Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff Recipe: My Weeknight Go-To (Print Version)
Whip up a comforting Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff Recipe that feels like a warm hug. Quick, creamy, and packed with flavor perfect for busy nights!
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Comfort Food
# Ingredients:
→ Main Players
01 -
1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 preferred)
02 -
8 oz (225g) wide egg noodles
→ Flavor Builders
03 -
1 large yellow onion, chopped
04 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
05 -
8 oz (225g) cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
06 -
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
→ Sauce Essentials
07 -
2 tbsp unsalted butter
08 -
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
09 -
2 cups (480ml) low-sodium beef broth
10 -
1 cup (240ml) full-fat sour cream
→ Finishing Touches
11 -
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12 -
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
# Instructions:
01 -
First things first, heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add a tiny splash of oil, then toss in your ground beef. Break it up with a spoon and cook until it's beautifully browned and no longer pink. This is where all that flavor starts building, hon! Drain any excess grease – I usually just tilt the pan and scoop it out with a spoon, a little messy, but it works. Then, add your chopped onion and cook until it's softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Oh, and don't forget to add the minced garlic in the last minute of cooking the onion so it doesn't burn. I always forget to salt the water for the noodles at this point, but maybe you're better than me!
02 -
Once your onions are soft and the garlic is fragrant, toss in those sliced mushrooms. Stir them around and let them cook down. They'll release a lot of their liquid first, and then as that evaporates, they'll start to get nicely browned and tender. This step takes a little patience, maybe 8-10 minutes, but it's so worth it for that deep, earthy mushroom flavor. I've definitely tried to rush this before, and the mushrooms ended up a bit rubbery. Oops! Just let them do their thing, they'll shrink quite a bit.
03 -
Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the beef and mushroom mixture. Stir it really well, making sure all the flour gets coated and cooks for about 1-2 minutes. You want to cook out that raw flour taste; it'll smell a bit toasty. This is our roux, and it's what's going to thicken our sauce beautifully. Honestly, if you don't cook the flour long enough, the sauce can taste a bit pasty. I've made that mistake more times than I care to admit, but hey, we learn, right?
04 -
Gradually pour in the beef broth, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Add the Worcestershire sauce now too. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your liking. It should coat the back of a spoon. This is where the kitchen starts to smell absolutely divine, like pure comfort. I sometimes add a little extra broth if it gets too thick too fast, you know, just eyeballing it like a true home cook!
05 -
While your sauce is simmering, cook your egg noodles according to package directions in a separate pot of salted boiling water. Make sure they're al dente! Once the sauce for your Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff has thickened, remove the skillet from the heat. This is CRITICAL. Let it cool for just a minute, then stir in the sour cream until it's fully incorporated and smooth. If you add it while it's boiling, it can curdle, and nobody wants that! Trust me, I learned that the hard way. A little kitchen chaos never hurt anyone, but curdled sauce is just sad.
06 -
Drain your cooked egg noodles and add them directly to the skillet with the creamy beef sauce. Toss everything together gently until the noodles are well coated. Taste and adjust seasonings – you might need a little more salt or pepper. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh chopped parsley. The final result should be creamy, rich, and utterly comforting. It’s a dish that just screams "home" to me, and seeing everyone dig in makes all those little kitchen oops moments totally worth it.