Skillet Runza Recipes

HOMEMADE RUNZAS

Steps:

• Place frozen dinner roll dough on a sheet pan and rise according to package instructions. It will use 2 rolls for each sandwich.
• While dough rises, begin browning your ground beef and onion in a large skillet. When the meat is about halfway done, add in the shredded cabbage and cover with a lid. Cook until meat and cabbage are done. Drain off any excess grease or liquid. Set aside.
• When rolls have risen completely, lightly flour your surface. Remove two rolls and form a ball. Roll the ball out into a rectangle approximately 5"x7".
• Place approximately 1/3 cup of the filling in the center of the dough and spread out from top to bottom.
• Fold the bottom up and the top of the dough down and press to seal. Fold the left side over, pinching to seal. Then do the right side, gently stretching to cover the left. Pinch closed.
• Place each sandwich on a greased cookie sheet, seam side down.
• Let rise again for another 30-45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brush the tops with melted butter.
• Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until bread dough is golden brown.
• Serve hot.

RUNZA BURRITOS INTERNATIONAL

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the ground beef. Cook and stir until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in the cabbage, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and water. Cook and stir until the vegetables are tender, and the water has cooked away, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the tortillas one at a time in a large skillet over medium heat until pliable.
• Place a tortilla onto your work surface, then spoon some of the filling halfway between the bottom edge and the center of the tortilla. Flatten the filling into rectangle shape with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of Cheddar cheese over the filling. Fold the bottom of the tortilla snugly over the filling, then fold in the left and right edges. Roll the burrito up to the top edge, forming a tight cylinder. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.

NEBRASKAN RUNZAS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Combine 3/4 cup warm water (approximately 110 degrees F),the yeast and a pinch of sugar in a large mixing bowl and let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Add 3 eggs and whisk to combine. Add half of the bread flour and beat with a wooden spoon until good and thready, about 3 minutes. Add the butter, the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, the remaining flour and the salt and mix well. The dough will be a little sticky. Let rest 15 minutes.
• Knead the dough to develop the gluten until it feels tight and smooth, about 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to a lightly buttered bowl, cover and let it rise for 1 hour at room temperature. Then chill in the refrigerator,1 to 2 hours or overnight.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide it into 8 even portions. Roll each one into a ball and leave on the counter, covered loosely, to warm up, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, breaking up the beef, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a bowl.
• Drain and discard all but a film of the fat from the skillet. Add the butter; when it has melted, add the onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme and rosemary and cook 3 minutes. Add the mixture to the bowl containing the beef.
• Without cleaning the skillet, add 1 tablespoon canola oil. Saute the spinach over high heat until wilted and the excess liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Chop the spinach, then add it to the beef mixture and set aside to cool.
• Roll out the dough: Flatten a dough ball on a heavily floured surface and roll out into a 3-by-5-inch rectangle. Then make wrapping flaps from the four corners of the rectangle by rolling out each corner thinly so you have a thick rectangle with four thinner triangular wings at the corners.
• Fill the runzas: Spoon 1/2 cup of the beef filling into the center of the dough rectangle and wrap the flaps over it, pinching to close. Flip the bundle over in your hands, gently forming the runza into a fat football shape. Set the runza seam-side down on an oiled baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining filling and dough balls, arranging them on 2 oiled baking sheets. Let the runzas rise about an inch, uncovered, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Whisk the remaining egg and 2 tablespoons water to make an egg wash and brush it thinly over the tops of the runzas. Bake until golden brown, 25 minutes. Serve hot.

NEBRASKA'S HOMEMADE RUNZA

Steps:

• Start by placing 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
• Either in a small saucepan over medium heat or a microwave safe bowl, heat the milk, water, and butter to 120-130 degrees F.
• Pour heated wet ingredients into flour mixture. Stir slightly before adding beaten eggs.
• Continue by adding the remaining flour, one cup at a time, until when kneaded the dough comes together and is smooth and elastic.
• Place dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.
• While dough is rising, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain.
• Stir in the chopped cabbage, seasoned salt, and pepper. Stir gently until cabbage is cooked and filling combined.
• Punch dough down, and divide into 12 equal portions.
• Working with one piece of dough, roll into a rectangle (approx 6 inches x 8 inches in size).
• Place a heaping 1/2 cup of filling into the center of each dough piece.
• Fold dough over filling. Seal and tuck edges.
• Place onto a greased baking sheet (edges can touch).
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

RUNZAS (BIEROCKS)

Steps:

• Thaw out frozen bread dough; cut each roll into 3 pieces and set aside. Brown beef and cabbage in a large skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Roll out bread dough and cut into squares. Place a spoonful of the beef/cabbage mixture onto the center of each dough square. Sprinkle cheese on top, fold over and pinch sides to seal. Rub a bit of oil on the outside of each pastry.
• Place in a 9x13 inch baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until golden brown.

RUNZAS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir ground beef and onion until beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in cabbage and season with 1 teaspoon salt. Continue to cook and stir until cabbage is tender, about 20 more minutes. Set mixture aside to cool.
• Mix warm water and butter in a large bowl. Combine dry milk powder, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and yeast in another bowl; stir into butter mixture. Add egg and gradually stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough is smooth.
• Roll dough out to 1/4-inch thick on a lightly floured surface; cut into 4-inch squares. Scoop beef mixture into each dough square. Bring corners of a dough square together at the top and pinch corners together to seal. Place on a baking sheet, seam side down. Repeat with remaining beef mixture and dough. Cover rolls with a damp cloth and allow to rise for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

SAVORY RUNZAS

Steps:

• Place 1 3/4 cups flour into a bowl. Stir in sugar, yeast, and salt.
• Combine milk, water, and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high until warm (120 to 130 degrees F/50 to 55 degrees C), 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour heated milk into the flour mixture. Add eggs and beat at low speed for 30 seconds. Switch to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining flour. Knead until smooth, about 3 minutes. Cover the bowl with waxed paper and a towel; let rest for 20 minutes.
• Cook ground beef and onion in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until beef is browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
• At the same time, melt butter in a separate skillet over medium heat. Add cabbage and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add cabbage to beef mixture with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a large baking sheet.
• Roll dough on a lightly floured surface until very thin. Cut into 6 squares or rectangles, whichever you prefer. Place 3 tablespoons beef filling in the center of each shape. Bring corners together, pinch edges to seal, and place right-side up onto the prepared baking sheet. Let rise until an indentation remains when lightly pressed with a finger, 40 to 60 minutes.
• Bake in the preheated oven until dough is done and golden brown, about 20 minutes.

JANET'S RUNZA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Add cabbage, onion, salt, and pepper; mix well.
• Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan with 1 package of crescent rolls. Pinch seams together. Pour beef-cabbage mixture over the dough. Spread undiluted mushroom soup on top. Cover with mozzarella cheese. Unroll the second package of crescent roll dough over the filling.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top and edges are golden brown, about 30 minutes.

EASY HOMEMADE RUNZAS

Steps:

• Put warm water, yeast, sugar, salt, and butter in the mixer bowl and add a cup of flour. Using the whip attachment, mix thoroughly, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally.
• Hint: grab a clean dish towel and wrap it around the bowl. That is unless you enjoy cleaning up flour. (I don't.)
• Add 2 cups of flour, one at a time, and beat well. Keep the mixer draped for the next step.
• Switch to a dough hook and keep adding flour gradually until the hook starts pulling the dough away from the sides of the bowl.
• Stop the mixer and feel the dough. If it's still sticky, add a tablespoon or so of flour at a time and resume kneading with the dough hook.
• Stop adding flour when it's soft but handles without sticking to your fingers. Great bread dough should feel satiny and elastic.
• Remove the dough hook and gather the dough into a ball.
• Spray the bowl generously with non-stick spray and return the dough to the bowl. It's not necessary to wash it before you do.
• Smooth a little cooking oil or olive oil over the dough, cover the bowl with a dishtowel and set it in a nice warm place to rise for about an hour. (In the summer, I've found my car makes a great proofing box!!)
• When the dough has doubled in size, divide it into 16 pieces and roll out into a thin oval about 6" by 8". Heavens, this is no time for exactitude. Think rustic and handmade. I like my runzas a little on the small side with thin, crisp dough wrappers. You may like yours chubby.
• Brown the ground beef until it begins to lose its pink.
• Next, add the butter, olive oil, onion, and cabbage and cook until the cabbage and onion wilts and the ground beef gets a little brown. Finally, break up the meat into pretty fine crumbles.
• Add salt, pepper, and garlic.
• Set it aside to cool until the bread is ready and rolled out.
• Put about 1/2- 2/3 cup of filling on each dough oval and fold over, sealing edges of the bread dough.
• You may water to wet the dough with your finger dipped in warm water for a better seal.
• Place each runza seam side down on a baking sheet. Leave a bit of space between each one to allow the bread to rise.
• Let them rise about 20-30 minutes.
• Bake in a 375-degree oven for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned. Brush with melted butter when they come out of the oven to give them a soft, beautiful color and tasty crust.
• These keep well in the fridge for a few days. Or, wrap individually in foil and freeze. They freeze well, so make a bunch when you do.
• REHEAT: Heat frozen wrapped runzas in 400* oven for 20-25 min. Remove foil last 5 min.

SKILLET RUNZA

Steps:

• Brown meat and onion together in a large skillet (or pot) for about 10 minutes; stir often.
• Drain off any fat.
• Stir in water, instant broth and pepper; bring to a boil.
• Mix in the noodles and the cabbage.
• Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes or until noodles are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.

RUNZA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef, pork, and onions in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Add cabbage to the skillet on top of the meat mixture. Cover skillet and let cabbage steam, 1 to 2 minutes. Add garlic, salt, and pepper and mix well. Remove from heat.
• Separate 1 package of crescent rolls into pieces; cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan with dough. Spread meat-cabbage mixture on top of dough. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of meat. Separate remaining tube of rolls into pieces and cover the cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Cover baking pan with aluminum foil and bake 10 minutes more to soften crust.