Spring is the time to enjoy beefy birthday bierocks.

Beefy birthday bierocks are not just for birthday parties. These fun meat, veggie and cheese filled rolls are a spring favorite no matter what the occasion.

This beefy birthday bierocks recipe is a twist off a traditional German cuisine and is a family favorite in the spring. It is NOT a “bierocks with sauerkraut” recipe. Fresh rolls filled with meat, cabbage, and cheese begin to sound as sweet as the Spring weather we enjoy this time of year.

My husband always asks for them for his birthday meal, which is the first part of April. Thus, the name “Beefy Birthday Bierocks.” My amazing mother in law gave me this recipe and taught me about building a better bierock.

Beefy birthday bierocks are actually very delicious for any occasions – not just birthdays. Enjoy these cabbage filled rolls for just a fun dinner, a field meal or any other occasion.

This bierock recipe does take some time to prepare and assemble. You can make your own dough or use frozen dinner rolls for convenience. I’m including a homemade dough recipe for you below.

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Dough Ingredients

1 package active dry yeast – I love this brand of yeast
4 1/3 cups all-purpose flour – I love King Arthur Flour
1/3 cup sugar – Here’s the Brand I Use
1/3 cup butter
1 teaspoon salt – Here’s the Salt I Use
2 eggs

Dough Directions

In a large mixing bowl, gently stir the yeast into 2 cups of flour.
In a saucepan, heat sugar, butter and salt until just warm and butter is almost melted. Stir constantly.
Add liquid mixture to flour mixture and mix well. Add in the eggs.
Beat at a low speed for 30 seconds, then three minutes at a high speed.
Stir in as much remaining flour as you can mix in with a spoon. Roll out dough mixture onto a floured surface.
Knead in enough remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic.
Shape into a small ball and place in a greased bowl; turn once. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double (about one hour).
Punch down and cover; let rest 10 minutes.

Filling Ingredients for Cabbage Filled Rolls

1/2 cup onion, cut fine
4 cups cabbage, cut fine
2 T olive oil
Tomato Sauce (I use my homemade canned tomato sauce)
1 lb Ground Beef
Salt & Pepper (To Taste)
Taco Seasoning (To Taste) – I really love this brand
Shredded Cheese

Filling Instructions

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and onions. Drain the grease.
Add in the olive oil before adding the cabbage. Also, add a small amount of tomato sauce so the mixture doesn’t stick. Cook mixture until the cabbage is completely softened.
Season the mixture with salt, pepper and taco seasoning until it is to your liking.
Allow the filling to cool by refrigerating until needed. Be sure the filling is at least lukewarm before putting it into the bread dough.

Bierock Assembly for Building a Better Bierock

Roll out dough balls into a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
By the spoonful, place some filling mixture into the center of of the dough. Add a small amount of shredded cheese.
Pull the ends of the dough up and over the filling and punch them together to make a seam. Water on your fingertips will help the ends stick together.
Set the rolls on a baking sheet with the seam down. Let raise for 30 minutes.
Finally, bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Extra filing can be frozen.

You can also make bierocks without cabbage…but why would you want to? This is why I love this recipe. It’s an easy bierocks recipe that you can make however you’d like.

You can make large bierocks. You can make mini bierocks for the babies. The possibilities are endless.

More Tips for Building a Better Bierock

I often cheat and use frozen dinner rolls to make beefy birthday bierocks. I have also made the dough ahead of time to freeze it for later.

If using frozen dough, be sure it is thawed before rolling out. Also, be sure the filling is cooled to lukewarm temperature before putting it onto the dough. This will prevent the dough from “melting” and and will help the ends of the dough to seal better.

The filling should be the taste and consistency you and your family love. Season accordingly. My family likes to taste seasonings. I gently coat the entire mixture with pepper, salt and taco seasoning. Stir in completely for a thorough and tasteful bierock.

Enjoy beefy birthday bierocks at your next get together. Again, my family has voted this one as the best cabbage roll recipe on the block. And you can make it a hit with your family, too.