The Ultimate Bierocks Pizza (German Family Recipe) - Slice of Jess (2024)

By Jessica Leave a Comment

Ground Beef, sautéed onions, sauerkraut and Swiss piled high on fresh dough to create the best Bierocks Pizza.Trust me, it’s so addicting!

The Ultimate Bierocks Pizza (German Family Recipe) - Slice of Jess (1)

Now I know what you’re thinking… sauerkraut, on pizza? Stick with me, friends. I promise you that this recipe is extraordinary in so, so many ways. First off, the inspiration comes from one of my grandma’s family recipes. That alone should convince you, right? Bierocks (sometimes referred to as Runzas) are basically an adult version of a savory hot pocket. I’ve actually dreamt of taking all these wonderful ingredients and piling them high on a pizza for a while now… so here we are. Ya’ll know how much I love my fusion experiments in the kitchen!

Speaking of which, other fusion recipes you might enjoy include my Banh Mi Nachos, Korean Crab Cake Sandwiches and Spaghetti Squash Cacio e Pepe.

The Ultimate Bierocks Pizza (German Family Recipe) - Slice of Jess (2)

Taking advantage of fresh dough from the grocery store makes this recipe super easy and busy-weeknight-approved! Originally I thought about using the horseradish cream sauce as a base instead of traditional tomato, but I also wanted to keep this kid-friendly. I decided to serve it on the side instead but who knows, I’m envisioning a spin-off blog in the near future!

I know, I know. I’m sure you’re now thinking… Horseradish on pizza? This chick is a FREAKSHOW… but trust me, it all works together really well in the end.

The Ultimate Bierocks Pizza (German Family Recipe) - Slice of Jess (3)

TIPS FOR MAKING BIEROCKS PIZZA:

  • You need a crust that’s hearty enough to hold all the toppings. I’d go for NY Style or even Chicago deep dish. Thin-crust does not work for this recipe.
  • Swiss or gruyère are the two cheeses I recommend. Both are slightly sweet and nutty, which mingle flawlessly among the other ingredients. For extra stretchy, melty goodness I also like to add some fresh mozzarella to the very top.
  • A sprinkle of fresh parsley at the end gives this dish a pop of freshness. It’s not mandatory, but I highly recommend it.

The Ultimate Bierocks Pizza (German Family Recipe) - Slice of Jess (4)

HOW TO MAKE HORSERADISH CREAM SAUCE:

This flavorful condiment takes this recipe from wow to wowza! A drizzle of this and you’ll be over-the-moon happy. All you need to do is whisk the following ingredients together in a small bowl. After combined, set it in the refrigerator until the pizza is done cooking.

  • 1/2 cup Sour Cream
  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp. Grated Horseradish
  • 1 tsp. Lemon Juice or White Wine Vinegar
  • Kosher Salt, to taste (about1/2 tsp.)
  • Fresh Ground Black pepper, to taste (about1/4 tsp.)
  • 1 tbsp. Minced Italian Parsley Leaves

In addition to this recipe, I love using horseradish cream sauce on steaks, in roast beef sandwiches and even mixed into deviled eggs.

TRY THESE OTHER PIZZA RECIPES:

  • The Tastiest Breakfast Pizza – the only AM pick-me-up you’ll ever need.
  • BLT Flatbreads with White Garlic Cream Sauce – the best pizza + salad combo!
  • Pepperoni Pizza Garlic Knots – perfect for game day and family gatherings.
  • Mexican Pizza – my favorite Taco Bell Copycat recipe!
  • How To Make Pizza with Puff Pastry Sheets – oh man, so easy and fun.

The Ultimate Bierocks Pizza (German Family Recipe) - Slice of Jess (5)

The Ultimate Bierocks Pizza (German Family Recipe)

The Ultimate Bierocks Pizza (German Family Recipe) - Slice of Jess (6)

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Ground Beef, sautéed onions, sauerkraut and Swiss piled high on fresh dough to create the best Bierocks Pizza. Trust me, it's so addicting!

Serves: 8

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. Ground Beef
  • 1 Small Yellow Onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp. Smoked Paprika
  • ½ tsp. Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 tsp. Cumin
  • ¾ - 1 cup Pizza Sauce
  • 1 cup Bavarian Sauerkraut
  • 8 oz. Swiss Cheese, shredded
  • 4 oz. Fresh Mozzarella, sliced
  • Minced Fresh Italian Parsley, for garnish
  • Horseradish Cream Sauce, optional for garnish

Instructions

  1. Sauté ground beef with sliced onion, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne and cumin until browned and crumbly. About 10 minutes. Drain any excess fat and allow the meat to cool in the strainer for a few minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425F, drain the sauerkraut and shred the Swiss.
  2. Gently roll out the pizza dough to a rectangular shape and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread a layer of sauce onto the dough and then top with the ground beef and onion mixture. Sprinkle an even layer of sauerkraut over the entire pizza and then cover with Swiss and Mozzarella cheeses.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes, or until crust has cooked and cheese has melted. Slice, sprinkle with chopped parsley and a drizzle with horseradish cream. Enjoy!

NOTES ON THIS RECIPE:

  • I used this store-bought pizza doughfor this recipe, but feel free tomake your ownif you prefer (if using my homemade dough recipe, I’d double it for this dish). A pre-baked flatbread could be a good alternative as well.
  • Depending on the size of your pizza crust, you may use more or less pizza sauce. It’s really up to your own personal preferences. I know some people like their pizza super saucy, and some prefer the opposite.
  • Please shred your own cheese when making this recipe. It really does make a difference when it comes to taste.

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The Ultimate Bierocks Pizza (German Family Recipe) - Slice of Jess (2024)

FAQs

What are bierocks made of? ›

The filling is a basic mix of onion, ground beef and cabbage which can be made more complicated by the addition of different cheese blends, condiments and seasonings like caraway seeds. Bierock is similar to both pirogi/pirozhki of Russian cuisine and börek of Turkish cuisine.

How do you reheat frozen bierocks in the oven? ›

Note: To freeze, cool completely, and wrap individually in foil. Place wrapped bierocks in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator. Place foil-wrapped bierocks in a preheated 350° oven for 15 minutes.

What is the history of bierocks? ›

Bierocks spread throughout Europe as a popular choice for working families. Eventually, German Russian Mennonites introduced them to the United States when they immigrated in the 1870s. As they headed west, bierocks went along for the ride.

What is the difference between a bierock and a runza? ›

The runzas sold by the Runza restaurant chain are rectangular while many of the bierocks sold in Kansas are round buns. The runza is a regional cuisine of Nebraska, with some commentators calling it "as Nebraskan as Cornhusker football."

Are bierocks German or Russian? ›

Bierocks are common among the Volga Germans in the USA and in Argentina. It was brought to the United States by German-Russian Mennonite immigrants in the 1870s. Instructions: For dough, in large bowl, combine 950 ml (4 cups) of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt, then mix well and set aside.

What does runza mean in German? ›

No one is sure where the name "runza" came from (perhaps for the Low German "runsa" which means “bun shape,” or the soft shape of a round belly), but in 1949, two descendents of one of those immigrant families, Sally Everett and her brother Alex Brening, opened the first Runza Drive Inn in Lincoln, Neb., serving the ...

What state is famous for bierocks? ›

Bierocks are a Kansas dish, and Kansans love them. But if they try to get them outside of the state (save Nebraska, where they're more commonly known as runzas) they'll likely be met with puzzled stares.

What is a runza called in German? ›

Bierocks—pronounced bee-rock and also known as runzas—are a German/Eastern European roll that made its way to the American Midwest. They're similar to the Russian pirozhki, another popular European meat-stuffed pastry. They vary in shape, but the most popular ones are usually round or rectangular.

What is another name for a bierock? ›

The Runza Sandwich is also called Bierocks. They are a yeast dough (a bread pocket) with a filling of beef, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, and seasonings. They are baked in various shapes like half-moon, rectangle, round, square, triangle, etc.

Can you freeze unbaked bierocks? ›

Bierocks freeze incredibly well. You can either freeze them raw, or freeze them fully cooked. I prefer to freeze cooked bierocks because they reheat perfectly.

Can you freeze homemade bierocks? ›

TO MAKE AHEAD: Baked, cooled bierocks can be tightly wrapped in aluminum foil, placed in zipper-lock bag, and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month. To reheat, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.

What food is similar to bierocks? ›

Pretty much every culture has some form of “meat/onion/cabbage wrapped in bread.” The Irish have Dingle pies, Germans have Bierocks, and Runza. Spain has empanadas, Poles have pierogi, Chinese have Bao, Ukrainians have pyrizhky- even native Americans had their variations.

What do you eat with bierocks? ›

Side dishes to go with Bierocks:
  • Sliced Potatoes in the Air Fryer.
  • Potatoes in Sour Cream Sauce.
  • Crispy Roasted Ranch Potatoes.
  • Italian Roasted Broccoli.
Oct 2, 2016

Is runza a German food? ›

It's a German-Russian invention known as the bierock. “The late Sarah 'Sally' Everett of Lincoln coined the name Runza as an abbreviated approximation for what her family called the cocoon of dough enveloping a cooked mixture of ground beef and chopped cabbage.

What are bierocks called in Nebraska? ›

Yes, runzas and bierocks are essentially the same thing. Both are a type of bread pocket filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, onions, and cabbage (and sometimes other ingredients). The term "bierock" is often used in parts of Kansas and the Dakotas, while "runza" is more commonly used in Nebraska.

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