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This soup takes all of the Reuben flavors you love and combines them in a steaming hot bowl of soup, perfect for these chilly nights.

creamy Reuben soup in a pottery mug with rye toast

Reuben Soup

Years ago, I ran across a recipe for Reuben Soup over at Closet Cooking. I mentioned it to my husband at the time and he did not let me forget it.

His all-time favorite sandwich is a classic Reuben; rye bread piled high with corned beef, sauerkraut, and melting Swiss cheese.

The idea of a soup for winter that delivers everything we love about Reuben sandwiches? There is no resisting that combination. Don’t skip the rye bread for serving with the soup, it adds the perfect final touch.

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Creamy Reuben Soup in pottery mug with toasted rye bread

Creamy Reuben Soup

The first time I made this soup, my husband and I really enjoyed it and my kids were less than impressed. But now? This soup disappears crazy fast every time I make it.

Fortunately, most of my boys have grown to love Reuben sandwiches and that’s made this recipe a HUGE favorite for most of the family.

This soup has had a place in our regular winter menu rotation for over ten years now.

creamy soup in enamel pot with ladle

Did you know you can buy corned beef in most stores year-round? I didn’t until I wanted to make this soup and decided to check the deli.

I’ve brined my own in the past, but this time, I was happy to pick up a ready-to-cook brined corned beef and toss it in the crock-pot. Now that I’ve remembered how much I like corned beef, there is an awesome breakfast skillet in our near future as well!

Reuben ingredients in a hearty soup

Reuben Soup Ingredients

Don’t be intimidated by the length of this ingredient list. This recipe is very simple to make and all of these ingredients? They add up to an incredible flavor combination in a hearty bowl of soup.

  • butter
  • onion
  • garlic
  • red pepper flakes
  • flour
  • chicken broth
  • sauerkraut
  • potatoes
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • pickling spices
  • caraway seeds
  • bay leaves
  • heavy cream
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • corned beef
  • Swiss cheese
creamy soup with corned beef, sauerkraut, and potatoes

Reuben Soup Recipe

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic and red pepper and saute an additional minute. Sprinkle the onions with flour, stir to coat, and continue stirring while the flour cooks with the onion for about 3 minutes.

floured onions in soup pot

Add the broth and stir to scrape up any bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the potatoes, sauerkraut, Worcestershire sauce, pickling spices, caraway seeds, and bay leaves.

Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 12-15 minutes, just until the potatoes are tender. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves and any large pieces from the pickling spices.

Stir in the cream. Add the corned beef. Taste and add salt (only if needed) and pepper as needed. Scoop into bowls and top with cheese. Serve with rye bread, if desired.

white enamel pot with creamy corned beef sauerkraut soup and wooden spoon

I make extra corned beef every year now, just so I can enjoy the leftovers for an additional day or two. I picked up three corned beef briskets from the grocery store the other day, just to stash a couple of them in the freezer for later this year.

I have the last two slices from this Baked Honey Mustard Corned Beef stashed away now for my lunch tomorrow, along with the last of the Colcannon. I’m looking forward to it!

creamy soup with corned beef and potatoes, topped with Swiss cheese

Crispy hot potatoes and cabbage are combined with bites of tender, salty, corned beef to create the corned beef and cabbage hash of your dreams.

Corned beef dip is a creamy, cheesy, slightly tangy dip generously filled with chunks of corned beef along with a bit of sauerkraut and caraway to give it that unmistakable Reuben flavor.

Tender, salty, corned beef, bite-size chunks of potatoes, and shredded green cabbage are combined in a savory stew for a dinner that never fails to make everyone in my family happy.

4.73 from 11 votes

Reuben Soup

Avatar photoMary Younkin
This soup takes all of the Reuben flavors we love and combines them in a steaming hot bowl of soup, perfect for chilly nights.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium size onion diced into ½" pieces
  • 2 large cloves garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 40 ounces chicken broth about 5 cups
  • 1 cup sauerkraut drained
  • 3 medium Yukon gold potatoes peeled and diced into ½" pieces, about 4 cups
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon pickling spices
  • ¼ teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • kosher salt to taste, ONLY as needed
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper adjust to taste
  • 2 cups cooked corned beef chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 1 cup Swiss cheese shredded
  • toasted rye bread for serving OPTIONAL

Instructions 

  • Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and red pepper and saute an additional minute. Sprinkle the onions with flour, stir to coat, and continue stirring while the flour cooks with the onion for about 3 minutes.
  • Add the broth and stir to scrape up any bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the potatoes, sauerkraut, Worcestershire sauce, pickling spices, caraway seeds and bay leaves.
  • Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 12-15 minutes, just until the potatoes are tender. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves and any large pieces from the pickling spices.
  • Stir in the cream. Add the corned beef. Taste and add salt (only if needed) and pepper as needed. Scoop into bowls and top with cheese. Serve with rye bread, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Adjust the salt depending on whether the broth is homemade or store-bought. Taste the soup before adding any salt.

Nutrition

Calories: 287 kcal | Carbohydrates: 8 g | Protein: 13 g | Fat: 23 g | Saturated Fat: 12 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g | Trans Fat: 0.2 g | Cholesterol: 73 mg | Sodium: 1425 mg | Potassium: 261 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 2 g | Vitamin A: 622 IU | Vitamin C: 15 mg | Calcium: 202 mg | Iron: 2 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

{originally published 12/6/13 – recipe notes and photos updated 2/8/23}

pot of Creamy Reuben Soup with ladle
creamy soup with corned beef and sauerkraut

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Rating




44 Comments

  1. Will James says:

    Sounds delicious, Mary. I am definitely going to try this – after I make a trip to the store. Yep, have to pick up a few ingredients. Reuben sandwiches are a favorite here!

  2. Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez says:

    Soooo…I would be the only one to eat this in my house. But I'm entirely okay with that, because I want the whole pot to myself. This sounds amazing, Mary – I am a reuben fanatic!

  3. Pam says:

    I love reuben sandwhiches, I know I would love this!

  4. Angela says:

    This looks amazing and sounds even better! I am not a fan of soups but this one I am more than willing to try!

  5. Sue/the view from great island says:

    This looks so good I can't stand it. I have a pumpernickel biscuit on the blog that would be so good with this!

  6. Big Dude says:

    Fantastic idea Mary – it looks delicious and I can almost taste it.

  7. Anonymous says:

    will be trying this but will make a boquet garni for the herbs, easier to pick out 🙂

    1. Mary says:

      Definitely! I was thinking the same thing as I was removing the little peppercorns. There are only a few, but still. It's nice step to save myself next time!

  8. Joanna Sprik says:

    I am so trying this!! 🙂

  9. louise nepia says:

    This recipe is easy and affordable, for a large family, and delicious thank you for all your recipes.

  10. Joleen says:

    I would like to make this soup for a soup exchange but I have some gluten/wheat intolerant folks. Do you know how I can fix the recipe?

  11. Dana B says:

    Made this last night, with a few changes, and it was fabulous. I used fresh cabbage (1/2 head), 3 carrots, and 2 tbs. of vinegar because I didn't have any pickling spice. I also omitted the cream at the last minute because it looked so good w/o it. My husband said this was the best soup I've ever made. Yum!

  12. Kayla says:

    Perfect soup to make after St Patrick’s day. I used left over corned beef brisket , from my corned beef and cabbage dinner. Adjusted a few ingredients to make due with what I had in the house. Turned out perfect!! Thank you for the great idea!

  13. Amy says:

    Wow! That’s hot! I will need to dial down the pepper flakes for my next cooking session. Thanks for the grateful recipe!3 stars

  14. Dave Z says:

    I didn’t have corned beef, but had some leftover smoked brisket. (I know, when do you ever have leftover brisket), it was tasty, however, I think it might improve served up with the swiss cheese layered on top of toasted rye croutons, then broiled till the cheese is nearly starting to brown?4 stars

    1. Mary says:

      That sounds delicious, Dave!

  15. Tracy Fox says:

    One of my favourite soups and so true to taste! I have served it friends and family and always get rave reviews.5 stars

    1. Mary Younkin says:

      I’m so glad that you love it, Tracy!

  16. Tony says:

    I have made this several times and we luv it! I usually dbl the kraut and the toasted rye bread is not optional for us. Made as is, it is a winner!5 stars

    1. Mary Younkin says:

      I’m so glad that you love the soup, Tony!