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Reuben Comfort Soup

A rich, thick, and gooey soup that deconstructs the classic Reuben sandwich into a comforting bowl with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and creamy broth.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Dish, Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Soup Base
  • 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 0.5 cup Yellow Onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 0.25 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 4 cups Beef Broth
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream for thick, gooey consistency
  • 1 tsp Dried Thyme
  • 0.5 tsp Caraway Seeds optional
Reuben Flavors
  • 2 cups Cooked Corned Beef diced
  • 1 cup Sauerkraut well-drained and roughly chopped
  • 1 cup Swiss Cheese freshly grated, for best gooey melt
  • 0.5 cup Thousand Island Dressing
For Serving
  • Rye Bread toasted and cubed or sliced
  • Fresh Parsley chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Large heavy-bottom saucepan or Dutch oven
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. Sauté Aromatics: In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté onion 5-7 mins. Add garlic, cook 1 min.
  2. Make Roux: Sprinkle flour over onions, stir constantly 1-2 mins to create a thick base.
  3. Build Soup Base: Gradually whisk in beef broth. Bring to a simmer, whisking until thick and viscous.
  4. Add Cream & Seasonings: Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream, thyme, caraway (if using). Season with salt and pepper. Simmer 5 mins until thick and creamy.
  5. Add Reuben Ingredients: Stir in corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. Stir until cheese is fully melted and soup is wonderfully thick, gooey, and viscous.
  6. Simmer & Serve: Simmer on low for 5-10 mins for flavors to meld. Ladle hot gooey soup into bowls. Garnish with toasted rye bread and parsley. Serve immediately!

Notes

Ensure all cold ingredients, especially the cream cheese, are at room temperature to prevent lumps. The caramel topping should be thick and heavy to coat the loaf nicely. The chilling time is crucial for the creamy, dense texture.