Runzamatic Casserole

I found the following recipe in a local publication earlier this past week. It's called "Runzamatic Casserole". If you are not from Nebraska (or have never been to Nebraska), you probably don't even know what a runza is. It is beef with onions, cabbage and spices inside an enclosed "bun". The origins are German (and possibly Russian). It is often a Husker Game Day staple in and around Memorial Stadium. Here is a picture of a runza and an open runza to give non-Nebraskans an idea of what they look like:

So, anyway, I wanted to try this recipe because it sounded EASY for one thing, and if it actually tasted like a runza, it would be a good thing to take to a potluck sometime. So I gathered the ingredients and made it today in the midst of painting our house (more on that later). This is such an EASY casserole to make and it actually tasted like a runza! So, if you don't have Runza in your area, make this and you'll know EXACTLY what a runza tastes like.

Here's the recipe:

Runzamatic Casserole

2 pkgs crescent rolls
2 lbs hamburger
1 pkg (dry) onion soup mix
2 c. cheddar cheese (grated)
1/2 c. water
1 8-oz pkg shredded cabbage (or shred your own like I did)

Brown hamburger. Add onion soup and water. Add cabbage and cook 15 min. Take one pkg rolls and line greased 9x13" pan. Spread beef and cabbage mixture all over rolls. Lay second package of rolls over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

(This is how the directions were printed. It didn't say what to DO with the cheddar cheese -- put it ON or IN -- so I put it IN right before I spread it in the 9x13" pan.)


This came out SOOOOOO good and tasted EXACTLY like a runza. We were pretty hungry because it was a late lunch/dinner (noon meal - depending on what you call the noon meal). I will definitely be making this again. We have leftovers so we'll see how those are.

Happy cooking!

9/14/10 -- Note after making this the second time: I decided to use THREE cans of crescent rolls so that the entire bottom and top could be covered. It came out great and I think that's what I'll do from now on. I also shredded the cheese coarser this time. I think it was better. I use a little more than they say to use 'cause I like cheese!