This Nebraska Runzas comes together in about 30 minutes and is made all in one skillet for a quick and easy weeknight meal that your family will love! Trust me when I say that the aroma of these baked goodies will have everyone racing to the kitchen. You can easily switch up the filling ingredients to suit your taste or use it as a fun way to “clean out the fridge” and get rid of leftovers and odds and ends!
Ingredient Breakdown
You’ll need a handful of simple ingredients to whip up these delicious Runzas:
- 1 lb ground beef: This is the heart of the dish! You could swap it for turkey or even go vegetarian with lentils or black beans.
- 1 cup cabbage, chopped: Cabbage is a traditional part of the filling, offering that crisp, sweet crunch!
- 1 onion, chopped: Onions bring tons of flavor! Don’t forget to brown them until they’re soft and translucent for that extra sweetness.
- 1 teaspoon salt: A couple pinches will do!
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper: For a gentle kick!
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder: Because garlic improves everything, right?
- 2 cups flour: All-purpose flour works perfectly!
- 1/2 cup milk: Use whole milk for richness, or any other milk you like.
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted: Adds a lovely buttery flavor to the dough!
- 1 packet yeast: Instant or active dry both work, just make sure it’s fresh!
- 1 teaspoon sugar: This helps activate the yeast!
- 1/2 cup warm water: Not too hot, just warm enough to help the yeast bloom.
Let’s Get Cooking!
Step-by-Step Instructions
First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This gets your oven nice and hot for that perfect golden crust!
In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes. As you’re cooking, add a couple pinches of salt and pepper to elevate that flavor.
Once the beef’s browned, toss in the chopped onions and cabbage, stirring occasionally, until everything is soft. This should take about 5 minutes those onions should be nice and translucent and smell divine!
In a separate bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it’s frothy, this shows that your yeast is alive and kicking!
Now, stir in the melted butter and milk into your yeast mixture. Oh, and don’t forget to give it at least a good mix to combine.
Gradually add the flour to form a dough and knead it until smooth. This is when things get a little messy, but honestly, that’s half the fun!
You’ll want to let the dough rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. Cover it with a clean kitchen towel, this helps lock in the warmth!
After the dough has risen (it should be puffy and soft), roll it out on a lightly floured surface and cut it into squares about 4 inches will do!
Add a spoonful of the beef mixture to each square and fold the dough over, sealing the edges so you’ve got a little beefy pocket of goodness.
Once they are all filled, place them on a baking sheet.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes until they are beautifully golden brown. The smell wafting through your house at this point is absolutely heavenly, so get ready to dive in!
Serve them warm, and just watch them disappear!
What Makes Me Love These Runzas
This is my go-to recipe when I need something super comforting yet quick! These Runzas are like a warm embrace wrapped in dough. They’re not just delicious they’re soul food, packed with flavor and nostalgia for me, as I remember making them with my mom. And the best part? You can use whatever you’ve got on hand! It’s incredibly versatile, and it always seems to come out perfectly.
If you loved this Nebraska Runzas, be sure to check out my Pumpkin Gougères, my homemade mac and cheese, or my Roasted Mini Potatoes!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
Comes together in under 30 minutes! Perfect for those busy weeknights when you don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen.
Crowd-Pleaser
This is the comfort food that the whole family will love. Kids and adults alike will be clamoring for seconds!
Customizable
Got some leftover veggies? You can add them right in! Use whatever ingredients you have to make it your own.
Comforting
These little pockets of goodness are so loaded with flavor, it’s like a happy hug on a plate!
Make-Ahead Friendly
You can make the filling ahead of time and stash it in the fridge. Just whip up the dough when you’re ready to bake, and you’ll have a meal that’s just as good as homemade!
Serving and Storage Tips
How to Serve This Runzas
These delicious Runzas are great on their own, but you can serve them alongside a light salad or some steamed veggies to balance it out a bit. You could also whip up a dipping sauce, think mustard or even a spicy ranch.
Storage
These Runzas can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, but I doubt they’ll last that long! Cover them tightly to keep them fresh.
Reheating Instructions
The best way to reheat these is in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes. This way, they’ll stay soft and gooey without getting too chewy, which is key.
Freezer Friendly
Yes! You can freeze them before they bake. Assemble, then place them on a lined baking sheet to freeze individually. Once frozen, transfer to a bag and keep for up to a month. Just pop them in the oven when you’re ready to bake, no thawing required!
Final Thoughts
Honestly, if you give these easy Nebraska Runzas a try, you’ll see why they’re a favorite in my home. They are amazing filled with beef and veggies, but imagine them stuffed with cheese or even some spicy sausage… Now there’s an exciting thought. (I might have to try that on next week’s menu.) Cooking should be fun, gathered around the table or even the couch with a plate and a napkin (because they can be a little messy but in the best way possible). So get your family involved, and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a fun meal together. Happy cooking!
And just like that, your weeknight dinner is set to impress! Enjoy those warm, golden-filled Runzas! For more Recipes Follow Us in our Pinterest.
Print
Easy Nebraska Runzas
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: None
Description
A quick and easy Nebraska Runzas recipe that comes together in one skillet, perfect for weeknight meals.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup cabbage, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 packet yeast (instant or active dry)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup warm water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat, adding salt and pepper.
- Add chopped onions and cabbage, stirring for about 5 minutes until soft.
- In a separate bowl, mix warm water, sugar, and yeast; let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
- Stir in melted butter and milk to the yeast mixture.
- Gradually add flour to form a dough and knead until smooth.
- Let dough rise in a warm place for 30 minutes covered with a towel.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into 4-inch squares.
- Add the beef mixture to each square and fold over, sealing edges.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
These Runzas can be customized with different fillings, making it a versatile meal!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
