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    Home » Sandwiches & wraps

    Rachel sandwich with seitan chicken & coleslaw

    Published: Aug 8, 2021 · Modified: Mar 12, 2023 by Cadry Nelson
    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Text overlay: Rachel sandwich with seitan and coleslaw. Toasted sandwich on plate.

    You’re going to love the savory, crispy bite of a vegan Rachel sandwich. It’s similar to a reuben but with seitan chicken and coleslaw.

    This toasted sandwich is finished with melty non-dairy cheese and a drizzling of Thousand Island dressing.

    There’s plenty of mmm in every bite!

    Sliced toasted Rachel sandwich on plate.

    Few things make me happier than a good reuben sandwich.

    Whether it’s made with corned jackfruit, corned “beef” seitan, or plopped into a nourish bowl, it’s a melding of flavors that takes me to my happy place every time.

    If you’re similarly enthralled with a reuben sandwich, you’re going to love this veganized variation of a Rachel sandwich!

    In this post:

    Jump to:
    • What is a Rachel sandwich?
    • Ingredients
    • Step by step instructions
    • Make it your own
    • Serving ideas
    • 📖 Recipe

    What is a Rachel sandwich?

    Hands holding vegan turkey reuben sandwich.

    A Rachel sandwich is a cousin to the reuben.

    It’s also known as a California or Georgia reuben.

    While a traditional reuben sandwich uses pastrami & sauerkraut, a Rachel is typically made with turkey and coleslaw.

    It’s then toasted on rye bread with melty Swiss cheese & Thousand Island dressing.

    Since this is a vegan version of a Rachel sandwich, I make a few substitutions.

    Instead of turkey, I use thin slices of homemade seitan chicken.

    It’s seasoned with basil, oregano, onion powder, and garlic. It has a wonderful toothsome texture.

    For the coleslaw, I use my favorite vegan coleslaw recipe.

    It’s really quick & easy to make thanks to the shortcut of pre-shredded cabbage mix. It includes both purple and green cabbage as well as carrots.

    For the dressing, I make a simple Thousand Island with eggless mayo, ketchup, diced pickles, and lemon juice.

    If you’d rather use store-bought, that works too!

    (This recipe makes more vegan Thousand Island than you’ll need for one sandwich. Use any leftovers on a vegan cheeseburger pizza or jackfruit reuben!)

    Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe.

    Labeled ingredients for vegan Thousand Island dressing.

    For the Thousand Island dressing:

    • Vegan mayo
    • Ketchup
    • Lemon juice
    • Diced pickles
    Labeled ingredients for vegan Rachel sandwich.

    For the sandwich:

    • Rye bread
    • Seitan chicken
    • Non-dairy butter
    • Shredded vegan cheese
    • Coleslaw

    Step by step instructions

    Here’s how to make this recipe at a glance. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.

    Combine all of the salad dressing ingredients in a bowl.

    Then butter two slices of bread on one side with non-dairy butter.

    Process shots for cooking vegan Rachel sandwich.

    Put the slices into a skillet butter side down on a medium heat.

    Add a sprinkling of non-dairy cheese to both pieces of bread.

    (I use vegan mozzarella, but any meltable non-dairy cheese will work!)

    On one of the bread slices, add sliced seitan chicken, a generous helping of coleslaw, and vegan Thousand Island dressing.

    Add the top piece of bread to the sandwich.

    Flip the sandwich to make sure it’s evenly toasted on both sides.

    Then remove it from the pan & cut it on a diagonal.

    Make it your own

    Toasted sandwich on plate with seitan and coleslaw.

    It’s easy to make this sandwich your own by simplifying or changing the ingredients.

    • Instead of seitan chicken, use store-bought vegan deli slices. Tofurky hickory smoked deli slices would go well here.
    • If you’re making this sandwich around the fall or winter holidays, use leftovers from a vegan holiday roast like a re-vamp of a leftovers sandwich.
    • Use sauerkraut instead of coleslaw.
    • Use store-bought vegan Thousand Island dressing instead of making your own.
    • Use any shredded non-dairy cheese you like or replace it with sliced avocado.
    • Add sautéed onions, bell peppers, or pickled jalapeños for more vegetable goodness.
    • Instead of rye bread, use whole wheat, have it as a wrap in a tortilla, or on a toasted baguette.

    Serving ideas

    A Rachel sandwich is so filling, it’s basically a full meal on its own.

    But you can round it out with any of these tasty side dishes:

    • Baked fries or vegan poutine
    • Fried pickles or fried zucchini
    • Vegan pasta salad
    • Air fryer kale chips (or oven baked)
    • Spinach salad with strawberries
    Toasted Rachel sandwich with seitan chicken on plate and topped with a pickle.

    📖 Recipe

    Toasted sandwich on plate & topped with a pickle.

    Rachel sandwich with seitan chicken & coleslaw

    Author: Cadry Nelson
    5 from 2 votes
    Here's a vegan take on a Rachel sandwich. Thinly sliced seitan is added to toasted rye bread with melty non-dairy cheese & Thousand Island dressing. There's a pop of flavor & crunch in every bite!
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 person
    Course: Sandwich
    Cuisine: American, Vegan
    Keyword: hot sandwich, toasted sandwich
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    For the vegan Thousand Island dressing

    • 2 Tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
    • 1 Tablespoon ketchup
    • ½ teaspoon lemon juice
    • 1 Tablespoon finely chopped dill pickles

    For the Rachel sandwich

    • 1 Tablespoon non-dairy butter
    • 2 slices marbled rye bread
    • 3 Tablespoons shredded non-dairy cheese I use mozzarella
    • Several thin slices seitan chicken about 2 ounces
    • Heaping ¼ cup vegan coleslaw
    • 1 to 2 Tablespoons vegan Thousand Island dressing

    Instructions

    To make vegan Thousand Island dressing

    • In a small bowl, combine vegan mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, and finely chopped dill pickles. Set aside.
      (This is enough dressing for four sandwiches. If you're only making one sandwich, put the rest in a covered container and refrigerate.)

    To make the Rachel sandwich

    • Bring a large skillet to a medium heat. Butter both slices of rye bread with non-dairy butter on one side. Put the slices into the skillet butter side down.
    • Add a sprinkling of non-dairy cheese to the bread slices.
    • Add several thin slices of seitan chicken to one piece of bread.
    • Top it with a heaping ¼ cup of coleslaw.
    • Finish with a drizzling of vegan Thousand Island dressing.
    • Top the sandwich with the remaining toasted bread slice. Flip the sandwich with a spatula, so that it's evenly browned on both sides.
      If the cheese hasn't melted enough, turn the heat to low, and cover the skillet with a lid until the cheese melts completely.
    • Once the cheese has melted, remove the sandwich from the skillet, and cut it diagonally.

    Notes

    If you don’t want to make seitan from scratch, use your favorite vegan deli slices.
    Any shredded non-dairy cheese will work for this recipe. I’m especially fond of mozzarella here.
    There’s enough Thousand Island dressing for four sandwiches. If you’re only making one sandwich, keep the remaining dressing in a covered container in the refrigerator. You can use it on vegan cheeseburger pizza or a jackfruit reuben.
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    Nutrition

    Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 1316mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 3mg

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    1. Shell

      October 06, 2021 at 7:12 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! My favorite part of this recipe is the easy, homemade Thousand Island dressing. It adds so much to the sandwich and is great with a lot of other meals, too!

      Reply
      • Cadry Nelson

        October 07, 2021 at 1:26 pm

        Thank you! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!

        Reply

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