Best Homemade Runza Sandwich Recipe

Loaded with savory ground beef, cabbage, and melted cheese, these runza sandwiches make for one delicious hand-held meal!

Runzas are a cherished part of the regional cuisine of Nebraska, but you definitely don’t need to be a native Nebraskan to enjoy one. I’ve never even been to Nebraska, and I love them!

I had never heard of runzas until my daughter-in-law told me they are one of her favorite foods. She often requested them for her birthday growing up. Of course, I had to try and make them for her. 🙂

She said her mom didn’t really have a recipe, but she gave me a list of ingredients in the filling.

It took me a few tries to get the recipe just right, but even on the first batch, my whole family loved them. I like to make a double batch just so I can have leftovers for lunch the next day!

I’ve made them both with cheese and without, and we definitely prefer them with cheese. Not only does it add flavor, but it also helps hold the filling together.

BEST RUNZA SANDWICH RECIPE

1. DOUGH – Mix together the sugar, yeast, salt, oil, milk, and water in a mixing bowl. Stir in about half of the flour. Then add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough.
   Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times until smooth.
   
2. RISE – Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled, about an hour.
3. FILLING – While the dough rises, prepare the filling. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Turn the heat to medium and add the onion. Cook for about 7 minutes or until onion is tender. Drain off the fat. Add garlic and saute for one minute. Add the salt, pepper, Worcestershire, water, and cabbage. Cook and stir until the cabbage is tender.
   
4. FORM RUNZAS – Divide the dough into eight pieces. Press each one into a 6-inch circle. Place cheese in the middle, then cover with 1/2 cup of meat filling. Pinch the edges of the dough together to seal.
   
5. BAKE – Place seam side down on baking sheets that are greased or lined with silicone or parchment. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 18-20 minutes, or until lightly browned. If desired, brush with butter.

Serve warm. We like ours best with a side of fry sauce or ketchup, but they are good just on their own. Don’t you just want to bite into that beefy cheesy goodness? So, so good.

Storing leftover runzas:

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, store the runzas in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for 3-4 days.

You can reheat them in the microwave for about a minute, or you can wrap them in aluminum foil and heat them in a 350° oven for 10-15 minutes.

If desired, you can also freeze them before or after they have been baked. Flash-freeze them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, then transfer them to freezer bags. They should last for 2-3 months.

Let them thaw in the refrigerator, then bake or reheat as directed. Just keep in mind that they will take longer because they are cold.

RUNZA SANDWICH RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• Traditional runzas don’t call for cheese, so you can omit it for a more authentic experience. And of course, you can replace the cheddar with pepper jack, mozzarella, colby jack, or any other cheese.
• If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use a teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
• Instead of homemade dough, you can use store-bought roll dough.

MORE HAND-HELD DINNER RECIPES:

• Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes
• Homemade Pigs in a Blanket
• Chicken Flautas Recipe
• Ground Beef Taco Recipe
• Chicken Caesar Wrap
• Hidden Valley Ranch Burgers Recipe
• Chicken Gumbo Sloppy Joes
• Pesto Chicken Pizza

This homemade runza recipe is sure to become a family favorite! If you give them a try, come back and leave a comment letting me know how you liked them.