Looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer for any occasion? These Easy Mini Open-Faced Reuben Sandwiches are the perfect solution, especially if you're planning a festive St. Patrick's Day menu. By using bite-sized cocktail rye bread and classic ingredients like corned beef and sauerkraut, you can serve up all the traditional flavors of a full-sized sandwich in a fun, party-ready format. Whether you need quick St. Patrick's Day snacks or a simple recipe for open-faced sandwiches for a speedy lunch, this 20-minute recipe is sure to be a hit.
Jump to:
Why You'll Want to Make Easy Mini Open-Faced Reuben Sandwiches
- Perfect for Entertaining: Their small size makes them ideal "party entertainers" and effortless snacks for large gatherings.
- Quick and Easy: With only 13 minutes of prep and 7 minutes of cooking time, you can have 35 mini sandwiches ready in just 20 minutes.
- Classic Flavor Balance: Each bite delivers the perfect salty, tangy, and creamy balance of corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing.
- Versatile: While perfect for St. Patrick's Day, these make excellent game-day snacks or a light, speedy lunch.
Ingredients - Here's What You'll Need
Steps to Make Easy Mini Open-Faced Reuben Sandwiches
- Preheat oven broiler to high. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper. Then, lay the cocktail rye bread on the pan in a single layer. Place pan in the preheated oven for two minutes. Remove from the oven and flip the slices of bread over. Then return to the oven for another two minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and place on a wire cooling rack. Allow the bread to cool for about five minutes.
- Add about ½ teaspoon of Thousand Island dressing to the top of each slice of bread. Then, smooth it into a single layer covering the entire surface of the bread.
- Next, top each slice of bread with about a teaspoon of drained and rinsed sauerkraut. Spread the sauerkraut to cover the entire surface of the bread.
- Fold slices of corned beef into squares that are about the size of the bread, then place one folded piece on each slice of bread.
- Sprinkle about half a tablespoon of freshly shredded Swiss cheese on top of the corned beef. Return to the oven and broil for 3 to 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm with some extra Thousand island dressing on the side.
Whether you're looking for a quick St. Patrick's Day snack or a simple appetizer for your next party, these Mini Open-Faced Reubens are a guaranteed winner. They pack all the savory goodness of the classic sandwich into a convenient, bite-sized format that is as easy to make as it is to eat. Give this recipe a try for your next gathering and watch them disappear!
Frequently Asked Questions
It is often available at stores like Publix, Aldi, or The Fresh Market, though it is most commonly stocked during the holiday season.
While traditional for Reubens, you can substitute corned beef with pastrami for a slightly different flavor profile.
This recipe yields 35 mini sandwiches, making it a perfect high-yield appetizer for parties.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Dry Your Sauerkraut: After rinsing, dry the sauerkraut slightly by spreading it on a pan lined with paper towels to prevent soggy bread.
- Thin is Best: Ask for "very thin" deli-sliced corned beef; if the slices are large, cut them in half before folding to fit the mini bread.
- Watch the Broiler: These can go from perfectly melted to burnt very quickly, so keep a close eye on them during the final step.
Other Great Reuben Recipes
Did you make this recipe? We'd love to know how it turned out! Leave a review below. Then, share a picture on Instagram and tag @pudgefactor so we can see it.
Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, Flipboard, and Instagram.
Thank you so much for visiting PudgeFactor. We hope you'll come back!
Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, enjoy weekly doses of culinary inspiration as a bonus!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Pudge Factor.
Easy Mini Open-Faced Reuben Sandwiches
Equipment
- half-sheet pan
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 35 slices Cocktail Rye Bread (1 loaf)
- 1 c Thousand Island Dressing
- 16 oz Sauerkraut drained and rinsed1
- 12 oz Corned Beef sliced very thin2
- 12 oz Swiss Cheese freshly shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven broiler to high. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper. Then, lay the cocktail rye bread on the pan in a single layer. Place the pan in the preheated oven for two minutes. Remove from the oven and flip the slices of bread over, then return to the oven for another two minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire cooling rack. Allow the bread to cool for about five minutes.
- Add about ½ teaspoon of Thousand Island dressing to the top of each slice of bread. Then, smooth it into a single layer covering the entire surface of the bread.
- Next, top each slice of bread with about a teaspoon of drained and rinsed sauerkraut. Spread the sauerkraut to cover the entire surface of the bread.
- Fold slices of corned beef into squares that are about the size of the bread. Then place one folded piece on each slice of bread.
- Sprinkle about half a tablespoon of freshly shredded Swiss cheese on top the corned beef. Return to the oven and broil for 3 to 5 minutes3 until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm with some extra thousand island dressing on the side.
- Yield 35 Mini Open-Faced Reuben Sandwiches
Tips/Notes
- I drained and rinsed the sauerkraut in a colander set in the kitchen sink. After the sauerkraut was rinsed, I dried it slightly in a half-sheet pan lined with several layers of paper towels.
- I recommend using deli-sliced corned beef; ask for it sliced very thin. The slices I got were quite large, so I cut them in half before folding them into squares to place on the bread.
- Keep an eye on the broiler because these can go from gooey melted cheesy to burnt very quickly.
Janet A Fisher says
Can one still purchase the pepperidge farm cocktail slices? I've not been able to find them and definitely not fond of the Rosens mini breads. Don't care for the taste and they shred way too easy.
Chula King says
Janet,
The two places that I've been able to find them are Publix and Aldi. However, generally, it's during the holidays that I can find them.
Chula
Donna DeWitt says
Publix for sure. Just purchased a loaf this week. You can also try to google where u can buy them.