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Runza Casserole

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Easy to make Runza casserole has a hearty and flavorful filling of ground beef and cabbage topped with shredded cheese and sandwiched between layers of crescent rolls. This main dish is simple, delicious, filling and budget friendly!

A freshly baked Runza casserole next to 2 white plates.

If you’re not from the Midwest, specifically around Nebraska, you probably haven’t heard of Runza before. My friend Kim introduced me to the Runza sandwich. It’s basically a kind of loose meat sandwich made with ground beef, cabbage, and onions. It maybe sounds a little odd, a little plain perhaps, but it’s actually really delicious. 

Scooping up a serving of Runza casserole out of the baking dish.

Now if the ingredients of Runza sound familiar, it might because these sandwiches are the modern cousins of the German bierock, a pastry pocket sandwich with a savory filling of ground beef, shredded cabbage and onions. They are also sometimes called kraut burgers.

Rolling the crescent roll dough over the filling for the Runza casserole

What you’ll need:

  • 2 (8-oz. each) cans crescent rolls, (do not separate)
  • 1 ½ lbs lean ground beef
  • 4 cups chopped green cabbage
  • 1 package onion soup mix
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
The ingredients needed to make Runza casserole; crescent rolls, ground beef, cabbage, cheese, onion soup mix, and cream of mushroom soup.

Making the Runza casserole step by step

Step 1. Make the filling. Brown the ground beef and drain any remaining grease. Then add the chopped cabbage and cook for 3-4 minutes until the cabbage has wilted. Stir in the cream of mushroom and onion soup mix. 

A skillet full of the ground beef and cabbage filling for the Runza casserole.

Step 2. Assemble the casserole. Press one can of crescent roll dough into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan. Spoon the filling over the top of the crescent rolls. Then sprinkle the cheese over the filling. Top with the remaining can of crescent roll dough. 

A collage image showing the steps to assemble the casserole.

Step 3. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until the casserole is golden brown on the top.

A freshly baked Runza casserole in a metal serving tray.

Serve up your Runza casserole with a side of mashed potatoes, french fries, onion rings, or fried apples for a good old fashioned Midwestern stick to your ribs kind of meal! 

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Runza Casserole

Runza Casserole

Yield: 6-8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Runza casserole has a hearty and flavorful filling of ground beef and cabbage topped with shredded cheese and sandwiched between layers of crescent rolls.

Ingredients

  • 2 (8- ounce) tubes refrigerated crescent rolls, (do not separate)
  • 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
  • 4 cups chopped green cabbage
  • 1 package onion soup mix
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar*
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

    Brown the ground beef in a large skillet on medium high heat, using a utensil to break the ground beef into small pieces.  Drain any excess grease. Once the beef is browned, add the cabbage and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the cabbage has slightly wilted. Stir the cream of mushroom soup and onion soup mix into the beef and cabbage mixture. 

    Unroll one can of the refrigerated crescent rolls, do not separate them, and place in the bottom of the baking pan. Layer the beef and cabbage over the crescent rolls in the prepared baking dish.

    Place an even layer of cheese over the beef and cabbage. Top the casserole with the remaining can of crescent rolls.

    Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until the crescent rolls are golden brown on top.

Notes

Notes: You can use either shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese, but I often use a mixture of both cheeses. 

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Please leave a review or a photo! I'd love to hear your feedback!

Runza casserole has a hearty and flavorful filling of ground beef and cabbage topped with shredded cheese and sandwiched between layers of crescent rolls. It’s simple, delicious, filling and budget friendly!

sarah roberts

Monday 8th of August 2022

sounds great, i will save this one. I was introduces to beirocks in the 60's. Love them.

Winniebear

Sunday 27th of March 2022

Yummy! A filling and flavorful way to use cabbage. It melts into the background of the casserole and you can't even taste it. I would suggest baking the bottom crust for about 7 minutes first to ensure you don't have any raw dough.

Karen s Canan

Sunday 9th of January 2022

I got too much sauerkraut for New Years. I have one container not used. Could sauerkraut be used in place of the cabbage in this recipe?

Amy D

Monday 17th of January 2022

I don't think that I personally would enjoy that substitution. I do have a recipe for Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Sauerkraut that I can recommend however! Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Sauerkraut

Ali

Tuesday 20th of April 2021

SO GOOD. Hits every happy taste/texture preference. Runza casserole is our new fam fave!! THANK YOU AMY!! :)

Amy D

Tuesday 20th of April 2021

So glad that you guys are enjoying it, Ali! Reviews like this one make the work of running a blog worth it. :) Amy

Marge

Thursday 8th of April 2021

My Runza recipe calls for Sour Cream instead of mushroom soup. Very yummy.

Ellen

Monday 30th of September 2024

@Marge, Due ro health issues I must tweak some recipes and sub in ingredients. It's a Low Sodium thing. The Sour Cream sound great! How much do you use for this recipe amount? Thank you!

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