Ruben Skillet Meal

This keto and low-carb friendly Ruben Skillet Meal has all the flavor and cheesiness of a classic Ruben only without the bread! It’s meaty, cheesy, saucy, and delicious!

What You’ll Love About Ruben Skillet Meal:

You won’t miss the bread with this easy Ruben Skillet Meal.

Let’s face it, the best part about a Ruben sandwich is all the goodies in between the bread. Tender corned beef, sautéed cabbage mix, tangy sauerkraut, lots of cheese, and a creamy thousand dressing.

That’s what you’ll get when you make this easy, under-30 minutes, carb friendly version.

When you’re craving a cheesy Ruben sandwich but you don’t want the heaviness, this skillet meal will completely satisfy. The flavors and textures are everything, and the thousand dressing is key to making each bite memorable.

If you’re looking for more low-carb meals, try my popular Low-Carb Stuffed Pepper Casserole, or these Burger Bowls, which are my absolute favorite.

Simple Ingredients:

• Corned beef- I use deli corned beef for convenience and it’s tender with great flavor.
• Butter- This will help brown the corned beef.
• Coleslaw mix- This adds wonderful texture, body, and a slight sweetness. Plus, who doesn’t need more veggies in their diet.
• Sauerkraut- A classic Ruben ingredient. Offers a tangy crunch.
• Seasonings- Caraway seeds (which replace the rye flavor in the bread) salt and pepper
• Cheese- Swiss cheese is also a classic Ruben ingredient.
• 1000 Island dressing- I use my homemade version which is super simple, or use a prepared brand from the grocery store.

Substitutions:

How To Make Ruben Skillet Meal:

See full instructions in recipe card below

Step One. Heat a large skillet to medium heat and melt butter. Once butter is melted add in corned beef. Cook beef until the edges start to curl and crisp, then stir in the coleslaw mix and sauté for 2-3 minutes.

Step Two. Add sauerkraut, caraway seeds, salt and pepper, and cook 1-2 more minutes, then top with cheese. Cover the pan and turn off the heat. Allow the cheese to melt then serve and drizzle with 1000 island dressing.

Tips:

Common Questions:

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• Low-Carb Philly Cheesesteak Skillet Meal
• Low-Carb King Ranch Chicken Casserole
• Beef Enchiladas with Smoky Red Sauce
• One-Pan Egg Roll Bowls
• Fiesta Chicken with Zucchini Street Corn

Ruben Skillet Meal

This keto and low-carb friendly Ruben Skillet Meal has all the flavor and cheesiness of a classic Ruben, only without the bread! It's meaty, cheesy, and saucy!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 507kcal

Equipment

• 1 large non-stick skillet with fitted lid

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 pound deli corned beef, sliced in strips
• 1 (14) ounce bag coleslaw mix
• 1 cup sauerkraut, well drained
• 1 tsp caraway seeds, plus more for garnish
• salt and pepper to taste, or about 1/4 tsp each
• 1 cup shredded swiss cheese
• 1/2-2/3 cup thousand island dressing, use my easy homemade version or prepared brand from the grocery store see recipe instructions for link to homemade version

Instructions

• If making the thousand island dressing from scratch do that now and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Heat a large non-stick skillet to medium heat and melt 1 tbsp butter. Add strips of corned beef (1 pound) and cook until curled around the edges and crisp, about 5-6 minutes.
• Add one 14 ounce bagged coleslaw mix and sauté for 3-4 minutes, being careful not to overcook.
• Stir in 1 tsp caraway seeds, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1 cup sauerkraut. Continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes. Turn off the heat and sprinkle the top evenly with 1 cup shredded swiss cheese. Place the lid on and allow the cheese to melt a few minutes.
• Serve with thousand island dressing drizzled over the top of each serving and additional caraway seeds if desired.

Notes

Tips:

 

• Non-stick skillet is best. Use a non-stick pan to make cooking and serving easier. The ingredients will come right off the pan.
• Don’t overcook the cabbage mix. You want the cabbage to still have some bite. Over cooking will make it mushy and have an unpleasant texture.

 

Substitutions:

 

• Meat- You can substitute corned beef with pastrami.
• Coleslaw mix- You can swap out the coleslaw mix and shred your own red and purple cabbage.
• Sauerkraut- The sauerkraut IS NOT strong in this dish but it is optional. If you don’t like it just leave it out all together and add more slaw mix.
• Cheese- Use other cheeses like provolone or mozzarella.
• Dressing– 1000 island and Russian dressing are both common Ruben ingredients. You can also use Catalina. Use whichever one you enjoy.

 

Common Questions:

 

What is corned beef?

Corned beef is brisket salted and cured with spices like coriander seed, peppercorns, mustard seed, etc.

Is Ruben skillet meal good for leftovers?

Yes! The flavor and texture is still just as good the second day. Heat a portion in the microwave until hot and drizzle more 1000 island dressing.

How many carbs are in Ruben skillet meal?

This meal serves 4 people and each serving with thousand island dressing is 8 net carbs.

Can I freeze leftovers?

It is not recommend to freeze the leftovers as the cabbage won’t have the same texture once thawed.

 

 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 507kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 2007mg | Potassium: 631mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 488IU | Vitamin C: 75mg | Calcium: 308mg | Iron: 3mg

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