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    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches, Wraps, and Burgers

    Modified: Apr 11, 2025 · Published: Jul 13, 2016 by Willow Moon · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

    Vegan Teriyaki Reuben

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    This Vegan Teriyaki Reuben has a sweet teriyaki sauce, spicy raw sauerkraut, and a spicy thousand island dressing.

    Vegan Teriyaki Reuben stacked on plate.

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    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    "This was SO good! Thanks for the recipe! - Denise"

    There are some recipes that I get more excited over than others. I think this recipe is one of my BEST recipes yet. Yes, I am pretty excited about this one!

    This Vegan Teriyaki Reuben with Spicy Thousand Island Dressing was inspired by a sandwich that I ate about twenty years ago before I was vegan. I worked at a bar and grill that served Cajun food.

    One of the items on the menu was a turkey Reuben. It had a sweet teriyaki sauce served with a spicy Thousand Island dressing.

    Even back then my favorite combination was sweet and spicy, although I don't think I would have labeled it as such since I wasn't the foodie that I am today.

    Obviously, the sandwich made an impression on me since I remember it from twenty years ago. I knew I had to veganize it and post it here to share with you all.

    The original came with your average sauerkraut as I remember. I decided to elevate it a step further and include raw spicy sauerkraut (not kimchi, but spicy sauerkraut).

    It not only adds more spice, but it adds health benefits as well. Raw sauerkraut retains beneficial organisms, unlike pasteurized.

    If you don't like spicy food as much as I do, you could use my Vegan Thousand Island recipe, which is not as spicy as the one below. Although, I swear if you try this combination using the spicy Thousand Island, it is well worth it.

    The sweet teriyaki sauce compliments the spicy flavors and mellows them out a bit. Another teriyaki recipe is my Crispy Teriyaki Tofu recipe.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You'll Love It
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 📖 Variations / Additions
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • Other Vegan Sandwiches
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why You'll Love It

    • It is sweet and spicy with a balance of flavors.
    • It is simple and easy to make.
    • It is a hearty fusion sandwich that can be made for lunch or dinner.

    🧾 Ingredients

    Spicy Thousand Island Dressing

    • Vegan mayonnaise: I like Vegenaise by  Follow Your Heart because it is thick, rich, and creamy. Use your favorite vegan mayo.
    • Ketchup: Adds sweetness.
    • Pickled jalapeños: Add spice. You could leave them out.
    • Hot sauce: Adds more spice.
    • Sweet pickle relish: Adds sweetness. You could also use chopped sweet pickles.

    Teriyaki Reubens

    • Tamari: I used low-sodium gluten-free tamari because I like to control the amount of sodium.
    • Mirin: Adds a sweet tangy flavor. You could use rice vinegar and more sugar as a substitute.
    • Sugar: Adds sweetness. You could also use brown sugar or maple syrup.
    • Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce.
    • Water
    • Vegan chicken strips: I used a brand that no longer sells the vegan chicken strips that I used.  Use your favorite vegan chicken strips. You can also use firm or extra-firm tofu. If you use tofu, you'll need to cook it longer than I included in the recipe because the vegan chicken strips that I originally used were precooked.
    • Bread: I used gluten-free black rice bread. Use your favorite.
    • Spicy raw sauerkraut: I love this recipe with spicy raw sauerkraut. It goes really well with the sweet flavors of the teriyaki sauce. It doesn't taste anything like the pasteurized sauerkraut that you find on the shelves. This one you'll find in the refrigerated section. You could also use raw sauerkraut that isn't spicy.

    To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    📖 Variations / Additions

    • Vegan Thousand Island Dressing
    • Kimchi
    • Sweet pickles
    • Pickled onions or peppers
    • Coleslaw
    • Tempeh
    • Tofu

    5 Secrets to Vegan Cooking

    Spicy Tofu Bánh Mì on a cutting board.

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    🔪 Instructions

    Step 1: Make the spicy Thousand Island dressing by mixing all the ingredients together.

    Step 2: Combine tamari, mirin, and sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook until sugar dissolves.

    Step 3: Combine cornstarch and water. Whisk until blended.

    Step 4: Add the cornstarch mixture to the pan. Simmer until it thickens.

    Step 5: Add vegan chicken strips to the pan. Cook until the sauce cooks down.

    Step 6: Toast two slices of bread.

    Step 7: Top the vegan chicken strips, then the spicy raw sauerkraut.

    Step 8: Top with the other slice of toast.

    Step 9: Serve with the spicy Thousand Island dressing for dipping (or slather it on one of the slices of toast).

    Vegan Teriyaki Reuben close up.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    What is teriyaki sauce made of?

    This gluten-free teriyaki sauce is made with tamari, sugar, mirin, cornstarch, and water.

    How do you thicken and sweeten teriyaki sauce?

    Cornstarch thickens this teriyaki sauce. Sugar adds sweetness.

    Other Vegan Sandwiches

    • Vegan Reuben Sandwich on a cutting board.
      Vegan Reuben Sandwich
    • BBQ Mushroom Sandwich
      BBQ Mushroom Sandwich
    • Buffalo Tofu Sandwich
      Buffalo Tofu Sandwich
    • Maple Dijon Baked Tofu Sandwich
      Maple Dijon Baked Tofu Sandwich

    If you tried this Vegan Teriyaki Reuben Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how you like it in the 💬 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    📋 Recipe

    Vegan Teriyaki Reuben with Spicy Thousand Island Dressing
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    5 from 2 votes

    Vegan Teriyaki Reuben

    This Vegan Teriyaki Reuben has a sweet teriyaki sauce, spicy raw sauerkraut, and a spicy thousand island dressing.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Asian inspired
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time 8 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 7 minutes minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes minutes
    Servings 5 - 6 sandwiches
    Calories 317kcal
    Author Willow Moon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Spicy Thousand Island Dressing

    • ½ cup vegan mayo
    • 2 tablespoons ketchup
    • ¼ cup pickled jalapeños
    • 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons hot sauce
    • 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish

    Teriyaki Reubens

    • ¼ cup low sodium gluten free tamari
    • ¼ cup mirin
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 2 teaspoons corn starch
    • 4 teaspoons water
    • 12 ounces vegan chicken strips - cut into thinner strips than how they come packaged
    • 10 - 12 slices toasted gluten free bread - I used black rice
    • ¾ cup  spicy raw sauerkraut
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Spicy Thousand Island Dressing

    • Whisk all ingredients until blended.

    Teriyaki Reubens

    • Combine tamari, mirin, and sugar in a saucepan on medium high heat. Cook until sugar dissolves. In a bowl combine corn starch and water. Stir until blended. Add corn starch mixture to the pan. Simmer until sauce thickens.
    • Add sliced Beyond Chicken strips to the sauce and cook for a minute or two longer, until teriyaki sauce cooks down.
    • On a slice of toasted bread, top Beyond Chicken strips with teriyaki sauce, then spicy raw sauerkraut. Top with another slice of bread. Serve with a side of spicy thousand island dressing (or spread on top layer of bread). Repeat with the rest of sandwiches.

    Notes

    Store vegan chicken and sauce in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Store spicy Thousand Island for up to 10 days. See the package on the raw sauerkraut for how long it lasts.
    I don't recommend storing assembled sandwiches because they can get soggy.

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 1813mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Vitamin C: 11.1mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2.7mg
    SIGN UP for my newsletter, get a FREE 30 Minute Vegan Dinners 7-Day Meal Plan as a welcome gift! 💌

    *Note: Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only. Different nutrition calculators give you different results.

    More Sandwiches, Wraps, and Burgers

    • Vegan Monte Cristo on a plate.
      Vegan Monte Cristo
    • Benedictine Tea Sandwiches on a plate.
      Benedictine Tea Sandwiches
    • Vegan BLT with Avocado
      Vegan BLT with Avocado
    • Veggie Sandwich with Hummus
      Veggie Sandwich with Hummus

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Cat Stephens says

      September 01, 2020 at 4:06 pm

      This recipe brought me back to an Asian fast food restaurant in Southern California, which has sadly closed. They served “froggy sauce” that came in two containers. One was a homemade teriyaki sauce and one a thousand island. This recipe was so good. I did make it and it was amazing. My tip, use the leftover sauces for dips. It works well with French fries. Dip first into the teriyaki and then into the thousand island. YUM!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        September 01, 2020 at 5:15 pm

        Thanks Cat, I’m so glad you liked it! It’s actually one of my favorite recipes on the blog!

        Reply
    2. Denise says

      July 08, 2018 at 5:54 pm

      This was SO good! Thanks for the recipe!5 stars

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 10, 2018 at 2:02 pm

        Thanks Denise!

        Reply
    3. xoxobellablog says

      July 16, 2016 at 9:51 am

      This looks fantastic!! I love any kind of sandwich!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 16, 2016 at 1:52 pm

        Thanks! Me too! For some reason I have been on a sandwich kick recently (so I have a bunch of sandwich recipes I'll be posting)!

        Reply
    4. Mar says

      July 15, 2016 at 9:17 am

      This looks so yummy! I bet I could trick my meat loving boyfriend into eating this!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 16, 2016 at 1:49 pm

        Let me know if it works! I served this to a meat eater and he loved it!

        Reply
    5. Amanda | Maple Alps says

      July 14, 2016 at 10:40 am

      This looks really good! I will be trying this!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 16, 2016 at 1:45 pm

        Thanks Amanda, I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    6. Logan Can says

      July 14, 2016 at 9:33 am

      This looks so delicious and is making me want a sandwich! haha I love Reubens!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 16, 2016 at 1:35 pm

        Thanks Logan!

        Reply
    7. Candy says

      July 14, 2016 at 9:31 am

      I am slowly using more vegan recipies thanks to you.

      Reply
    8. QueenThrifty says

      July 14, 2016 at 8:31 am

      Hey this looks amazing I am going to try the recipe tonight!

      Reply
      • Willow Moon says

        July 16, 2016 at 1:34 pm

        Thanks! I hope you like it as much as I do!

        Reply

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