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    Home » Main » Runza Casserole Recipe – Easy Ground Beef Cabbage Dinner!

    Runza Casserole Recipe – Easy Ground Beef Cabbage Dinner!

    Published: Apr 3, 2020 · Modified: Jan 31, 2021 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Runza Casserole is inspired by a world-famous sandwich made with ground beef and cabbage. This is a filling, delicious and affordable way to feed an entire family!

    spatula serving a helping of cabbage and ground beef casserole on a white plate

    Why This Recipe Works

    Unless you are from the Midwest, you might not be familiar with the word RUNZA. What is a Runza?! Hmm, yes, it’s a very interesting word. I lived in Omaha, Nebraska, for a few years after college and this popular restaurant quickly became a favorite of mine.

    Their specialty sandwich, The Runza Sandwich, consists of beef, cabbage and onions squished between two scrumptious pieces of bread.

    Oh goodness, you guys, this is an absolute favorite sandwich of mine. The ingredients are so simple, so I can see where one might question this but TRUST ME. If you don’t live access to this restaurant, make this casserole and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

    With just a little love and some cooking magic, cabbage and ground beef transform into a savory, comforting casserole the whole family will enjoy.

    How To Make Runza Casserole

    Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Roll out one tube of crescent rolls and place on the bottom of prepared pan.

    crescent rolls spread on the bottom of a baking dish

    Bake for 5 minutes.

    Step 2

    Add 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain and use a spatula to move the meat to outer edges of the skillet. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the center of the skillet and allow it to melt.

    2 pats of butter in the center of ground beef in a skillet

    Add the onions, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

    Step 3

    Add cabbage (half of a head, shredded) to the hamburger and onion mixture.

    huge pile of shredded cabbage in a skillet

    Cook for 5 minutes, or until the cabbage has cooked down and wilted. Season again with salt and pepper. Pour meat-cabbage mixture over top of bottom crescent layer. Add an even layer of shredded cheddar cheese on top.

    top view of baking dish with ground beef, cabbage and shredded cheese

    Top with the remaining crescent roll dough.

    crescent roll dough covering a casserole ready for baking

    Bake 20-25 minutes or until crescent rolls are golden brown.

    Recipe Notes

    • For an added burst of creaminess and flavor, consider adding a can of cream of mushroom soup to the hamburger cabbage mixture before adding it to the baking dish.
    • Use any variety of cabbage for this recipe!
    • Hamburger can be replaced with any ground meat.
    • For added flavor, add 1 teaspoon seasoned salt to the hamburger before adding onions and cabbage.

    What To Serve With Cabbage

    So many main course options as well as secondary sides pair perfectly with it! If you are searching for that perfect recipe to pair it with, read on for some great ideas about what to serve with cabbage.

    Included in the article is recipes for Reuben sandwiches, tacos, corned beef, potatoes, lamb, pork chops and more!

    serving of runza casserole on a plate with a fork

    FAQ About Cabbage

    How to cut cabbage?

    Remove and discard the outermost leaves and cut the very bottom of the stem off. Place the head of cabbage on its end where you cut and slice down the center vertically. Cut each half lengthwise. Remove the core and stem by cutting a wedge out of each quarter. Place each cabbage quarter onto a flat portion so it is lying flat and slice 1/4-inch strips, creating shredded cabbage.

    How many calories in cabbage?

    One cup of shredded cabbage contains approximately 17 calories.

    How many carbs in cabbage?

    One cup of shredded cabbage contains approximately 4 grams of carbohydrates.

    Cabbage Recipes

    • Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup is super easy and comforting and it can be tossed right into your slow cooker!
    • Make grilled cabbage to the next level by making Grilled Cabbage Steaks! Top them with shaved Parmesan cheese, bbq sauce or just a simple pat of butter. Serve alongside any summer meal for the absolute perfect healthy side dish!
    • This classic Easy Coleslaw contains shredded cabbage, creamy vinaigrette dressing and it’s not loaded down with mayo! This will be your go-to slaw for a dinner side, picnic fare and fish tacos!
    • Sauteed Cabbage is the perfect quick and delicious side dish for any meal. Using only a few ingredients and taking 10 minutes of your time, you can’t go wrong with this super flavorful and affordable recipe!
    • Enjoy corned beef and cabbage made in the Instant Pot, done QUICKLY compared to traditional cooking methods and with just as much flavor! The meat turns out super juicy and tender. The cabbage, carrots and potatoes complement this delicious comforting dinner perfectly. Enjoy on Saint Patrick’s Day or any time of the year!
    top view of serving of runza casserole sitting next to baking dish

    Ground Beef and Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipes

    Simplify dinner tonight! Create an easy, affordable and delicious meal using two hearty main ingredients. Click over for a handful of ground beef and cream of mushroom soup recipes!

    Affordable Ground Beef Recipes

    If you are looking for more easy recipes using ground beef, check out this incredible roundup filled with delicious ideas!

    30+ Delicious Dinners Using Ground Beef

    Will you help add value to Pip and Ebby?
    If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!

    Runza Casserole Recipe

    Runza Casserole is inspired by a world-famous sandwich made with ground beef and cabbage. This is a filling, delicious and affordable way to feed a family!
    4.82 from 33 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 364kcal
    Author: Megan Porta

    Ingredients

    • 16 oz refrigerated crescent rolls do not separate rolls
    • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
    • 2 tbsp butter
    • 1/2 head green cabbage shredded
    • 1 yellow onion chopped
    • 2 tsp salt
    • 1 tsp pepper
    • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Roll out one tube of crescent rolls and place on the bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 5 minutes.
    • Add 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain and use a spatula to move the meat to outer edges of the skillet. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the center of the skillet and allow it to melt. Add the onions, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
    • Add half of a head of cabbage (shredded) and cook for 5 minutes, or until it has cooked down and wilted. Season again with salt and pepper. Pour meat-cabbage mixture over top of bottom crescent layer. Top with an even layer of shredded cheddar cheese. Top with the remaining crescent roll dough.
      Bake 20-25 minutes or until crescent rolls are golden brown.

    Notes

    • For an added burst of creaminess and flavor, consider adding a can of cream of mushroom soup to the hamburger cabbage mixture before adding it to the baking dish.
    • Use any variety of cabbage for this recipe!
    • Hamburger can be replaced with any ground meat.
    • For added flavor, add 1 teaspoon seasoned salt to the hamburger before adding onions and cabbage.
    • If your can of crescent rolls come in 8oz, then you will 2 cans!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 834mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 237IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Miranda

      November 12, 2022 at 1:34 pm

      Nebraska native here now living in the UK. I miss Runza so much! This recipe I will be saving and eager to make. Been craving a good Runza for months now. If you have an onion ring or chili recipe you’d recommend lmk! Would make the Runza experience abroad truly complete. 🙂

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        November 14, 2022 at 12:14 am

        Oh, so glad you connected here, Miranda! Thank you for commenting. Hope the UK is good to you!

        Reply
    2. Jennifer

      June 15, 2022 at 4:25 am

      5 stars
      My family really enjoyed this! We love runzas at our house! This was an easy recipe and a close 2nd to a runza! I added fresh basil and garlic to mine!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        June 15, 2022 at 11:10 pm

        Mmm, you can’t go wrong with fresh basil or garlic. So glad it was enjoyed. Thank you for sharing Jennifer!

        Reply
    3. Laurie

      May 30, 2022 at 12:24 am

      Many foods are not strong of flavor, Most Runza recipes including this version- are wonderful. Salt, pepper and whatever condiment you choose. Everyone’s taste is different. I make it in smaller pans to share with others.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        June 01, 2022 at 10:52 pm

        Thank you Laurie. I’m glad you’re enjoying it and sharing it! What a blessing!

        Reply
    4. lynn

      May 14, 2022 at 1:12 am

      5 stars
      2nd time making the recipe. It’s easy and quick. I posted it on my Facebook w/ pics.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        May 17, 2022 at 3:45 am

        Thank you Lynn! I am so glad you found it easy and I hope many others enjoy it for a simple meal too. We need those on those busy days.

        Reply
    5. BrendaI

      May 08, 2022 at 12:01 am

      4 stars
      I would give it a 5 but it didn’t have much flavor. I put a heaping tablespoon of German Mustard on my plate to give it more taste.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        May 10, 2022 at 8:43 pm

        Hi Brendal, yes, this recipe is good to tailor as you enjoy – mustard is a great option!

        Reply
    6. Mitzi

      February 19, 2022 at 3:16 am

      I haven’t made this recipe yet but it sounds delish! For those who want to kick it up a bit, I suggest lots of freshly cracked black pepper in the filling and pepper jack cheese. We used to make “faux” runzas using flour tortillas. Browned the hamburger and onion with salt and lots of black pepper. Threw in the rough chopped cabbage to cook down and stir into hamburger. Then add some chunks of pepper jack cheese and allow to melt. We would warm the tortillas and fill them with the mixture, plus add some extra pepper jack cheese and enjoy!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        February 21, 2022 at 7:17 pm

        Thanks Mitzi for the tip. I hope you make it and let me know how it compares. Thank you for commenting!

        Reply
      • BrendaI

        May 07, 2022 at 11:57 pm

        This sounds much more appealing than the original recipe which I did make and it really needs a kick!

        Reply
    7. Angie

      February 18, 2022 at 10:25 pm

      1 star
      Tastes absolutely nothing like runza. All you taste is the crescent roll and it is just not good.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        February 21, 2022 at 7:17 pm

        Thank you for sharing your experience. Have a great day Angie.

        Reply
      • BrendaI

        May 07, 2022 at 11:57 pm

        I agree Angie…. really needs some more spices to give it some flavor.

        Reply
        • Megan Porta

          May 10, 2022 at 8:58 pm

          Love cooking for this reason – it’s a delicious recipe on its own and you can improve on it for you/your family. I have a parent who thinks ketchup is spicy and a hubby who can’t get enough spice.

          Reply
    8. Sherri

      February 08, 2022 at 7:02 pm

      5 stars
      Easy to make and delicious to eat !!!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        February 09, 2022 at 7:44 pm

        Sherri, thank you! I appreciate you trying it and giving feedback.

        Reply
    9. Ponch Smith

      October 10, 2021 at 11:27 pm

      5 stars
      Made it tn. My wife won’t let me give any away. Only change would be to cook the cabbage longer. Possibly add some pork and sauerkraut. These are not criticisms. It was awesome.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        October 12, 2021 at 3:45 pm

        Those are great tweaks! I’m so glad it was enjoyed!

        Reply
    10. Steuart

      August 31, 2021 at 11:43 pm

      5 stars
      Love your recipe. The only charge I made was to spoon some sour cream on the side use it with each fork full of Renza. That’s it was a great easy to make meal.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        September 01, 2021 at 12:54 pm

        Thanks for the tip!

        Reply
    11. LONNA LIPPARELLI

      August 26, 2021 at 10:30 pm

      I feel like there is a misprint here. Shouldn’t it call for TWO 16-ounce cans of Crescent rolls?

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        August 30, 2021 at 3:34 pm

        Hi, Thanks for asking! If you buy a small can of crescent rolls, you will have an 8oz container and only enough for half the recipe. Then you would need to buy 2 cans. I hope that clears it up!

        Reply
    12. Don

      August 26, 2021 at 4:43 pm

      I haven’t made this recipe yet because I am not understanding the directions about the crescent rolls. 1. Says to place the crescent rolls in the bottom of the prepared pan. 3. Says to place the remaining crescent dough on top.

      Was I supposed to reserve half of the crescent dough or are two cans of crescent rolls necessary.

      The recipe sounds delicious but I want to make it according to the recipe.

      Thanks.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        August 30, 2021 at 3:33 pm

        That’s a great question – I purchased a larger can (16 OZ) and it was enough for the top and bottom of the dish. However, if you purchase 8oz can, you will need 2 cans of crescent roll dough because then it’s only enough for the top or the bottom. Depending on where you buy your groceries will let you know if you can just get one bigger container of crescent roll dough.

        Reply
    13. Joni

      August 01, 2021 at 1:50 am

      5 stars
      We had Runza in Nebraska on a road trip a couple months ago. This was just as good, if not better! I had Colby/Jack cheese on hand so I used that. Otherwise followed the recipe! Perfect! I wish I had taken a picture

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        August 04, 2021 at 4:03 am

        How fun! Glad you tried it and enjoyed it – now you can have it regularly.

        Reply
    14. Kathy

      May 28, 2021 at 7:56 pm

      Can you freeze the leftovers??

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        June 03, 2021 at 12:53 am

        Sure! This would easily freeze and then just reheat in the oven. Thanks!

        Reply
    15. Kim

      February 06, 2021 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      Megan, you are correct, I had never heard of Runza before. I really enjoyed you sharing the story about how this meal came to be. I’m always looking for new ways to use cabbage and this is a must try.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        February 09, 2021 at 4:56 pm

        Glad I could share what it was with you and I hope you dig into making the recipe. It is SO good and even those who think they don’t like cabbage do in this recipe. I’ve made it and shared it with others many times.

        Reply
        • Reg

          April 25, 2021 at 6:14 pm

          Good description, but it is not “between two pieces of bread” – the cabbage mixture is stuffed into rolls before baking. It comes from a German dish called a bierock.

          Reply
    16. Amy

      November 19, 2020 at 3:23 am

      5 stars
      Delicious and easy to make!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        November 25, 2020 at 8:47 pm

        Agreed – I need to put it back into rotation!

        Reply
    17. Deann Zens

      October 11, 2020 at 4:41 pm

      To bump up the flavor a bit, nix the onion and add to the meat an envelope of dry onion soup, 1 tsp of worcestershire sauce & a can of cream of mushroom soup.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        October 13, 2020 at 3:29 am

        Thanks for the suggestions! I’m sure others will love it.

        Reply
      • Pat Turpin

        March 28, 2021 at 6:59 pm

        4 stars
        I think that would give it some pizzazz… I made it as per the original recipe and felt like it was lacking “something“ but couldn’t figure out what… I love everything that’s in it, but it just didn’t have that special pop that made it delicious!

        Reply
    18. LK

      April 14, 2020 at 2:15 am

      5 stars
      This was SO delicious! I added garlic powder to beef/onion mixture and a bit more once the cabbage was added. My family really enjoyed this recipe, thank you Megan!

      Question – what’s the best way to reheat?

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        April 14, 2020 at 2:48 am

        Love it! Thanks for sharing your tweaks – thank you for sharing!

        Reply

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