Who doesn't love a good Reuben sandwich!? Well, maybe not those of us following the Weight Watchers program, once we realize a typical Reuben sandwich is loaded with WW points! But good news -this Turkey Reuben Panini Sandwich is only 6 ww points (and can be cut to 3 ww points using a lighter bread).
And you can use deli meat or leftover turkey breast meat, helping you get back on track after that big holiday meal! Reuben Sandwiches are especially popular for St. Patrick's day. If you are looking for Weight Watchers sandwiches, or Weight Watchers lunch ideas you'll love this Turkey Reuben recipe!
Jump to:
I love paninis because I adore warm sandwiches. Getting a panini press was one of the best investments I ever made because it instantly turns a boring, old, and cold sandwich into a HOT meal! There's just something cozier about eating a warm sandwich and this is one of my very favorite sandwiches!
And if you love Reuben's, you'll love my lighter Reuben Soup , which can be further lightened up with the suggestions I give in the post.
🥘Ingredient Notes
For this Turkey Reuben Sandwich recipe, you'll need:
- Oven-roasted turkey breast. Thinly sliced cold cuts/deli meat.
- Swiss cheese. Low-fat Swiss cheese slices are available in a few different brands at most grocery stores. I do NOT recommend using processed Swiss cheese slices.
- Sauerkraut. Canned or jarred sauerkraut is near other canned vegetables and pickled items. Some stores carry fresh or refrigerated sauerkraut near the deli or produce section. You can use plain or wine sauerkraut if you can't find plain. Wine sauerkraut is a little sweeter than regular sauerkraut. Make sure it's drained well and the liquid is squeezed out BEFORE you measure.
- Rye bread. You can use any type of rye bread.
*See recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Bread- use any type you prefer- you can further lower the points with a very WW friendly bread.
- Mustard- give it some spice with Dijon mustard instead of using yellow mustard.
- Turkey - you can use deli meat or leftover turkey or chicken breast
How to Make a Turkey Reuben Sandwich
- Step 1: Heat Panini Press.
- Step 2: On a cutting board or work surface, spread 1 teaspoon of mustard evenly on 4 slices of bread.
- Step 3: Top each piece of bread with slices of turkey meat, dividing evenly between all 4 pieces of bread.
- Step 4: Drain and squeeze liquid from sauerkraut, then place it on top of turkey, dividing evenly between the 4 sandwiches.
- Step 5: Add one slice of Swiss cheese to each sandwich and top each sandwich with the remaining slice of bread.
- Step 6: Place sandwiches on panini press and close ( lower top.) ** You do not need to add butter or anything else- it will not stick!
- Step 7: Place sandwiches on the panini grill. I do not recommend cooking more than 2 at a time.
- Step 8: Close the lid. Cook for 5 minutes (approximately) until it has grilled golden brown ridges.
- Step 9: It will be ready when the cheese is melted and the ridges are golden brown. If cheese is not yet melted, move the setting on the panini press to "melt" until cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining sandwiches.
Recipe Tips
- To avoid a soggy sandwich. Drain and squeeze excess liquid from the sauerkraut before adding it to the sandwich.
- Choose the Right Bread. Rye bread is traditional, but make sure it's sturdy enough to hold up to the filling without getting soggy. If using a lighter, lower-calorie bread for WW points, toast it lightly before assembling it to prevent it from becoming too soft.
- Layer Ingredients for Even Melting. Place cheese slices closest to the bread to create a barrier and prevent the sandwich from becoming soggy.
- Get the Best Panini Press Results. Preheat the press fully before adding the sandwich for a perfectly crisp crust and don't overcrowd -cook in batches if needed to ensure even pressing. No panini press? Use a cast iron skillet with another heavy pan on top to press the sandwich.
- Skip the Butter – Use Mustard Instead. Traditional Reubens use butter on the outside, but to keep it lighter spread a thin layer of mustard directly on the bread instead. It enhances the flavor without adding unnecessary fat.
- Serve Immediately for the Best Texture. Paninis are best enjoyed fresh and hot. If making for later, store the ingredients separately and assemble them just before grilling.
🥗 What to serve with Turkey Reuben Paninis
This Turkey Reuben Panini goes well with veggies, soup such as my Healthy Pumpkin soup, a side salad, skinny coleslaw (zero points), or healthy air fryer carrot fries (shown).
Weight Watchers lunch ideas (or dinner!)
This Turkey Reuben makes a great Weight Watchers lunch (or even a dinner!) If you are looking for more WW lunch ideas, then check out these WW friendly lunch recipes!
🔢WW POINTS
Just because you're on Weight Watchers, doesn't mean you need to eat boring sandwiches! This grilled sandwich is 6 WW points. If you can find reduced-calorie rye, you can cut it down to 3 Weight Watchers points per sandwich. According to the ww app, a traditional Reuben sandwich is a whopping 24 points!
There's been a lot of different plans since I have been following Weight Watchers for over 20 years and the freestyle program was, by far, my favorite! I'm glad it's recently gone back to something similar to that. You can read about my personal WW journey HERE.
Most importantly, with all the WW programs, BALANCE has always been key and that's what I love about the program. You can still indulge and not feel deprived. You can also read my WW Tips & Tricks HERE! But what I love even more is that staying on track means you get to eat meals like THIS - yum!
👪 Serving Size
This Turkey Reuben recipe makes 4 sandwiches. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🌡️Storage
Store ingredients for this hearty sandwich (sauerkraut, turkey, and cheese) separately from each other in airtight sealed containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bread can be stored at room temperature.
One of my favorite Weight Watchers sayings is: "It's not what you eat between Christmas and New Year's, but what you eat between New Year's and Christmas that really matters." We get so hung up on overdoing it during the holidays and often beat ourselves up. It's OKAY to indulge, but just be sure to get back on that wagon!
It's what you eat all those days in between that really makes the difference. And since it's still between New Year's and Christmas, you'll want to be using your leftover Thanksgiving turkey for this sandwich!
Leftover turkey is the best! But leftover turkey sandwiches can get a little dull and predictable. And that's exactly why I love this sandwich recipe; it's lean, healthy, a little different, and super delicious! Plus, you can always use roasted turkey deli meat if you don't have leftover turkey.
Oh and my Easy Leftover Turkey Enchiladas is another great leftover turkey recipe that is also WW friendly!
❔ Recipe FAQ's
While it's best enjoyed fresh, you can assemble the sandwich and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for a few hours before grilling. If fully cooked, store it in the fridge and reheat it in a toaster oven or air fryer for the best texture.
Yes! If you don’t have a panini press, you can cook it in a skillet or grill pan like a grilled cheese sandwich. Simply place the sandwich in the pan over medium heat, pressing it down with a spatula or a heavy pan (like a cast iron skillet) on top. Flip and grill until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
I don’t recommend freezing a fully assembled sandwich, as the sauerkraut and bread may become soggy upon thawing. However, you can freeze cooked turkey and shredded Swiss cheese separately to make meal prep easier.
So if you are looking for healthy, easy WW lunch ideas, give this Turkey Reuben Panini recipe a try!
📋More WW friendly sandwiches!
Did your family❤️this recipe? Did you know that commenting and⭐rating recipes is one of the best ways to support your favorite recipe creators? If you LOVED this recipe, please comment and rate it in the recipe card or share photos on social media using the hashtag #foodmeanderings or tagging @foodmeanderings !
🥪Turkey Reuben Panini Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 150 g oven roasted turkey breast meat (cold cuts or leftover turkey) * about 6 slices
- 4 teaspoon mustard
- 4 slices low - fat swiss cheese slices
- 1 cup sauerkraut, drained and squeezed * measure AFTER it's drained and liquid has been squeezed out
- 8 slices rye bread
Garnish
- dill pickles, sliced
Instructions
- Heat panini press.
- On a cutting board or work surface, spread 1 teaspoon of mustard evenly on 4 slices of bread.
- Top each piece of bread with mustard on it, with slices of turkey meat, dividing evenly between all 4 pieces of bread.
- Drain and squeeze liquid from sauerkraut, then place it on top of turkey, dividing evenly between the 4 sandwiches.
- Add one slice of cheese to each sandwich and top each sandwich with the remaining slice of bread.
- Place sandwiches on panini press and lower top. ** You do not need to add butter or anything else- it will not stick!
- Cook for 5 minutes (approximately) until it has grilled brown ridges (as in photos)
- If cheese is not yet melted, move the setting to "melt" until cheese is melted.
- Serve with dill pickles and enjoy!
Notes
-
- To avoid a soggy sandwich. Drain and squeeze excess liquid from the sauerkraut before adding it to the sandwich.
-
- Choose the Right Bread. Rye bread is traditional, but make sure it's sturdy enough to hold up to the filling without getting soggy. If using a lighter, lower-calorie bread for WW points, toast it lightly before assembling it to prevent it from becoming too soft.
-
- Layer Ingredients for Even Melting. Place cheese slices closest to the bread to create a barrier and prevent the sandwich from becoming soggy.
-
- Get the Best Panini Press Results. Preheat the press fully before adding the sandwich for a perfectly crisp crust and don't overcrowd -cook in batches if needed to ensure even pressing. No panini press? Use a cast iron skillet with another heavy pan on top to press the sandwich.
-
- Skip the Butter – Use Mustard Instead. Traditional Reubens use butter on the outside, but to keep it lighter spread a thin layer of mustard directly on the bread instead. It enhances the flavor without adding unnecessary fat.
-
- Serve Immediately for the Best Texture. Paninis are best enjoyed fresh and hot. If making for later, store the ingredients separately and assemble them just before grilling.
Terri Gilson
Who knew a Reuben sandwich could be WW friendly? This Turkey Reuben Panini is only 6 points and can be cut to 3 using lighter bread! I love how it transforms leftover turkey into a warm, cozy meal. There's just something special about biting into a hot sandwich, and this one's become my favorite - especially around St. Patrick's Day!