This Reuben casserole is low carb and really hits the spot on one of those busy, hectic days when you are longing for some old fashioned comfort food. This recipe tastes so much like a Reuben sandwich that you’ll swear you’re in your favorite deli!
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I have always had a thing for pastrami, and when you start talking about adding sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing? OMG, I am in. Like really in.
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Reuben Casserole Low Carb Comfort Food Backstory
There used to be this place in Dallas that stacked up the Pastrami a mile high on their Reuben sandwich. So much so that you almost couldn’t get your mouth around it. Now that was a Reuben sandwich! Sadly, that sandwich with regular rye bread is a no-no on a keto diet.
This keto reuben casserole recipe is fine for keto induction. Just remember to check and make sure that the sauerkraut and the mayo you use are sugar free. You can also use my 0 carb Thousand Island Dressing to use instead of the dressing in this recipe. I used tomato paste because it is so concentrated you only need a little.
I know that the ingredients image shows olives. Let me explain:
I was in a hurry and grabbed some olives instead of the pickles. By the time I noticed it I didn’t feel like redoing it. I promise you I am not lazy. I have been working on as many keto recipes as I can to keep up with all the requests.
What kind of meat is Reuben made from?
A Reuben is a hearty sandwich made with beef. But not just any beef, pastrami ! Pastrami is made from jucy parts of the cow such as the shoulder or below the ribs. It is brined and then seasoned with pepper, coriander, and other spices. It is then smoked over hardwood. I’ve also seen pastrami made from brisket. Brisket is what corned beef is usually made of.
Is pastrami the same as corned beef?
Although they are both treasured deli meats, they taste very different. Corned beef is usually made from brisket which has less fat than pastrami. Both are brined but corned beef is not covered with spices nor is it usually smoked over hardwood. In fact, corned beef is usually boiled. The other difference is they came from different countries. It is thought that pastrami came from Turkey or Romania. Corned beef is a favorite Irish dish which makes it the favorite dish for St Patrick’s Day. One of our most popular dishes is our Quick Corned Beef and Cabbage.
What is Reuben sauce made of?
Reuben sauce is very similar to Russian dressing and Thousand Island dressing. Thousand Island dressing is sweeter as it has pickle relish. Russian dressing is more savory and spicy because of the horseradish that is commonly used. Reuben sauce is similar to that by also using sauerkraut, caraway seeds, and onion. To make this a keto casserole, I had to use ingredients without all the carbs that are found in things like relish.
I am always on the lookout for low carb main dish that I can throw together easily. Most of the people I know that are keto are still cooking “regular” food for their family members. So, most of my recipes are for individual servings. That’s what I need so I can do my thing while keeping my family fed with their regular diet. You can always increase the low carb recipe servings to serve to the whole family if you want.
Reuben Casserole
If you love comfort food and who doesn’t, this keto Reuben casserole is fast and delicious. It’s every bit as good as the diner food that you remember but without the carbs. The recipe is set for one serving and it is a very hearty portion that can serve two people with moderate appetites. A reader tried this recipe and recommended to toss in a few caraway seeds to give this a hint of the flavor of rye bread.
Low Carb Reuben Casserole Recipe
Keep the ingredients on hand so you can make this anytime! It’s so addictive. Actually the whole family will be drooling over your plate so if you want to make this keto Reuben casserole for the whole family. You can quadruple it and bake it in a baking dish for 20 minutes.
Navigation tip
This recipe is made for one pretty big serving of low carb Reuben casserole but you can more for the whole family if you’d like. If you put your cursor (or finger) over the next to the “Servings” heading in the recipe below, a slider will appear. You can move the slider to the number of servings you want to make. The recipe will change automatically change the amount of each ingredient for you. If this keto recipe makes your taste buds happy, please consider giving it 5 stars. Thank you so much for your support !
Reuben Casserole
Ingredients
- 1- ounces Swiss cheese chopped or shredded
- 2.5 ounces Pastrami chopped
- 1/2 cup sauerkraut make sure it’s sugar free
- 2 tablespoons sugar free mayonnaise sugar free
- Sweetener to taste I use stevia
- 1/2 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1/4 cup chopped dill pickles
Instructions
- Spread the sauerkraut in the bottom of a microwave safe bowl.
- Top with chopped Pastrami
- Mix the mayonnaise and the tomato paste with enough of the pickle juice to thin it a little.
- Pour the dressing over the Pastrami
- Sprinkle the cheese on top.
- Microwave until heated through – about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle with dill pickles and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
If you liked this recipe, you may also want to try
Southern Low Carb Chicken and Dumplings
Thanks for the recipe – loved I!!
Thanks! It’s one of myy favorites!
I would toss in a few caraway seeds to give me the reminder of rye bread.
what a great idea!
This is GOOD! Thanks again for increasing the yumminess, the variety in my low-carb life – – else I would not be able to stay on it. So far, I’ve had such good recipes that since August ’13 I’ve been having a real-good-slimming-down-staying-slim-but-eating-good time!