The Best Hamburger Stroganoff Recipe
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Ground Beef Stroganoff is one of those go-to, budget-friendly dinners that checks all the boxes—easy to make, full of flavor, and ready in just 30 minutes.
Growing up, I loved the classic slow-simmered stroganoff, the kind that made the whole house smell amazing. But let’s be honest—most nights, I simply don’t have the time. And based on the crazy response on Pinterest, I know I’m not alone! This recipe has been a reader favorite, and once you try it, you’ll see why.
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In my mid-twenties, I ate a lot of Hamburger Helper stroganoff—it was quick, easy, and got the job done. But as I started cooking more, I wanted something just as simple, but homemade and way better. That’s how I landed on this version, with the creamiest sauce and zero canned soup. It’s a total game-changer, and you can feel good about serving it.
Since we love stroganoff so much, I’ve taken the same rich, comforting flavors and turned them into a potato stroganoff that I’m absolutely obsessed with, and a green bean casserole stroganoff that has become a hands-down family favorite. My nephew likes to show off his cooking skills with this one!
On Pinterest, Mercina Marie “This recipe was so surprisingly good that I took the time to sit down and write it on a flash card. That’s called succeeding expectations. I DO suggest you try this recipe. I only had chicken broth, so I subbed that for the beef broth. Took 30 minutes on the dot. Just finished my seconds.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”
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Simple Ingredients
Recipe Notes
- Mushrooms – You might have noticed—there are no mushrooms in this stroganoff! That’s intentional. I wanted this to be a true pantry staple recipe, made with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Plus, I’m just not a fan of canned mushrooms, and fresh ones aren’t always on hand when I need a quick, no-fuss meal. But if you love them, feel free to toss some in!
- Egg Noodles – Measure carefully! Using the exact amount is key to keeping the noodles from soaking up all the sauce. I’ve tested this recipe with different types of pasta, and as long as you stick to 6 ounces, you’ll get the perfect creamy consistency every time.
- Sour Cream: This recipe calls for either full-fat or light sour cream. Greek yogurt can be substituted for the sour cream.
How to make ground beef stroganoff
Step 1: Cook the egg noodles for 2 minutes less than the package directions. Do not rinse pasta.
Step 2: In a large skillet, brown one pound of ground beef until all the pink is removed, drain excess grease as needed, and set aside.
Step 3: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and stir constantly for about 2 minutes.
Step 4: Add beef broth to the paste and whisk continuously to remove any lumps. Continue to stir until the sauce begins to thicken. Slowly whisk in milk and simmer over medium heat until the sauce thickens again. Add spices.
Step 5: Reduce heat to low and add cooked ground beef and noodles.
Step 6: Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.
For tips on making all kinds of different sauces, check out my blog post How to Make Bechamel Sauce.
Recipe variations
- Worcestershire sauce – My mother-in-law always adds a bit to her stroganoff. Start with one teaspoon.
- Leftover Pork Tenderloin Stroganoff – Not sure what to do with leftover pork? Check out the perfect solution.
- Vegetarian Stroganoff – Skip the meat altogether and make a vegetarian version of stroganoff using mushrooms or a meat substitute like tofu.
- Chicken Stroganoff Recipe – Switch things up by using ground chicken instead of beef. Ground chicken stroganoff is lighter in flavor but still deliciously creamy and satisfying.
Can you freeze beef stroganoff?
This ground beef version of a traditional beef stroganoff is good in the freezer for up to three months. Store in an airtight container and slow thaw in the fridge before warming in the microwave. I often add a touch of milk to bring the stroganoff sauce back to life.
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What to serve with this stroganoff
Recipe
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30-Minute Ground Beef Stroganoff
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 ounces Egg Noodles
- 1 pounds Ground Beef
- ¼ cup Butter
- ¼ cup Flour
- 1 cup Beef Broth
- 1 ¼ cup Milk
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ cup Sour Cream
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil and cook noodles according to package directions. Once cooked, set a side for later.6 ounces Egg Noodles
- While the noodles are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until all the pink is gone and the beef is fully browned, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat and transfer the beef to a plate. Set aside.1 pounds Ground Beef
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the flour and whisk continuously for about 2 minutes to create a roux.¼ cup Butter, ¼ cup Flour
- Gradually pour the beef broth into the roux, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Continue whisking until the sauce begins to thicken, about 3-4 minutes.1 cup Beef Broth
- Slowly whisk in the milk, continuing to stir over medium heat until the sauce thickens again, about 5-7 minutes. The sauce should be smooth and creamy.1 ¼ cup Milk
- Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt, ensuring the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the sauce.½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ½ teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon Pepper, 1 teaspoon Salt
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the cooked egg noodles and browned ground beef to the skillet, stirring until everything is well combined and heated through.6 ounces Egg Noodles
- Gently stir in the sour cream, mixing until fully incorporated into the sauce. The sour cream will add a rich, tangy flavor to the dish.¼ cup Sour Cream
- Serve the dish hot, paired with your favorite vegetable or a slice of garlic toast for a complete meal.
Notes
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- Pasta: Any pasta will work with this recipe, but do not use more than 6 ounces, or there will not be enough liquid to coat the noodles. My preference is wide egg noodles.
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- DOUBLE THE RECIPE – My number one tip is to double the recipe. It rewarms well, and everyone asks for seconds!
Storage
Fridge: Once the ground beef stroganoff is at room temperature, store it in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat the next day in the microwave in 30-second increments until this easy dinner recipe is warmed through.Nutrition
can you use cornstarch if u don’t have flour?
I have not tried cornstarch, but it you try it, I would make a slurry before adding it to the butter. I’ll try it next time I make it. We make it often!
How much is 6oz of pasta? Is that a 2 cups? 3 cups?
Hi Ashley! Three cups of egg noodles equals about 6 ounces, but if you were to use a different type of pasta it would be different. For example, if you used macaroni, three cups would be too much. I almost always get out my small scale when throwing this recipe together.
Easy, quick and very delicious!!!! Definitely will be making this again!!!
Thank you Sheila!
I made this with cornstarch and it was superb!!! My husband loved it with our fresh baked artisan sourdough boule. It was the bomb!!! It’s exactly what I was craving.❤️❤️❤️
You made my day with your comment! Thanks so much!
Quick and delicious dinner – doubled it for neighborhood July 4th party – loved it!!
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m delighted to hear the recipe was a hit at your neighborhood July 4th party. Doubling it was a great idea for a crowd. Happy cooking!
Can this be made ahead of time? Prepares the night before and refrigerated to bake and eat the next day?
I’m afraid it will dry out if you bake it. It does rewarm well on the stovetop with a little milk added to loosen up the sauce.
Hi, thanks for mentioning you can add mushrooms, but I do not see at which point/how to prepare them. Please let me know. I will wing it but not sure if I will do it right. My toddler actually likes mushrooms. Sorry if I missed it somewhere. Thanks!
Hi Sydney! After you remove the ground beef from the pan you can add sliced mushrooms. Let them soften in the pan, then move on to adding the butter and flour and follow the instructions from there. That’s impressive your little one likes mushrooms. They never stuck with my son. I hope you guys love the recipe!
I love this recipe! It’s easy and delicious! (for some reason the website will only let me give it a 4 star rating, but I definitely think it deserves 5!
Hi Jessenia! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. It’s one of our favorites! You are the second person who has mentioned the star rating issue. I’m having my website developer take a look. Thanks so much for your sweet comments.
I’ve been brought up to know that Stroganoff’s have tomato paste in it, also mushrooms. I found this recipe needed that tomato paste to cut through the richness of the sour cream and white sauce.
I added peas and mushrooms to this dish to add more flavor and colour.
Hi Jane, I never thought about adding tomato paste. I don’t add mushrooms very often because some of us aren’t that crazy about them, but they are a quick and easy addition.
Making this for dinner tonight (again) my family loves it, my littles always ask for seconds! Simple, easy, and delicious!! Perfect for our crazy busy family! Thanks for sharing!!
I’m so glad your family loves the recipe! We are big fans around here too. It’s probably one of my son’s very favorites.
Making this today… do you think I could add fresh minced garlic to the sauce? So excited to make this! Thanks!
Yes, you can use minced garlic. You’ll want to add it after you have browned and drained the ground beef.
Quick and delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi April! Thanks so much for the comment. It makes my day to know you loved the recipe.
Haven’t made it yet but, it sounds to good not to be 5 star. Was just curious if heavy cream would be good in place of the milk?
Hi Linda! I think you are going to love the recipe! I truly believe the sauce has the perfect consistency without needing any heavy cream. The sour cream adds just the right touch, creating a creamy, silky sauce.
Great recipe. I can always tell how good a recipe is based on what I can ask my husband to do for me in return for that dinner. My husband agreed to finish our carpet cleaning in exchange for this meal. You don’t know him, but if you did you would understand just how incredible this recipe is. I will certainly be looking at your other meals soon.
I absolutely love this! I’m so glad the recipe was a hit, and that you were able to “negotiate” some carpet cleaning in exchange—sounds like a win-win to me! 😂 Seriously, though, it’s the best feeling when a meal can make an impression like that. Thank you so much for sharing your experience, and I can’t wait for you to try more recipes. Let me know if you need any recommendations! Happy cooking (and cleaning)!
This recipe was delicious and so easy! I doubled the recipe to have leftovers. The only thing I changed was adding medium pasta shells. I only had half the egg noodles so I used them both. It still came out amazing and heated up well the day after.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe and that it was easy to make! Doubling it for leftovers is a great idea, and I love that you used a mix of egg noodles and pasta shells—so resourceful! 😊 Thanks for sharing your experience!
I’m always thankful for people like you (Jill) who provide us with free recipes. I can only imagine the hard work that goes into each concoction. My family was so happy with this dish that everyone wanted seconds! This dish is creamy, savory and rich. Well seasoned and works beautifully with the tang of the sour cream. This will definitely be in our rotation of meals.
Thank you so much for your kind words! It means the world to me to hear that your family enjoyed the dish and even went back for seconds—that’s the ultimate compliment! I’m so glad that the recipe is making its way into your regular rotation. Your thoughtful comment truly brightened my day, and I’m so grateful for readers like you! 😊
This recipe is AMAZING! So creamy and delicious. Definitley and house favorite ♥️
Thank you Jessica! I’m so glad your family loved the recipe. I love that I almost always have all the ingredients on hand.
Jill, I just want to say thank you for including the measurements at the bottom of each step so I didn’t have to keep scrolling up! You’re amazing! So is this recipe! my husband and I loved it for a quick dinner! Just one recommendation though, if you’re using pink salt, add a little to the beef while your cooking it for a bit more flavor. (: I did also use low sodium beef broth so that may be where I lost some saltiness too lol thank you again!
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 I’m thrilled you and your husband enjoyed the recipe, and I’m glad the step-by-step measurements were helpful—it’s so much easier than scrolling back and forth! Adding pink salt while cooking the beef is a fantastic tip, especially when using low-sodium broth. Thank you for sharing, and I appreciate you taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment!
i wanted a quick recipe for a weeknight meal. But this was so bland, I was really disappointed.
This turned out great! I had some ground beef and wanted a meal that wouldn’t take too long or too much effort. This was perfect and quick. All the ingredients are ingredients that I always have on hand so it’ll be a good go to!
I’m so glad you loved it! Quick and easy meals with simple ingredients are the best, right? Hope it becomes a regular for you! 😊
No flavor My family did not enjoy joy it at all.
I’m so sorry you felt like the recipe didn’t have enough flavor for your family. If you want to add more flavor I would consider a teaspoon or two of worcestershire sauce and maybe a bit more salt. My son also likes to add hot sauce to his plate.
This was yummy! My husband made noises while eating it, so I know it’s a keeper 🙂 only thing I added was green onions on top. Thanks!
Hi Lindsay! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe—and love that your husband gave it the ultimate compliment with those happy eating noises! Green onions on top sound like a delicious addition. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a rating and comment—it truly means the world to me. If you’re looking for more easy, comforting dinners, you might also like the Hamburger Green Bean Casserole, Swedish Meatballs, or Potato Stroganoff—all reader favorites around here!
This was delicious, easy and quick to make for my family of 4. I didn’t have regular milk, but just about 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream and I used unsweetened almond milk for the remaining amount needed. My 9 year old wanted seconds and wanted it for breakfast the next day. haha. Thank you for sharing this simple recipe!
Hi Megan! I’m so glad you and your family loved the recipe! It’s been one of my son’s favorites since he was little too, so your comment made me smile. And I totally agree with your 9-year-old—leftovers like this are perfect for breakfast. 😊 Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, and I hope it becomes a regular in your meal rotation!
My 9 year old said it was her new #1 favorite meal. She RAVED throughout the entire meal about it and had 2 bowls. She even thanked me again at bedtime for such a delicious meal. I don’t believe she has ever raved or thanked me for a meal. My 5 year old gave it ‘thumbs up to outer space … more than 100 thousand thumbs up!’. I’d say, the kids loved it. Followed the recipe exact.
Thank you Vanessa! This makes me so stinking happy to hear.
My family loved this! I used a full can of beef broth and the whole 16oz of egg noodles and it was so good!!!
Hi Becky! I’m so glad you loved the recipe. I almost always make a double batch!
Great recipe. I love that it doesn’t use cream of mushroom soup. It has a better flavor without it. The only things I do differently are add
sautéed onions and garlic and and then while making the roux, I add a packet of Lipton Beefy Mushroom or Onion Mushroom soup mix (do not add the water it calls for). I like the flavor of mushrooms, but the fam doesn’t like to bite into them.
Thanks for a great recipe!!
Very flavoursome and easy to make!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the stroganoff! Thanks for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe.