Description
A crispy, cheesy twist on the classic Reuben sandwich — these golden fried Reuben Balls are packed with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and cream cheese, served with a spicy Thousand Island dipping sauce for the perfect game-day appetizer or party snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped cooked corned beef
- 1 cup drained sauerkraut, finely chopped
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 113 g (4 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp finely chopped pickles or relish
- 1 tsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chopped corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, cream cheese, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix until everything is evenly combined.
- Roll the mixture into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place on a tray. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Set up three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs. Roll each chilled ball in flour, then dip in egg, and coat with breadcrumbs. For extra crispiness, repeat the egg and breadcrumb coating.
- Heat oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 350°F (175°C). Fry the balls in batches for 2–3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate to drain excess oil.
- In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, hot sauce, paprika, garlic powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Adjust spice level to your taste. Chill until ready to serve.
- Serve the hot Reuben Balls with the chilled spicy Thousand Island dipping sauce. Garnish with chopped chives or parsley for a fresh touch.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute corned beef with a plant-based alternative.
- Ensure the oil is at the right temperature for frying to achieve a crispy texture.
- These can be made ahead of time and frozen before frying.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 balls
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 50mg