Description
Delicious Reuben Balls with a crispy golden crust and a melty, savory filling of corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese, paired perfectly with a spicy Thousand Island dipping sauce. A fun twist on the classic Reuben sandwich, ideal as an appetizer or party snack.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Reuben Balls:
- 1 ½ cups cooked corned beef, finely chopped
- 1 cup sauerkraut, drained and chopped
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 ½ cups seasoned breadcrumbs
- Oil for frying
For the Spicy Thousand Island Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce, adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Make the Reuben Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the finely chopped cooked corned beef, drained and chopped sauerkraut, shredded Swiss cheese, softened cream cheese, and garlic powder. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Shape and Chill: Form the mixture into 1-inch balls. Place the balls on a parchment-lined tray and freeze for 20–30 minutes to allow them to firm up, which will make the breading process easier and keep the filling intact during frying.
- Bread the Balls: Prepare three separate bowls: one with the all-purpose flour, one with the beaten eggs, and one with the seasoned breadcrumbs. Coat each ball first in flour, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally roll in breadcrumbs to fully coat. For an extra thick crust, you can repeat the egg and breadcrumb steps.
- Fry: Heat oil in a deep fryer or a heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F (175°C). Fry the breaded Reuben balls in batches, avoiding overcrowding, for 3–5 minutes or until they turn golden brown and crisp. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Make the Dipping Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, hot sauce to taste, and paprika until smooth and well combined. Chill the sauce until ready to serve alongside the Reuben balls.
Notes
- Be sure to drain the sauerkraut thoroughly to avoid soggy balls.
- Freezing the shaped balls prior to breading helps maintain their shape during frying.
- You can adjust the hot sauce amount in the dipping sauce to control the spice level.
- Serve immediately after frying for the best texture and flavor.
- Oil temperature is critical for frying; too low and the balls will absorb oil, too high and the crust may burn before the center is heated through.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 Reuben balls with dipping sauce
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: Reuben balls, corned beef appetizer, fried snacks, spicy Thousand Island sauce, party food, finger food
