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Looking for a great, classic weeknight dinner option that the whole family will love? This Ground Beef Stroganoff recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes, made from scratch, and is hearty, satisfying and delicious!

gray plate with beef stroganoff on top of egg noodles with more sauce in back

While it might not win any prizes for beauty, everybody asks for second-helpings when I make this ground beef stroganoff recipe for dinner. It’s a family favorite and one of our go-to meals, especially as the weather starts to cool down, because it’s so warm and comforting!

This savory, creamy dish of mushrooms, onions, and browned, ground beef served over hot buttered egg noodles hails from Russia and is simple, hearty, comforting fare that is quick and easy to pull together for a weeknight meal that the whole family will enjoy.

The homemade sauce is made from scratch with fresh ingredients and it is the best ground beef stroganoff recipe I personally have ever come across.

I didn’t grow up in a household where we ate beef stroganoff, at least not that I can remember. But for people who did, it seems like most of them have memories of stroganoff versions made with cream of mushroom soup.

I make this ground beef stroganoff recipe without cream of mushroom soup mostly because it’s hardly any extra work to make it from scratch when all it takes is chopping a handful of mushrooms and whisking together beef broth, milk and flour.

mushrooms egg noodles onion and ground beef on a white plate with garlic cloves

It might seem like a lot of mushrooms in the recipe, but since they cook down so much, it really seems necessary to me if you want mushrooms in each bite of stroganoff, like I do. The mushrooms are my favorite part!

Plus, they help the meal stretch a little farther without as much meat and mushrooms contribute as much savory flavor to the dish as the beef broth, in my opinion.

ground beef and mushrooms in a skillet

How to Make Beef Stroganoff

Start by browning ground beef, onions, and garlic, then adding the mushrooms and cooking long enough for them to brown a bit as well. Add the cream cheese to the browned meat and let it melt, stirring it to coat the meat before adding the beef broth and milk with a little flour whisked in to create a slurry.

beef stroganoff and a wooden spoon inside of a skillet with a bowl of egg noodles in back

The sauce isn’t intended to be very thick. It’s more of a silky sauce that should coat each bite and combines well with the buttered egg noodles that we traditionally serve beef stroganoff with.

It’s really this fantastic sauce that makes this the best beef stroganoff recipe I’ve ever tried.

a gray bowl of beef stroganoff on top of egg noodles with more sauce in back

I almost always serve this with a big bowl of steamed broccoli on the side. I know some people prefer thin strips of beef for their stroganoff but I like making stroganoff with ground beef instead for a few reasons:

  1. I always have a few pounds of ground beef in the freezer and it’s so easy to pull it out and thaw and get dinner going.
  2. I don’t have to bother cutting up the meat for my girls when we sit down to eat at the dinner table. Not a big deal, really, and I do it with other foods, but sometimes I feel lazy. Ground beef is easier.
  3. I honestly just prefer it! While I have had (and made) beef stroganoff with both steak and ground beef, it’s the hamburger stroganoff version I always come back to. I know that a classic beef stroganoff recipe typically calls for thin strips of steak, and maybe it “elevates” it a bit, but I’m not claiming this to be a classic or fancy recipe. I’m only claiming that it tastes delicious.

Tips for the Best Beef Stroganoff

  • Take care with the addition of sour cream at the end. Sour cream can curdle if boiled, especially if you are using a reduced fat version, so be sure not to add it to the sauce until right at the end of cooking after removing the pan from the heat. There will be plenty of residual heat in the sauce to thicken everything up and incorporate the sour cream.
  • Many people like the addition of Worcestershire sauce to beef stroganoff. I have done it both ways, but think I prefer it without. If you want to add some, though, I recommend using 1 tablespoon, added with the broth.
  • I also always use lots and lots of mushrooms in my easy beef stroganoff recipe because they are my favorite and most stroganoff recipes leave me wanting more! My version is adapted from one of my favorite bloggers, Mel from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe, whose stroganoff recipe instantly became my favorite when I tried it. The only changes I have made over the years were to increase the garlic and double the amount of mushrooms.
egg noodles with beef stroganoff on top and a skillet full of sauce in back

Did you grow up eating beef stroganoff in your weeknight meal rotation?

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A gray plate contains cooked egg noodles topped with freshly made beef strongaff with mushrooms and a skillet in the background holds more sauce
Yield: 6 servings

Ground Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Looking for a great, classic weeknight dinner option that the whole family will love?  This Ground Beef Stroganoff recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes, made from scratch without cream of mushroom soup, and is hearty, satisfying and delicious!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
  • 1 small onion, chopped (or half a large onion)
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 16 ounces sliced white button mushrooms
  • 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, cubed
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • Salt & Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Add the ground beef, onion, and minced garlic to a large skillet set over medium-high heat on the stove and season with the salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is almost browned but still slightly pink and the onions have begun to soften, about 5 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
  2. Add the sliced mushrooms to the ground beef and onions and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or so, until the mushrooms are softened and brown and the meat is fully cooked.
  3. Add the cream cheese to the cooked meat and mushrooms and let it sit for 1-2 minutes to melt somewhat before stirring it into the meat mixture. While the cream cheese melts, combine the beef broth and milk in a separate bowl and whisk in the flour until no lumps remain.
  4. After stirring in the melted cream cheese, pour the beef broth/milk/flour slurry into the pan with the meat and mushrooms and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and bubbling.
  5. Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
  6. Serve over hot buttered egg noodles, sprinkled with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.

Notes

If you want to use Worchestershire sauce, I recommend adding 1 tablespoon along with the broth and milk.

Recipe adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 355Saturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 805mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 30g
© Amy
Cuisine: American