Description
Warm, cheesy, and packed with savory ground beef and cabbage, this Runza Casserole is the ultimate comfort food straight from the heart of the Midwest. Inspired by the classic Nebraska Runza sandwich, this quick dinner recipe transforms traditional flavors into a convenient, family-sized bake. Perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or when you’re craving something hearty and homemade, this casserole layers crescent roll dough with seasoned beef, sautéed onions, cabbage, and melty cheese — all in under an hour. Add this to your dinner ideas or easy recipe rotation for a dish that satisfies every time!
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 cups green cabbage, finely chopped
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
½ teaspoon caraway seeds (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough (8 oz each)
1 egg, beaten (optional)
Instructions
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil or butter and sauté diced onion for 2–3 minutes.
2. Add ground beef and cook until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and caraway seeds if using.
3. Stir in the chopped cabbage and cook until softened, about 6–8 minutes. Let excess moisture evaporate and remove from heat to cool slightly.
4. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
5. Unroll one can of crescent dough and press it evenly into the bottom of the dish. Optional: bake the bottom crust for 5 minutes.
6. Spread the cooled beef and cabbage mixture over the bottom crust, then sprinkle cheese evenly on top.
7. Unroll the second can of dough and place it over the filling. Seal the edges and seams gently.
8. Brush the top with beaten egg if using.
9. Bake for 20–25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
10. Let rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Use lean ground beef to avoid a greasy casserole and a soggy bottom crust.
Pre-bake the bottom crust for a crispier base, especially if your beef is juicy.
Let the casserole cool before slicing — it makes clean cuts and better presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Midwestern / American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Runza casserole, easy dinner, ground beef recipe, crescent roll casserole, cabbage and beef bake