Ultimate Runza Casserole

What the heck is this?

So you’re craving that Nebraska comfort food magic but don’t want to spend all day rolling dough? This casserole is basically a runza that decided to chill out and become a one-pan wonder. We’re talking seasoned ground beef, tender cabbage, and onions all nestled under a golden, flaky biscuit topping that’s crispy on top and fluffy underneath. It’s like if a runza and a pot pie had a baby and that baby grew up to be the ultimate comfort food. My neighbor from Omaha took one bite and said it tasted like home, then proceeded to eat three servings. Even my picky eater kid, who usually picks apart anything with vegetables, demolished this and asked when I’m making it again.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• All the runza flavors without the bread-making drama
• One-dish wonder that feeds a crowd
• Perfect for potlucks, game day, or Sunday dinner
• Comfort food that actually fills you up
• Uses simple ingredients you can find anywhere
• Leftovers are somehow even better the next day

The Good Stuff You’ll Need

For the Filling:

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (80/20 is perfect)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 cups green cabbage, chopped (about 1/2 small head)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp flour

For the Biscuit Topping:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 6 tbsp cold butter, cubed
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 egg, beaten (for brushing)

For Extra Flavor:

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional but recommended)
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme

Let’s Do This

Step 1: Prep Your Setup

• Preheat oven to 425°F
• Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish
• Get all your ingredients ready because this moves pretty fast

Step 2: Brown That Beef

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
• Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it browns (about 6-8 minutes)
• Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika
• Remove beef with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pan

Step 3: Veggie Time

• In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened
• Add chopped cabbage and cook 5-6 minutes until it starts to wilt
• Add minced garlic and cook 1 more minute
• Sprinkle flour over everything and stir for 1 minute

Step 4: Bring It Together

• Add beef back to the skillet
• Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce
• Stir and let it simmer 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened
• Add thyme and adjust seasoning
• Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish

Step 5: Make the Biscuit Topping

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar
• Cut in cold butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs
• Add milk and stir just until dough comes together (don’t overmix)
• Drop spoonfuls of dough over the beef mixture
• Brush tops with beaten egg

Step 6: Bake to Golden Glory

• Bake 20-25 minutes until biscuits are golden brown and cooked through
• If using cheese, sprinkle it over the biscuits in the last 5 minutes
• Let rest 5 minutes before serving

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

• Sprinkle with fresh parsley
• Serve hot with a side salad or steamed vegetables
• Watch everyone go back for seconds

Serving Suggestions

• Perfect with a simple coleslaw or green salad
• Serve with pickles on the side (true Nebraska style)
• Great with corn on the cob or green beans
• Add some hot sauce for those who like a kick

Switch It Up

• Cheesy Version: Mix some cheese into the beef mixture before topping
• Spicy Style: Add diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne
• Veggie Boost: Add diced carrots or bell peppers with the cabbage
• Turkey Option: Use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter version

Make-Ahead Tips

• Assemble the whole thing (minus biscuit topping) up to 24 hours ahead
• Make biscuit dough fresh and add just before baking
• Leftovers keep 3-4 days in the fridge
• Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven

Pro Tips for Success

• Don’t overcook the cabbage — it should still have some bite
• Cold butter is key for fluffy biscuits
• Let the casserole rest after baking for easier serving
• If biscuits are browning too fast, cover with foil

Questions People Actually Ask

Q: Can I use store-bought biscuit dough? A: Absolutely! Use refrigerated biscuit dough if you want to save time. Just separate and place over the filling.

Q: What if I can’t find ground beef? A: Ground turkey, pork, or even a mix works great. Just adjust seasoning as needed.

Q: Can I make this gluten-free? A: Use gluten-free flour for both the filling thickener and biscuit topping. Results may vary slightly.

Q: How do I know when it’s done? A: Biscuits should be golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the biscuit comes out clean.

Q: Can I freeze this? A: The beef mixture freezes well, but add fresh biscuit topping when ready to bake.

Q: What’s the best way to reheat leftovers? A: Cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, or microwave individual portions.

Ultimate Runza Casserole

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• Author: Tyla
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x

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Description

 

So you’re craving that Nebraska comfort food magic but don’t want to spend all day rolling dough? This casserole is basically a runza that decided to chill out and become a one-pan wonder. We’re talking seasoned ground beef, tender cabbage, and onions all nestled under a golden, flaky biscuit topping that’s crispy on top and fluffy underneath. It’s like if a runza and a pot pie had a baby and that baby grew up to be the ultimate comfort food. My neighbor from Omaha took one bite and said it tasted like home, then proceeded to eat three servings. Even my picky eater kid, who usually picks apart anything with vegetables, demolished this and asked when I’m making it again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Filling:

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (80/20 is perfect)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 cups green cabbage, chopped (about 1/2 small head)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp flour

For the Biscuit Topping:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 6 tbsp cold butter, cubed
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 egg, beaten (for brushing)

For Extra Flavor:

 

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional but recommended)
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme

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Instructions

Step 1: Prep Your Setup

• Preheat oven to 425°F
• Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish
• Get all your ingredients ready because this moves pretty fast

Step 2: Brown That Beef

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
• Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it browns (about 6-8 minutes)
• Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika
• Remove beef with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pan

Step 3: Veggie Time

• In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened
• Add chopped cabbage and cook 5-6 minutes until it starts to wilt
• Add minced garlic and cook 1 more minute
• Sprinkle flour over everything and stir for 1 minute

Step 4: Bring It Together

• Add beef back to the skillet
• Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce
• Stir and let it simmer 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened
• Add thyme and adjust seasoning
• Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish

Step 5: Make the Biscuit Topping

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar
• Cut in cold butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs
• Add milk and stir just until dough comes together (don’t overmix)
• Drop spoonfuls of dough over the beef mixture
• Brush tops with beaten egg

Step 6: Bake to Golden Glory

• Bake 20-25 minutes until biscuits are golden brown and cooked through
• If using cheese, sprinkle it over the biscuits in the last 5 minutes
• Let rest 5 minutes before serving

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

 

• Sprinkle with fresh parsley
• Serve hot with a side salad or steamed vegetables
• Watch everyone go back for seconds

Notes

 

• Perfect with a simple coleslaw or green salad
• Serve with pickles on the side (true Nebraska style)
• Great with corn on the cob or green beans
• Add some hot sauce for those who like a kick

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes

Nutrition

• Calories: ~385 kcal
• Fat: ~18g
• Carbohydrates: ~32g
• Protein: ~22g