Easiest Bierocks Using Frozen Dinner Rolls

Flaky bread, ground beef, cabbage, and cheese create the Easiest Bierocks Recipe in the world! The secret is starting with frozen dinner rolls. This simple recipe is sure to be a house favorite.

Making homemade bierocks or runzas, as some people call them, doesn’t have to take all day! Our entire family goes wild for this bierocks recipe.

BUT…we don’t love making the bread from scratch every time. We will do it on occasion, but it takes us all day. This is great on those days when we have tons of time. However, we wanted to find an easier and quicker way to give similar results.

We're happy to report that using dinner rolls is faster, and the flavor will rock your world.

Why This Recipe Works

• They are and easy to make.
• Easy and convenient for a simple dinner idea.
• Faster than traditional recipes!
• Crowd-Pleasing and family approved.
• Simple to adjust ingredients to fit your taste buds.
• Only six ingredients are needed! Budget-friendly.

• Bag of Frozen Dinner Rolls – we used Rhodes Rolls
• Ground beef
• Sliced Cheese
• Cabbage
• Salt & Pepper
• Butter (optional)

Helpful Supplies

You don’t need much to make this Bierocks recipe, but we find a few helpful items.

• Large Skillet
• Baking Sheets
• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board

Directions

Place the dinner rolls on a greased baking sheet. To raise the dough, follow the directions on the roll package.

While the dough is rising, cook the ground beef. Once the meat is browned, add it to a large pan with the cabbage and 2 tablespoons of water. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and add a lid. Turn heat to low-medium. Stir every 5 minutes until the cabbage softens to the desired texture. This usually takes around 10-15 minutes, depending on your preference.

Take one dinner roll and carefully pull on it to flatten it out. Lay it down, add 1/2 – 1 slice of cheese, and fill it with 1/4 cup of filling.

Flatten out another dinner roll and place it on top of the first roll. Pinch the edges and put it on the greased baking sheet.

Bake for 20-22 minutes at 375 degrees. If they aren’t done, cook them a little longer.

Take them out of the oven, put a stick of butter on them, and add it to the top of each bierock.

Variations to Recipe

Meat – You can use ground pork, turkey, or other ground meat to replace the beef.

Saurkraut— You can swap the shredded cabbage for sauerkraut if you like. We prefer cabbage, but we know some use jarred or bagged sauerkraut.

Dough— If you prefer, you can substitute homemade bread dough, crescent rolls, or biscuit dough. You could even make sourdough bierocks with some fresh sourdough.

Vegetarian— You can substitute ground beef for the cabbage mixture with sauteed mushrooms, onions, and other veggies.

Spicy: To make the filling carry a kick, add red pepper flakes, hot sauce, chili flakes, etc.

Tips For Making

• Be sure to cook your ground beef thoroughly and allow the cabbage to wilt to your liking.
• Working on a floured surface is helpful when spreading bread dough so it doesn’t stick to the counter.
• You can brush rolls with an egg wash if you want the bierocks to get golden browner as they bake in the oven.
• Do not overfill the dough. Only place it in the center of the dough, and leave the edges of the dough free of filling so it seals.
• Press the edges of the dough together well so that the little pockets stay together as they bake.

Storing

Refrigerate: Store your bierocks in an airtight container in the fridge. They can be stored for 2-3 days in a sealed container. Then, reheat in the microwave or the oven.

Freezer: You can freeze the beef hot pockets. Wrap each in plastic or sandwich bags and place them in a freezer container. Freeze for 3-4 months. Then thaw in the fridge overnight or defrost straight from the freezer.

Practical notes

Can we use homemade bread dough?

Absolutely! You can easily use your usual homemade bread dough recipe. It’s going to taste either way. We enjoy using frozen bread dough because there is no kneading involved! Try out your usual bread dough when making this bierocks recipe.

Is it okay to add sauerkraut?

Yes, traditional recipes have sauerkraut in them. While we enjoy sauerkraut, our family members do not, so we stick with cabbage.

Can we make bierocks ahead of time?

Yes, you can make them a day before you want to serve them. You can also freeze, then thaw, and reheat the pockets.

Can bierocks be made gluten-free?

Yes, you can use gluten-free bread dough by using gluten-free pre-made dough or make it from scratch.

More Dinner Ideas

• Ground Beef Dorito Casserole
• Smash Burgers
• Pepper Steak
• Pizza Sliders

Ingredients

Makes 15 servings

• Package of 36 Frozen Dinner Rolls
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 head of thinly sliced cabbage
• 9 slices of cheese, any variety
• Salt & Pepper, to taste
• Butter for topping, optional

Equipment

• Skillet
• Cooking Sheet
• Knife

Method

1. Place the dinner rolls on a greased baking sheet. Follow the directions on the package of rolls for raising the dough.
2. While the dough is rising, cook the ground beef. Once the beef is browned add it to a large pan with the cabbage and 2 tablespoons of water. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and add a lid. Turn heat to low-medium. Stir every 5 minutes until the cabbage has softened to the texture you want. This usually takes around 10-15 minutes depending on your preference.
3. Take one dinner roll and carefully pull on it to flatten it out. Lay it down add 1/2 – 1 slice of cheese. Add 1/4 cup filling.
4. Flatten out another dinner roll and place it on top of the first roll. Pinch the edges and place it on the greased baking sheet.
5. Bake for 20-22 minutes at 375 degrees. If they aren’t done all the way, cook them a little bit longer.
6. Take them out of the oven and take a stick of butter and add to the top of each bierock.

Kitchen notes

You can adjust how many you are making at a time, so you may need two baking sheets. Feel free to swap the ground beef for ground turkey, ground sausage, or ground chicken. You can use any kind of cheese including Pepper Jack, Colby Jack, or Swiss.