1-Preheat and Prepare: First, preheat your oven to 350°F. While the oven heats up, prepare your 9×13-inch baking pan by lightly greasing it with cooking spray or a small amount of butter. This ensures your crescent roll crust doesn’t stick and makes cleanup easier. Open your packages of refrigerated crescent rolls and have them ready to use.

2-Create the Bottom Layer: Spread one tube of crescent rolls in the bottom of your prepared 9×13-inch pan. You can use your fingers to press the dough into the corners and create an even layer. Once the dough is spread evenly, place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 7 minutes or until lightly browned. This initial baking prevents the bottom crust from becoming soggy when you add the filling.

3-Prepare the Filling: While the bottom crust is baking, start preparing your savory filling. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the 2 pounds of hamburger. Break the meat up as it cooks to ensure even browning. Once the beef is no longer pink, add your 2 finely chopped onions to the skillet and continue cooking until the onions become translucent and fragrant.

4-Drain and Season: After browning the hamburger and onions, carefully drain the grease from the skillet. This step is important as excess grease can make your casserole greasy and cause the crust to become soggy. Once drained, return the meat and onion mixture to the heat and add the 4 cups of fresh chopped cabbage.

Steam the cabbage with the meat mixture for a few minutes until it begins to wilt but still retains some texture. Season the mixture generously with salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer a gravy-like texture, this is the time to add your optional thickener according to package directions.

5-Assemble the Casserole: Remove the partially baked bottom crust from the oven. Spread the meat and cabbage mixture evenly over the baked crescent dough in the pan, making sure to cover the entire surface. Next, sprinkle the 1 pound of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the meat mixture.

For the top layer, take the second tube of crescent rolls and carefully spread it over the cheese filling. You can either keep the crescents in their triangle shape and overlap them slightly, or use dough sheets for a solid top layer. If using traditional crescents, consider pinching the seams together to create a more uniform crust.

6-Bake to Perfection: Place your assembled casserole in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. For the last 10 minutes of baking time, cover the casserole with foil to prevent the top from becoming too brown while ensuring the bottom layers are fully cooked. The casserole is done when the top crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly around the edges.

7-Let It Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting. This resting period allows the layers to set slightly, making it easier to cut clean portions. Serve warm and enjoy the delicious combination of flavors and textures that make this Runza Casserole so special.