Craving a Reuben sandwich but trying to stick to a low-carb or keto diet? This keto corned beef casserole is the perfect solution! It captures all the classic flavors of a Reuben - corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and a tangy dressing - in a warm, comforting, and breadless casserole. This recipe is fast, easy, gluten-free, and a fantastic way to enjoy your favorite sandwich without the carbs.
Why This Recipe Works
The beauty of a Reuben lies in its fillings. By skipping the traditional rye bread, this casserole focuses on the delicious combination of savory corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, and creamy dressing. The addition of caraway seeds mimics the flavor of rye bread, making this casserole taste remarkably close to the real sandwich.
What is a Reuben?
Reubens are a grilled deli sandwich made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing on rye bread. This recipe takes all the wonderful fillings from a classic Reuben sandwich and turns it into an easy and delicious keto casserole.
Ingredients
- Corned beef: The star of the show! You can use leftover cooked corned beef, canned corned beef, or sliced deli corned beef. Be mindful of the carb counts, especially with canned varieties.
- Sauerkraut: Adds a tangy, fermented flavor that's essential to a Reuben. Make sure to drain it well to avoid a soggy casserole. You can even buy sauerkraut with caraway seeds for extra flavor.
- Swiss cheese: Provides a nutty, slightly salty flavor that complements the other ingredients. Feel free to experiment with milder cheeses like cheddar, muenster, or mozzarella if you prefer.
- Thousand Island Dressing: The creamy, tangy sauce that ties it all together. Make your own low-sugar version using the recipe below.
- Caraway seeds: These little seeds add a lovely crunch and a hint of rye bread flavor.
- Mayonnaise: Forms the base of the Keto Russian Dressing. Many commercial brands contain soybean oil and a bit of sugar so read your labels.
- Onion: Adds flavor to Russian dressing.
- Low-Sugar Ketchup: Most ketchup is loaded with sugar and is not keto-friendly.
- Hot sauce: Adds flavor to Russian dressing.
- Paprika: Adds flavor to Russian dressing.
- Butter: Adds flavor to Russian dressing.
- Cabbage: Shredded cabbage provides both bulk and nutrition for this recipe.
Making Your Own Keto Thousand Island Dressing
Most store-bought Thousand Island dressings are loaded with sugar, so making your own is the best way to keep this casserole keto-friendly. Here's a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- Mayonnaise
- Low-sugar ketchup
- Onion
- Hot sauce
- Paprika
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, low-sugar ketchup, hot sauce, onion, and paprika.
- Set aside.
Alternatively, you can combine mayonnaise, cream cheese, ketchup, horseradish, and paprika in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here's how to make this easy keto Reuben casserole:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat oven to 350°F or 375°F, or 400F depending on the recipe.
- Prepare the baking dish: Spray a 9x9 inch or 9x13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray or butter an 9 inch pan or an 8 x 8 baking dish.
- Make the dressing: Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together in a medium bowl until well combined.
- Layer the ingredients:
- Start with corned beef, top with the sauerkraut.
- Sprinkle the caraway seeds across the sauerkraut.
- Drizzle the dressing over the sauerkraut.
- Top with the remaining meat, and then top with Swiss Cheese. So your layers will be: meat, sauerkraut, caraway seeds, dressing, meat, and Swiss cheese.
- Bake: Bake at 400F for 15 minutes until the cheese has melted and is bubbling. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Rest (optional): If you can let the casserole rest for 10-15 minutes, a lot of that sauce gets absorbed back in.
Tips for the Perfect Keto Reuben Casserole
- Drain the sauerkraut thoroughly: This is crucial for preventing a soggy casserole. Place the sauerkraut in a fine metal strainer and press out as much liquid as possible.
- Don't skip the caraway seeds: They really do make a difference in the overall flavor.
- Adjust the dressing to your taste: Feel free to add more or less horseradish, hot sauce, or sweetener to customize the dressing to your liking.
- Get creative with the cheese: If you're not a fan of Swiss, experiment with other cheeses like cheddar, muenster, or mozzarella.
- Add shredded cabbage: For more bulk and structure.
Serving Suggestions
This keto Reuben casserole is a hearty and satisfying meal on its own. However, you can also serve it with:
- Side salad: A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing.
- Roasted vegetables: Broccoli, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts.
- Keto bread or rolls: For those who miss the bread, try serving the casserole with keto-friendly bread or rolls.
- Keto Focaccia: Toast slices of Keto Focaccia and scoop the casserole on top for an open-faced sandwich.
- Cheddar Zucchini Waffles: Use Cheddar Zucchini Waffles as slices of bread and serve as a sandwich.
- Keto Zucchini Fritters: Serve on top of Keto Zucchini Fritters.
- Eggs and some keto pancakes: Add eggs and some keto pancakes for a delicious brunch!
When you're searching for the right thing to eat with Reuben Casserole, you should think of things you would normally eat with a Reuben sandwich. If you're choosing this recipe because it's low carb, you might be struggling to think of something other than chips or french fries to pair with it.
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
- Make-ahead: Yes! This recipe can be made up to a day ahead of time.
- Storage: Since the sauerkraut has quite a bit of moisture in it, and the Reuben dressing is relatively thin, I would suggest enjoying this within 3 days after you prepare it. The moisture in the keto casserole can cause the meat to change texture after sitting for too many days. Store any leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It reheats well in the microwave or in the oven.
- Freezing: This recipe can be frozen, but there is a slight decline in the overall texture. Properly frozen, Reuben casserole can typically be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months without a significant loss of quality.
Variations
- Chicken Broccoli Casserole: This Chicken Broccoli Casserole is a delectable take on a casserole classic!
- Tacos de Alambre: Tacos de Alambre makes an easy casserole dish as well.
- Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole: Want more cheesy goodness? Don't miss this Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole.
- Keto BBQ Chicken Casserole: Keto BBQ Chicken Casserole is a kid-friendly dish that is always a hit.
- Vegetarian Reuben Casserole: Substitute the corned beef with mushrooms or other vegetables.
Nutritional Information
This easy skillet meal has only 6.4g of carbs and 2.1g of fiber. So it has just 4.3g net carbs per serving. Compare that to the 40g of carbs in a traditional Reuben sandwich!
Please note that nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be independently calculated for accuracy.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
A Brief History of Corned Beef and the Reuben
The story of corned beef in America is intertwined with Irish immigration and the rise of Jewish delis in New York City. While corned beef is often associated with St. Patrick's Day, its popularity in the United States is a result of cultural exchange and adaptation.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Dublin but in New York City, in 1762. Over the next 100 years, Irish immigration to the United States exploded. The new wave of immigrants brought their own food traditions, including soda bread and Irish stew. The favored cut was Irish bacon, a lean, smoked pork loin similar to Canadian bacon. Members of the Irish working class in New York City frequented Jewish delis and lunch carts, and it was there that they first tasted corned beef. And while potatoes were certainly available in the United States, cabbage offered a more cost-effective alternative to cash-strapped Irish families.
As for the Reuben sandwich itself, there are a few competing stories about its origin. One popular tale claims that it was invented at Reuben's Deli in New York City.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto