Rich and creamy, this easy ground beef stroganoff is simple and very satisfying. Packed with ground beef, savory mushrooms, chewy noodles, and a flavorful creamy sauce this recipe is the best.
Based on a traditional beef Stroganoff this simple homemade recipe relies on ground beef and is cooked right on the stovetop. Add sautéed mushrooms and a velvety sauce for a quick but tasty meal that comes together in just 30 minutes.
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Perfectly hearty, it is a great weeknight meal for a busy night. Alternately, it is a mouth-watering dish that can be slowed down and savored when you have more time.
Tender and tasty, beef Stroganoff is a Russian dish that was invented in the early 1800s. It was created and named for Count Stroganoff by his french chef.
It continues to be a popular dish in Russia and northern Europe and is also widely enjoyed all over the world. It is rustic cuisine at its finest.
Ingredients
The simple ingredients that you will need for this recipe include:
- Ground beef - 1 pound, I recommend 80% lean 20% fat ground beef because it adds more flavor, but you could use a learner ground beef if you want.
- Chopped onion - Sweet onions such as Walla Walla sweet or Vidalia have the best flavor and are mice and mild but you could use white or yellow onion instead. Chop about 2 slices of a large onion for the ¾ cup needed.
- 8 oz mushrooms - Button mushrooms are the usual ingredient used but cremini or portobello mushrooms also add a lot of flavor. About 10 - 12 mushrooms or 3 cups sliced.
- Garlic - Smash 2 cloves on a cutting board with your knife's blade. Remove the peel then finely chop.
- Celery - 2 stalks or about 1 cup chopped into ½-inch slices
- Wide egg noodles - 8 oz or about 4 ½ cups dry noodles
- Flour - 3 tablespoons
- Milk - 3 ½ cups
- Worcestershire sauce - 3 tablespoons
- Salt - 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper - ½ teaspoon
- Sour Cream - ½ cup
- Green onions - ¼ cup chopped
Instructions
- Warm a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and ground beef. Break up ground beef and stir as it begins to cook and lightly brown.
- Drain the grease. Add sliced mushrooms, garlic, and celery. Reduce heat and continue to cook until mushrooms and celery are tender, about 6 - 8 minutes.
- While cooking meat and vegetables, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add noodles to boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes or until just al dente. Drain well.
- Sprinkle flour over the meat mixture and then stir to incorporate.
- Add the milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and sour cream. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. The sauce will thicken as it cooks.
- Gently stir in the noodles and simmer on low for about 5 more minutes.
- Remove from heat and top with chopped green onions.
Substitutions
Beef stroganoff without mushrooms is absolutely an option. Mushrooms, while an essential ingredient of beef stroganoff can be left out or exchanged for something different.
If you don’t like mushrooms try an equal amount of sliced zucchini, additional onions, eggplant, squash, or carrots.
You can also substitute plain yogurt for sour cream for a lighter option. Either whole milk or low-fat yogurt will work.
Ground beef can also be replaced with a more traditional sliced beef. Try thin slices of a good quality steak that is marbled with fat such as sirloin, sirloin steak tips, or tenderloin.
The celery can be left out or exchanged for another vegetable if you like. Peas, green beans, asparagus, cauliflower, or sliced carrots will work well in place of celery.
All or part of the milk can be replaced by beef broth if you prefer a lighter-tasting and less milky stroganoff.
Variations
Add 1 cup of shredded cheese to the top if you like. Try Monterey Jack, cheddar, or parmesan.
For a vegetarian version omit the ground beef. Instead, add a can of black beans, rinsed, and drained after sautéing the onions in a few tablespoons of olive oil. Also, look for a vegetarian or vegan Worcestershire sauce or simply leave it out.
For a low-carb version leave out the pasta and serve the meat and mushroom sauce over steamed cauliflower, cauliflower rice, or noodles (zucchini noodles).
The meat and mushrooms could also be served on top of a bed of rice or mashed potatoes instead of adding the noodles into the mix.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. This beef stroganoff is one of those recipes that improves when you are eating the leftovers a day or two later. Eat within about four to five days for the best flavor.
Reheating on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat. Add a few tablespoons of milk or water to the pan to help prevent sticking and to moisten the noodles.
Add the stroganoff and cover with a lid. Stir frequently and gently until the noodles are hot. Add more water or milk if needed to adjust the consistency.
Freezing
Freezing beef stroganoff is not recommended. Because the noodles are fairly delicate the freezing process breaks them down quicker and the defrosted stroganoff may end up slightly mushy.
As a last resort it can be frozen but just be aware that the texture will be affected.
What to Serve With
Serve with a fresh green salad and another cooked vegetable on the side. It is tasty with simple broccoli or fresh steamed baby carrots, or green beans.
Pass fresh crusty bread and a bottle of wine if you like.
It is perfect with a hearty red table wine, red Zinfandel, or Pinot Noir. It also works well with a bold white such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
Tips
Make sure not to overcook the noodles.
Take a few extra minutes to brown the ground beef.
The flour in the sauce will help it thicken as it cooks.
All or part of the milk can be replaced by beef broth if you prefer a lighter-tasting and less milky stroganoff.
Recipe
Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 slices sweet onion chopped, about ¾ cup
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 8 ounces wide egg noodles about 4 ½ cups
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 ½ cups milk
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons Salt more or less to taste
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup green onions chopped
Instructions
- Warm a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and ground beef. Break up ground beef and stir as it begins to cook and lightly brown.
- Drain the grease. Add sliced mushrooms, garlic, and celery. Reduce heat and continue to cook until mushrooms and celery are tender, about 6 - 8 minutes.
- While cooking meat and vegetables, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add noodles to boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes or until just al dente. Drain well.
- Sprinkle flour over the meat mixture and then stir to incorporate.
- Add the milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and sour cream. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. The sauce will thicken as it cooks.
- Gently stir in the noodles and simmer on low for about 5 more minutes.
- Remove from heat and top with chopped green onions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ground beef can also be replaced with a more traditional sliced beef. Try thin slices of a good quality steak that is marbled with fat such as sirloin, sirloin steak tips, or tenderloin.
Button mushrooms are the usual ingredient used but cremini or portobello mushrooms also add a lot of flavor. If you don’t like mushrooms you can omit them or substitute them for another vegetable such as zucchini, onions, eggplant, squash, or carrots.
You can substitute plain yogurt for sour cream for a lighter option. Either whole milk or low-fat yogurt will work.
I recommend adding Worcestershire sauce because it adds a distinctive flavor to Stroganoff. If you don’t have any on hand you could omit it or add a bit of soy sauce instead but keep in mind that it will affect the flavor.
Serve with a fresh green salad and another cooked vegetable on the side. It is tasty with simple broccoli, fresh steamed baby carrots, or green beans.
Pass fresh crusty bread and a bottle of wine if you like.
It is perfect with a hearty red table wine, red Zinfandel, or Pinot Noir. It also works well with a bold white such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
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Please leave your questions, comments, and ratings below.
Ross
Really delicious beef stroganoff. Very easy with ground beef. The family all loved it. Yum.