Make these easy Reuben Sliders for your crew on St. Patrick’s Day! Using King’s Hawaiian Rolls with layers of smokey pastrami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and of course Thousand Island dressing.
Mini Reuben sandwiches are the perfect appetizer in slider form!
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Why You Will Love This Reuben Sliders Recipe
- Easy – I love using sweet Hawaiian rolls for sliders because they stay together until you pull them apart.
- St. Patrick’s Day Meal – Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a fun twist on a classic, although they are amazing anytime!
- Crowd Pleaser – This easy recipe makes 12 sliders, making a great appetizer or easy weeknight dinner with the family and the perfect game day recipe!
Looking for more fun and delicious Irish-inspired dishes to make for your St. Patrick’s Day meal? Check out my classic Baked Corned Beef and Cabbage, Pub Style Best Irish Steak and Ale Pie with a buttery, flaky crust, or this easy, no-bake Skillet Shepherd’s Pie.
Simple Ingredients for Reuben Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
- Rolls | King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls are the perfect slider rolls. If you can find King’s Preztel Rolls or mini Rye rolls even better!
- Corned beef | Thinly sliced deli corned beef or pastrami will both work!
- Cheese | I use thinly sliced Swiss cheese, which melts quickly and provides a barrier for the juicy sauerkraut.
- Sauerkraut | It wouldn’t be a Reuben without the sauerkraut! Remember to drain and squeeze the excess liquid. I like to purchase fresh sauerkraut in the refrigerator or deli section of the grocery store.
- Dressing | Thousand Island dressing is another staple ingredient for a traditional Reuben. I like Lighthouse, which is found in the refrigerator section. You may also use Russian dressing.
- Butter | I used salted butter; if using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
- Mustard | I love this Reuben recipe with flavorful, spicy brown mustard. However, other mustards may be used if desired.
- Worcestershire sauce | Add extra savory flavor to the butter topping.
- Garlic and onion | Add garlic and onion powder to boost the butter sauce.
- Seasoning: One of my favorite things is the Everything Bagel Seasoning on the tops of the rolls.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Easy Pastrami Sliders
Step 1 | Preheat and prep
Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C) and line a sheet pan with parchment paper or grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Place sauerkraut in a sieve and drain, pressing with paper towels to get out as much moisture as possible.
Slice the rolls in half lengthwise (slicing the bottom half a little thicker than the top), while keeping the individual rolls together. Place the bottoms of the rolls in the pan.
Step 2 | Assemble sliders
Start by placing one layer of cheese over the bottom buns to prevent soggy rolls. Next, place the pastrami in an even layer on top of the cheese, followed by the drained sauerkraut.
Fresh Tips
- Give it a few squeezes, too, you want to get out as much liquid as possible) sauerkraut.
Fresh Tip
- Use paper towels to really squeeze out the moisture from the sauerkraut, this will ensure your Reuben slider recipe isn’t soggy!
Then, drizzle the dressing and layer with more slices of Swiss cheese, finishing by replacing the top buns.
Step 3 | Add topping
Now, combine the melted butter, garlic powder, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and onion powder in a small bowl, stirring well.
Pour the butter mixture over the rolls and use a silicone brush to cover the sides and crevices. Then, sprinkle the Everything but the Bagel seasoning on top.
Fresh Tips
- As I tested this slider recipe, I discovered that a layer of cheese on the top and bottom of the stack keeps the moisture from seeping into the rolls.
- Don’t lay the meat flat on the rolls. Instead, style it so it’s ruffled, like on a deli sandwich. Use as much or as little as you like.
Step 4 | Bake, slice, and dig in!
Cover with foil and bake for 10 to 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for a few more minutes until the tops are golden brown and slightly crisp and the cheese is melted.
Finally, slice the corned beef and cheese sliders and serve hot and fresh with a side of Thousand Island dressing for dipping– Enjoy!
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Variations & Substitutions
- Toppings: Instead of Everything but the Bagel seasoning, sprinkle the butter-brushed sliders with poppy seeds, caraway seeds, finely minced garlic, chopped parsley, and parmesan or sesame seeds on top of the bun.
- Leftover Corned Beef: This is also a great recipe after a St. Patrick’s Day of baked corned beef and cabbage – Use thinly sliced leftover corned beef.
- Load it up! Make a NYC Reuben sandwich and load this baby up! Purchase as much thinly sliced pastrami as desired, adding extra layers to your Reuben sliders.
- Dressings: Some prefer Russian dressing on their Reuben sandwiches. The choice is yours!
- Buns: Any slider buns are great for this recipe. Use mini hamburger buns or dinner rolls, or go traditional by slicing some Rye bread or Pumpernickel bread.
- Sauerkraut Substitute: Sauerkraut is an acquired taste, a good substitution for sauerkraut is coleslaw! Try adding this apple coleslaw after baking for a yummy alternative. Or leave it off and be sure to serve with dill pickles.
- Rachel Sandwich | Instead of using pastrami or corned beef brisket, purchase deli turkey or turkey pastrami instead!
Recommended Tools
- I am obsessed with these easy-to-clean Staub baking dishes!
Frequently Asked Questions
You must thoroughly drain the excess liquid from the sauerkraut before adding it to the sandwich. Then, I added cheese slices to both the sliders’ bottom and tops to protect the rolls from absorbing too much moisture.
A Reuben is a corned beef sandwich, but not all corned beef sandwiches are Reubens. In other words, there are many kinds of sandwiches with corned beef, but there is only one Reuben sandwich. A corned beef sandwich usually doesn’t have sauerkraut with it.
A Reuben sandwich is an American creation inspired by Irish flavors. It consists of corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and dressing on rye bread. They are sold throughout the United States, originating in New York City. It was probably my dad’s favorite sandwich!
Both are made from beef brisket; pastrami is made from point brisket, which has more marbling and fat, whereas corned beef is made with leaner beef brisket.
Storage Tips
Refrigerate – Cover the sliders with foil or place them in an airtight container to store in the fridge for three to five days.
How to Freeze – If you want to store the mini Reubens for longer, place them in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to three months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking to reheat when ready to serve them again.
Reheating: Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C). Then, place the sandwiches in a baking dish, cover them with foil, and bake them until heated. About 15-20 minutes.
Make Ahead Reuben Sliders
These sliders can be made ahead of time with some modifications.
- Assemble the sliders without sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing, cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days.
- Drain sauerkraut and keep covered in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Make butter topping, cover and refrigerate, warm for 20-30 seconds in microwave before brushing on top of sliders.
- Cover sliders and refrigerate until ready to bake, then add sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing.
- While oven preheats, remove ingredients from the fridge, pat sauerkraut dry with paper towels just before adding to sliders, add Thousand Island dressing, replace tops of rolls, and brush tops with butter mixture. Bake as directed.
What to Serve with Reuben Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Keep it simple and serve with potato chips and dill pickles for a classic sandwich! Just like the deli!
Best Desserts for Reuben Sliders Recipe
Don’t end your St. Patrick’s Day fun at dinner—keep the party going with dessert! Try my Chocolate Guinness Cake with Irish Buttercream, Mint Chocolate Brownies with a festive bright green center, or Milk Stout Fudge Brownies with Irish Cream Buttercream—delish!
Chocolate Guinness Cake with Irish Buttercream
Do you like dark, deep, rich chocolate? A moist, heavy and delicious cake, with notes of coffee topped with a dreamy buttercream. Well say hello to Chocolate Guinness Cake with Irish Cream Buttercream.
Mint Chocolate Brownies
These rich Mint Fudge Brownies, have a decadent fudge brownie base, layered with a creamy, creme de menthe mint buttercream center and topped with a thick chocolate ganache. WOW!
Milk Stout Fudge Brownies with Irish Cream Buttercream
Rich Milk Stout Fudge brownies with a stout reduction, enhances the chocolate, with notes of vanilla, brown sugar and coffee, topped with a thick layer of decadent Irish Cream buttercream and a sprinkle of sea salt. The perfect treat for your St. Patrick's day celebration.
Best Drinks to Serve with Delicious Reuben Sliders
Wash down that St. Patrick’s Day meal or any party sliders with this Irish Mule {Colorado Mule) or my Easy Classic Irish Coffee Recipe (4 ingredients) or be different and serve this Cherry Bomb Cocktail.
Irish Mule {Colorado Mule)
Nothing says “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” quite like an Irish Mule, and I’m not talking about the kicking kind, but an Irish version of the Moscow Mule, of course. It is full of shenanigans, with fresh muddled mint, crisp, clean whiskey, and lime juice finished with spicy, bubbly ginger beer.
Easy Classic Irish Coffee Recipe (4 ingredients)
This easy Irish coffee recipe is a classic Irish coffee cocktail that is ideal for chilly nights. It is a delightful blend of coffee, whiskey, sugar, and cream, perfect for warming you up on a cold night or adding a touch of sophistication to your after-dinner drink.
Cherry Bomb Recipe | Cherry Bourbon Smash
Cherry Bomb recipe, a fresh cocktail or mocktail made with fresh (or frozen) cherries muddled with bourbon, vanilla, maple syrup, lemon and club soda.
More Easy Hawaiian Roll Sliders Recipes
- Roast Beef Sliders
- Shredded Pork Sliders
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
- Pizza Sliders Recipe
- Our famous Hammy Sammies aka Funeral Sandwiches!
- Or these classic turkey sliders with cranberry!
Don’t skip draining the sauerkraut – No matter how much you enjoy the full flavor, a soggy slider is not worth it!
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Reuben Sliders
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Print Pin Save RateIngredients
- 12 King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls 12 rolls or similar, or use pretzel rolls or even rye bread for a more authentic flavor
- 1 pound deli corned beef ie. pastrami, thinly sliced (I like uncured, no nitrates or nitrites.)
- 6-12 slices Swiss cheese thinly sliced
- 8- ounce sauerkraut drained and squeezed as much moisture. I used fresh sauerkraut found in the deli
- ¼ -½ cup Thousand Island dressing I like Lighthouse in the refrigerator section
- 4 tablespoons butter melted (I use salted butter, if using unsalted, add a bit of salt)
- ½ tablespoon spicy brown mustard other mustards may be used
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Everything Bagel Seasoning or try sesame seeds, poppy seeds or leave them plain
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C) a 9×13 inch baking dish or line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
- Slice the Hawaiian rolls (12 pack) in half lengthwise, with the bottoms slightly thicker than the tops while keeping the rolls together. Place the bottom half in the prepared pan.
- Place one layer of the cheese (6 slices) over the bottom buns (this helps the rolls from getting too soggy from the sauerkraut).
- On top of the cheese, place the pastrami (1 lb) evenly on top of each roll (roughly).
- Evenly spread the drained sauerkraut (8 oz) over the top of the pastrami.
- Drizzle the Thousand Island dressing (¼ -½ cup) evenly over the top of the sauerkraut then layer with more cheese (6 slices) before placing the tops of the buns on top.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter (4 TBL), spicy brown mustard (½ TBL), garlic powder (½ tsp), onion powder (¼ tsp), and Worcestershire sauce (2 tsp). Stir well, then pour the sauce over the tops of the sandwiches, using a silicone brush to brush the sides and crevices with the sauce. Sprinkle the tops with a little Everything but the Bagel seasoning, if desired.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 10-20 minutes; remove foil and continue baking until cheese is melted and tops are golden and slightly crisp, another 5 minutes or so.
- Cut into individual servings and serve immediately with a side of Thousand Island.
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Notes
- Purchase fresh sauerkraut for the best flavor; you can typically purchase in the Deli or refrigerated section of the store. This recipe has not been tested with canned sauerkraut.
- During testing due to the moisture content in sauerkraut and the Thousand Island dressing, we loved them best when there was cheese on both sides, creating a barrier for the buns.
- Don’t lay the meat flat on the rolls, style it so it’s “ruffled’ more like you would see on a deli sandwich.
- Refrigerate – Cover the sliders with foil or place them in an airtight container to store in the fridge for three to five days.
- How to Freeze – If you want to store the mini Reubens for longer, place them in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to three months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking to reheat when ready to serve them again.
- Reheating: Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C). Then, place the sandwiches in a baking dish, cover them with foil, and bake them until heated. About 15-20 minutes.
Make Ahead Reuben Sliders
These sliders can be made ahead of time with some modifications.- Assemble the sliders without sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing, cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days.
- Drain sauerkraut and keep covered in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Make butter topping, cover and refrigerate, warm for 20-30 seconds in microwave before brushing on top of sliders.
- Cover sliders and refrigerate until ready to bake, then add sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing.
- While oven preheats, remove ingredients from the fridge, pat sauerkraut dry with paper towels just before adding to sliders, add Thousand Island dressing, replace tops of rolls, and brush tops with butter mixture. Bake as directed.
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