Reuben Rolls

Hot, juicy and savory, these reuben rolls are just the offering to grill up for your next gathering. A delicious cross between smoked sausage on a roll and a reuben sandwich, this reuben roll recipe is prepared with kielbasa sausage grilled up and nestled into a toasted pretzel bun with melted Swiss cheese, then topped with homemade Russian dressing and cool, tangy sauerkraut!

Kielbasa Gets a Reuben Sandwich Makeover

Each year as the summer season begins to slowly wind down, I like to come up with a creative recipe or two to make use of the grill before it's time to bid farewell to it for a little while.

I also have a lot of fun coming up with ways to surprise my hubby with twists on some of his favorite foods by combining certain ingredients to create a new yet familiar recipe, especially one that brings grilling into the mix!

Enter this mouthwatering and delectably savory reuben roll recipe...

Smoky, grilled, kielbasa sausage gets paired with mildly tangy and salty sauerkraut, along with some melty Swiss cheese and some creamy homemade Russian dressing.

Nestled into a toasted pretzel bun, the result is a reuben sandwich-meets-smoked-sausage-roll, or a "reuben roll" as I like to call it.

Put a platter of these out on the table for your next grilling day gathering, and they're sure to disappear extra fast!

So whether you yourself are a “grill whisperer”, or someone else in your household is, this tasty reuben roll recipe is one that I think will spark an appetite in anyone who enjoys spending some time around those hot grates, flipping and turning something gloriously delicious that sputters and sizzles in the afternoon sun!

My Recipe for Reuben Rolls

What I love about this recipe is that it takes a staple such as kielbasa, which we often love to throw onto the grill anyway, and kicks it up a few notches with some simple-yet-scrumptious additions.

For these reuben rolls, I like smoked kielbasa, but you can use your favorite sausage here.

And to create those flavors we love in a reuben sandwich, I like to add to the mix some cool and tangy sauerkraut, some Swiss cheese, and of course some homemade Russian dressing.

I opt for a pretzel roll style of bun here for a little added flavor and structure, but one could substitute potato rolls, or any other slightly heartier bun or roll.

The flavor is so out of this world savory, with each bite mouthwateringly juicy!

Here's a sneak peek at my reuben roll recipe: (or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I prep my homemade Russian dressing to have ready and on hand.
2. Then, I heat my outdoor grill, and grill my kielbasa sausages until charred and juicy, keeping them warm.
3. Next, I turn off the grill and place a foil-lined baking sheet on the grill grates, and close the top.
4. I assemble the reuben rolls by spreading a generous amount of the Russian dressing onto the pretzel buns, then add in some Swiss cheese, and place them onto the foil-lined baking sheet inside the grill to help melt the cheese.
5. To finish, I add the grilled kielbasa, then top with sauerkraut, and enjoy!

Recipe

Reuben Rolls

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

These reuben rolls on warm pretzel buns with Swiss cheese are smothered in homemade Russian dressing and crisp sauerkraut!

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 reuben rolls

Nutrition Info: 820 calories per reuben roll (with ¼ cup of dressing)

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

Reuben Roll Ingredients:

• 4 polish kielbasa-style sausages (the smaller, individual links, or you can cut the large links to size)
• 4 pretzel buns
• 8 slices Swiss cheese
• 1 cup sauerkraut

Homemade Russian Dressing Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon very finely minced onion
• 1 ½ tablespoons prepared horseradish sauce
• Dash or two hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish (optional)
• Pinch salt
• Pinch black pepper

Preparation:

1. Begin by gathering and prepping all of your Russian dressing ingredients according to the ingredient list to have ready and organized for use.
2. To prepare the dressing, add all ingredients to a small bowl, and whisk to combine. Keep cold until ready to use.
3. Next, gather and prep all of your reuben roll ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
4. To prepare the reuben rolls, heat your outdoor grill until hot (or you can even use an indoor grill pan, if you prefer). Add the sausage and grill for a few minutes on all sides until nice and charred and smoky, then set aside and keep warm.
5. Turn off the grill, and place a foil-lined baking sheet onto the grates, and close the grill to keep it hot (you will need the heat to melt the cheese once the rolls are assembled).
6. To assemble the reuben rolls, generously spread some of the homemade Russian dressing onto the toasted pretzel buns, and add in two slices of Swiss cheese, overlapping, if necessary. Place the rolls onto the foil-lined baking sheet inside the grill, and close the grill to allow the cheese to melt in the residual heat for a moment or two.
7. Add the sausage, then top that with about ¼ cup worth of the sauerkraut, and serve hot with your favorite sides.

Tips & Tidbits for my Reuben Roll recipe:

• Kielbasa-style sausage, or your favorite: I opt to use individual-size kielbasa sausages here that you can typically buy in a vacuum sealed package. You can also use the larger kielbasa links and cut them to fit your rolls, if desired. Choose any sausage you like, from beef smoked sausage, to pork, to turkey, chicken, etc.
• Pretzel buns for texture and flavor: Whenever I can find pretzel buns fit for sausage or hotdogs, I opt for those for this recipe, because I like the flavor and more sturdy, bread-like texture. If you cannot find those, feel free to use any buns or rolls you like, though using a more hearty textured bun or roll will help contain the fillings better.
• Homemade Russian dressing or store-bought: For me, nothing beats the flavor of a homemade creamy Russian dressing, but to save on time, you can easily sub a good quality, store bought Russian dressing.
• Swiss cheese for that reuben touch: The sweet, nutty and complex flavor of Swiss cheese goes oh so well on a reuben sandwich, so I'm using that for this reuben roll recipe here. You could substitute a different cheese if you're not a fan of Swiss, such as Havarti cheese, jack cheese, or even provolone.

Craving more delicious and savory sausage recipes? Check out my Sausage Soup, my Smoked Sausage and Red Rice Skillet, my Oktoberfest Stew with Lager, my Harvest Stew with Smoke Sausage, or my Homemade Breakfast Sausage!

Cook's Note: This recipe was originally published in 2014, and has been updated with even more love!