Classic Beef Stroganoff Recipe

The Best Classic Beef Stroganoff Recipe for Cozy Dinners

Beef stroganoff stands as a beloved comfort dish cherished by many home cooks and food enthusiasts worldwide.

Creamy, rich sauces blend with tender meat in this classic culinary creation that promises warmth and satisfaction.

Russian-inspired cuisine developed this delectable meal featuring silky textures and robust flavors that dance across your palate.

Hearty ingredients combine to create a memorable dining experience that transcends simple weeknight cooking.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this recipe revolutionizes ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal that feels both nostalgic and exciting.

Elegant comfort food doesn’t get much better than this timeless classic that connects generations through its irresistible appeal.

Delightful aromas will fill your kitchen, promising a dining experience that satisfies both hunger and soul.

Cooking Your Way to Stroganoff Greatness

Step 1: Prepare Noodle Foundation

Grab a large pot and fill with water. Sprinkle salt generously. Bring water to a rolling boil. Gently drop egg noodles into bubbling water. Cook until tender, following package guidance. Drain noodles completely and set aside.

Step 2: Season Beef Perfectly

Create a seasoning mixture in a spacious mixing bowl:
  • All-purpose flour
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Tumble steak strips into the bowl. Coat each piece thoroughly, ensuring even coverage. Keep leftover flour mixture nearby.

Step 3: Sear Steak Strips

Heat a heavy skillet over roaring medium-high flame. Splash olive oil across surface. Carefully place steak strips, allowing each piece to develop a gorgeous golden-brown crust. Work in batches to prevent overcrowding. Transfer seared strips to a separate plate.

Step 4: Caramelize Aromatic Vegetables

In the same skillet, melt butter until it sizzles. Lower heat to medium. Add chopped onions, stirring occasionally. Cook until onions become soft and develop a beautiful translucent quality.

Step 5: Build Flavor Layers

Introduce mushrooms and minced garlic to the onion landscape:
  • Sliced mushrooms
  • Fresh garlic

Sauté for two minutes, creating a rich, fragrant base.

Step 6: Create Silky Sauce

Dust remaining flour over vegetables. Pour beef broth slowly, whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Blend in:
  • Dijon mustard
  • Fresh thyme
  • Worcestershire sauce

Simmer sauce until it thickens beautifully, approximately 4 minutes.

Step 7: Harmonize Ingredients

Return seared steak strips to skillet. Gently fold into sauce, ensuring each piece gets coated. Warm thoroughly.

Step 8: Finish With Creamy Touch

Remove skillet from heat. Swirl in sour cream until sauce becomes luxuriously smooth.

Step 9: Plate And Garnish

Cascade sauce over warm egg noodles. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top. Serve immediately for maximum deliciousness.

Simple Ways to Elevate Your Stroganoff

  • Slice Strategically: Cut beef against the grain into thin, even strips for maximum tenderness and easier chewing.
  • Temperature Matters: Use high heat when browning beef to develop a rich, caramelized exterior without overcooking the meat.
  • Mushroom Magic: Select fresh white or cremini mushrooms and ensure they're dry before sautéing to achieve perfect golden-brown edges.
  • Sauce Smoothness: Gradually add broth while whisking constantly to prevent lumpy sauce and create a silky, creamy texture.
  • Sour Cream Secret: Remove skillet from heat before stirring in sour cream to prevent curdling and maintain a luxurious, velvety consistency.

Preserving the Richness of Stroganoff Later

  • Refrigerate: Store leftover beef stroganoff in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Place it in the coldest part of your refrigerator, which keeps the dish fresh for 3-4 days.
  • Freeze: Transfer cooled stroganoff to freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion. Seal tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Label containers with the date to track freshness.
  • Reheat: Gently warm stroganoff in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of beef broth to restore moisture and prevent sauce separation. Avoid microwaving to maintain the sauce's creamy texture and prevent overcooking the beef.

Side Dishes to Enjoy with Stroganoff

  • Pair with Bold Red Wine: A robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot complements the rich beef flavors, cutting through the creamy sauce with its tannic structure and enhancing the overall dining experience.
  • Crisp Side Salad Companion: Create a light, zesty green salad with mixed lettuce, cucumber, and a tangy vinaigrette to balance the hearty stroganoff, providing a refreshing contrast to the creamy dish.
  • Roasted Vegetable Sidekick: Prepare garlic-roasted asparagus or Brussels sprouts as a complementary side, adding a subtle earthy note that elevates the beef's savory profile without overwhelming the main course.
  • Craft Beer Match: Select a malty, medium-bodied amber ale or porter that harmonizes with the beef's depth, offering a smooth, slightly hoppy backdrop that enhances the stroganoff's complex flavors.

Beef Stroganoff’s Crowd-Pleasing Secret

  • Savor Creamy Comfort: This beef stroganoff delivers ultimate comfort food vibes with its rich, velvety sauce that hugs tender steak strips and perfectly cooked egg noodles.
  • Master Quick Gourmet Cooking: The recipe transforms simple ingredients into an impressive dinner through strategic layering of flavors, requiring just basic cooking skills and minimal prep time.
  • Enjoy Restaurant-Quality Meal at Home: By browning steak in batches and building a complex sauce with Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, home cooks can create a sophisticated dish that rivals professional restaurant preparations.
  • Customize with Ease: The flexible recipe allows personal touches like adjusting meat thickness, using different mushroom varieties, or swapping egg noodles for alternative pasta types to suit individual preferences.

The Key Ingredients for Classic Stroganoff

Meat:
  • Sirloin Steak: Tender cut with excellent flavor, best when sliced into thin strips for quick and even cooking.
Aromatics and Vegetables:
  • Yellow Onion, Garlic: Provide deep, savory base flavors and aromatic foundation for the dish.
  • Button Mushrooms: Earthy, umami-rich vegetable that adds texture and depth to the sauce.
Seasoning and Sauce Components:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken the sauce and create a smooth, rich consistency.
  • Salt, Pepper: Essential basic seasonings for enhancing overall flavor profile.
  • Dijon Mustard: Adds tangy, sharp undertone that complements the beef's richness.
  • Dried Thyme: Herbal, slightly minty seasoning that brings complexity to the sauce.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Provides deep, savory umami flavor with slight tangy notes.
Cooking Fats:
  • Olive Oil, Butter: Combination provides rich flavor and helps prevent sticking during cooking.
Dairy and Finishing Ingredients:
  • Sour Cream: Creates creamy, luxurious texture and adds slight tanginess to the sauce.
  • Beef Broth: Provides liquid base and additional meaty flavor for the sauce.
Pasta:
  • Egg Noodles: Traditional stroganoff base with soft, tender texture that absorbs sauce well.
Garnish:
  • Fresh Parsley: Bright, fresh herb that adds color and light, clean flavor to the dish.

Fresh Takes on Traditional Stroganoff

  • Chicken Stroganoff Swap: Replace beef with tender chicken breast strips for a lighter protein option that keeps the classic creamy sauce flavor intact.
  • Vegetarian Mushroom Delight: Substitute beef with robust portobello mushrooms or mixed wild mushrooms, maintaining the rich, earthy texture of the original recipe.
  • Gluten-Free Friendly Version: Use cornstarch instead of flour for coating and thickening, and select gluten-free egg noodles to accommodate dietary restrictions while preserving the dish's essence.
  • Spicy Southwest Adaptation: Add diced green chiles, smoked paprika, and replace Dijon mustard with chipotle mustard to give the traditional stroganoff a zesty southwestern kick.
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Classic Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Classic Beef Stroganoff Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 36 reviews

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Russian comfort cuisine shines through this classic beef stroganoff, blending tender strips of beef with rich, creamy sauce over perfectly cooked egg noodles. Hearty ingredients and traditional flavors unite to deliver a satisfying meal you’ll savor with each delicious forkful.


Ingredients

Scale

Primary Protein:

  • 1 pound (454 grams) sirloin steak (sliced into bite-sized strips)

Seasoning and Flour:

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce

Cooking Components and Aromatics:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 yellow onion (peeled and thinly sliced)
  • 8 ounces (226 grams) button mushrooms (sliced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 16 ounces (473 milliliters) low-sodium beef broth
  • ½ cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
  • 20 ounces (567 grams) egg noodles
  • Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Boil a generously salted pot of water and cook egg noodles until perfectly tender, then drain and reserve for later plating.
  2. Create a seasoned coating by blending flour, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl, thoroughly coating each steak strip and setting aside any remaining flour mixture.
  3. Ignite a skillet over medium-high heat, introducing olive oil to rapidly sear beef strips, achieving a rich golden-brown exterior on each side. Transfer browned meat to a separate dish.
  4. Reduce skillet temperature and melt butter, introducing onions to soften and become translucent, releasing their subtle sweetness.
  5. Incorporate sliced mushrooms and minced garlic into the onion landscape, sautéing briefly to enhance their aromatic qualities.
  6. Dust remaining flour across the vegetable medley, then slowly stream beef broth while continuously stirring to prevent clumping. Introduce Dijon mustard, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce, creating a velvety sauce that gradually thickens.
  7. Reintroduce seared steak strips into the sauce, allowing them to warm and meld with the rich, creamy environment.
  8. Remove skillet from heat and gently fold in sour cream, creating a luxurious, silky texture.
  9. Cascade the robust stroganoff over steaming egg noodles, garnishing with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.

Notes

  • Precision matters when coating beef strips, ensuring a golden exterior that locks in succulent flavors and creates delightful texture contrasts.
  • Sour cream introduces a luxurious silkiness, balancing the robust beef and transforming the sauce into a creamy, indulgent experience that’ll make everyone at the table swoon.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Russian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 590
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 450mg
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 12g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15g
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 50g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 30g
  • Cholesterol: 95mg
Alex Reed

Alex Reed

Founder & Lead Content Writer

Expertise

Recipe Development and Testing​, Culinary Education​, Food Writing and Blogging​, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Global Cuisine Exploration

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and contemporary cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development. Emphasized hands-on experience in diverse culinary traditions.​

Le Cordon Bleu Paris

  • Program: Diplôme de Cuisine
  • Focus: Advanced instruction in French culinary techniques, including sauce preparation, pâtisserie, and haute cuisine.​

Alex Reed is an inventive chef and food creator with a passion for dishes that balance taste, health, and sustainability. 

Trained at Portland Community College and holding an Advanced Pastry Arts certificate from Oregon Culinary Institute, Alex brings more than 10 years of practical culinary experience to every recipe he develops. 

His background uniquely blends traditional cooking skills with modern, mindful eating principles. As the founder of Beard and Bonnet, Alex creates recipes that encourage readers to cook confidently.

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