Today we are modifying one of my favorite recipes. The original runzas are made with beef and cabbage. Our favorite is cheeseburger runzas. We are changing a few things to create a healthier version, which is the pizza runzas.

let’s make pizza runzas recipe
The filling of a runza is wrapped in bread dough. I have used frozen bread dough, refrigerated bread dough and bread dough mixes in the past. Quite honestly, I have found it to be as easy just to make up a batch of bread dough in my ancient bread machine. This is my favorite bread recipe and today I am substituting 1 cup of whole wheat flour to up the nutritional content.
Related: Easy & Yummy Cast Iron Skillet Pizza Recipe
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bread dough ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups of flour – I used 1 cup whole wheat and 2 cups of bread flour
- 2 3/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
pizza runzas ingredients
- 1 lb. 95% lean ground beef
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce/pizza sauce
- 1/2 cups chopped cooked spinach
- Salt and pepper to season
- 1 1/2 cup low fat mozzarella cheese
instructions to make bread dough
Step 1
Add all the ingredients to the bread machine.

Step 2
Let it mix and rise in the manual setting for several hours. No big deal if it rises a bit longer than you were expecting.
directions to make pizza runzas
Step 1
Cook the beef until brown with minced garlic.
Step 2
Pour off the drippings.
Step 3
Add the sauce, spinach, salt, and pepper to taste. And let it cool.
Step 4
Roll out the dough into 6 inches round 1/4 inch thick circles.

Step 5
Spoon the filling and cover with cheese.
Step 6
Fold the sides over the filling and place upside-down on a greased cookie sheet.
Step 7
Let it rise for 15 minutes.
Step 8
Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes. And eat runzas!
Pizza Runza Recipe
You are missing a big part of your life if you have not tried this yet. This delicious bread sandwich stuffed with beef, vegetables and cheese will surely delight your day!
Ingredients
Bread Dough Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups of flour – I used 1 cup whole wheat and 2 cups of bread flour
- 2 3/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
Pizza Runza Ingredients
- 1 lb. 95% lean ground beef
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce/pizza sauce
- 1/2 cups chopped cooked spinach
- Salt and pepper to season
- 1 1/2 cup low fat mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Directions to make bread dough
- Add all the ingredients to the bread machine.
- Let it mix and rise in the manual setting for several hours. No big deal if it rises a bit longer than you were expecting.
Directions to make Pizza Runza
- Cook the beef until brown with minced garlic.
- Pour off the drippings.
- Add the sauce, spinach, salt, and pepper to taste. And let it cool.
- Roll out the dough into 6 inches round 1/4 inch thick circles.
- Spoon the filling and cover with cheese.
- Fold the sides over the filling and place upside-down on a greased cookie sheet.
- Let it rise for 15 minutes.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes. And eat runzas!
How was your experience making these pizza runzas? Please let us know in the comment section below what you and your family think!
My dough is done. My filling is made and cooling. I cannot WAIT to get them baked and try one! I found this recipe last week through a post you did on bread dough. I’ve never heard of these before. Thank you for posting!
Runway, is a favorite in Omaha,Ne. They actually have restaurants that serve them. They are meat pies, usually made with meat and cabbage. My mom made them, RIP
Wow! this is great…I’ll try to make one. Thumbs up!!!
Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s
new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!
I do know about Runzas as I’m from Nebraska where we have Runza Restaurants. I am excited to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing!
I never heard of a Runza before, but they look so delicious! Thank you for linking up with Fun for Kids Friday. Have a wonderful weekend!
I’m with Shauna. Very impressed with your mad kitchen skillz. And, never heard of the word RUNZA before. Looks like a BIEROCK to me. Whatever it is, it looks delish.
These really look wonderful!
You actually made dough in a bread machine dough maker of sorts? I dont believe it. I would actually bet things on it. Lots of things.