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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 Jump to Video

    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

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    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!
    4.77 from 60 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes 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
    Text Ingredients

    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.

    Video

    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. Teresa

      February 28, 2025 at 12:08 pm

      5 stars
      I Love Runzas! I’ve been making these for 15 years. I make mine with a
      homemade dough and fill each pocket with some filling then then I put some shredded cheese on them then fold them and put them in the oven.
      mine makes a really large batch then I freeze a lot of them then when I want a couple I take them out and warm them in my June oven.

      Reply
    2. Deborah Cerva

      February 18, 2025 at 4:57 am

      Easy, simple weeknight dinner without making a mess in the kitchen. I fried a layer of sliced potatoes in an iron skillet, flipped and topped with beef mixture in place of the bottom crust. Then I put the whole skillet back in the oven to finish.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        February 20, 2025 at 10:09 am

        What a great idea, Deborah! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    3. Livy

      December 01, 2024 at 7:26 pm

      4 stars
      I added mushrooms and seasoned salt. I also used cheddar and mozzarella. I ate it with mustard. Pickles would also be good. I used a bag of coleslaw, so it was a quick easy dinner. I had never heard of runza before, but I love ground beef and cabbage. I’m glad I came across this recipe. I should’ve halved it. I’m wondering if I could freeze the leftovers

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        December 05, 2024 at 2:03 pm

        Hi Livy! Yes you can definitely freeze the leftovers.

        Reply
    4. Jeanne Harland

      March 18, 2024 at 3:43 pm

      I have been making these for years (I am 87). This is a take off of the old German recipe for Kraut Bierochs, which are much better by the way, BUT, stop chopping or grating that cabbage. Buy a bag of already shredded cabbage (some with shredded carrots in it, which just makes it healthier) from the bagged salad section at the grocery store. We wrapped the dough around the mixture and baked them individually. That way the cabbage and onion flavor is baked into the bread, but this fake way is just fine if you aren’t into making your own dough.

      Reply
    5. Bobby

      December 30, 2023 at 8:27 pm

      3 stars
      lI liked the flavor but it was very dry. Are the sandwiches this dry?

      I might try it with mushroom soup but it seems that it might mask the cabbage flavor.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        January 01, 2024 at 6:27 pm

        Hi Bobby, good question. I think sandwiches can have condiments on it, per the preference of those eating. I haven’t tried to add anything to the runza myself. But adding moisture to this dish is simple. You just need to decide how much you want it to affect the pastry dough. Sour cream or cream cheese that you can even season some, will add flavor. Broth will give flavor and moisture. Make a roux and add some broth to thicken it and help it stick to the cabbage. Finally, just some heavy cream stirred in would also be an alternative. Let me know what you decide on and how it turns out!

        Reply
    6. Wilson

      November 19, 2023 at 4:07 am

      first time I had this delicious!!!!!!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        November 20, 2023 at 3:45 pm

        So glad to hear it, Wilson!

        Reply
    7. Sumon

      November 17, 2023 at 7:55 pm

      4 stars
      I went to go proof my Rhodes dinner rolls from the freezer, but they were too old and didn’t rise. in a panic, I found your recipe to use for the runza filling I already made. thank you! This saved my dinner plans!

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        November 18, 2023 at 7:46 pm

        That’s great! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    8. Diane Webber

      August 20, 2023 at 9:52 pm

      1 star
      it is very plain. There is not much flavor other than crescent rolls and ground beef. You have to grate a half a cabbage. a cup and a half of cheese. I would not recommend this recipe.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        August 22, 2023 at 12:57 pm

        Don’t get stuck with the base of this recipe, Diane. This is a great recipe and you can flavor it up with my tips: 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. Hamburger can be replaced with any ground meat such as spicy sausage. For added flavor, add 1 teaspoon seasoned salt to the hamburger before adding onions and cabbage, cumin and a garlic herbs mix would be tasty. Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
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    4.77 from 60 votes (43 ratings without comment)

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