Bagel SeasoningTrader Joe's Everything Bagel seasoning
- Bake on the middle shelf for 20 minutes. Raise temperature to 400˚ for last 10 minutes until the dip is golden on top and bubbling.
- Serve with cubed pretzel bread, pita or rye chips.
Notes
- Store leftover dip in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, microwave covered on high in 30 second increments to desired temperature.
- Mix up the Reuben dip ahead up to two days and store in an airtight container. On the day you plan to bake it, spread in a pie plate, sprinkle on bagel seasoning and bake according to recipe directions.
About Lori Murphy
Lori has over 30 years in the food industry as a marketing strategist, culinary instructor and chef for three kids with discerning palates. As the chief content creator at Josie + Nina, Lori is dedicated to helping home cooks create food memories through fresh ingredients and Italian flavors.
I tried this recipe for a family event and not a morsel was left. I made it exactly as published and would not change a thing.
I served it with soft pretzel bites which was the perfect dipper.
Laura you made my BIL's day! It is the Reuben dip of all Reuben dips 🙌🏻...and totally agree soft pretzels for the win! Thanks for trying it!