Tender strips of beef slowly cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce create a comforting dinner that feels rich and familiar without requiring constant attention.
Prep & Cook Time
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 5 hours
Total: 5 hours 20 minutes
Ingredients
2 lb beef chuck or sirloin, sliced into strips
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3 cups mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups beef broth
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup cooked egg noodles, for serving
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and quickly brown the beef strips on both sides, working in batches if needed. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker.
Add the onion and mushrooms to the same skillet and cook briefly until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook just until fragrant.
Transfer the vegetables to the slow cooker and pour in the beef broth. Season with salt, black pepper, paprika, and thyme, then stir gently to combine.
Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours, allowing the beef to become very tender and the flavors to deepen.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with a few tablespoons of the hot cooking liquid. Stir this mixture back into the slow cooker and cook for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
Turn off the heat and gently fold in the sour cream until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Serve over warm egg noodles.
Nutrition Facts (approx, per serving)
Calories: 480
Protein: 36g
Carbs: 30g
Fat: 26g
Tips
Using a quick browning step before slow cooking enhances flavor and keeps the beef from tasting flat.
Adding the sour cream after cooking prevents curdling and keeps the sauce smooth.
Slicing the beef against the grain helps ensure tender bites.
Variations
For a deeper mushroom flavor, combining white mushrooms with cremini mushrooms works well. Adding them together at the start allows both types to soften slowly and release more depth into the sauce without changing the cooking time. If you enjoy savory stews with rich, slow-cooked flavor, you may also like this Beef and Vegetable One-Pot Stew, another hearty dish perfect for colder days.
To introduce a subtle tang, a small spoon of Dijon-style mustard can be stirred in just before adding the sour cream. This balances the richness of the sauce while keeping the dish firmly in classic comfort territory. For another creamy and familiar chicken-based option, you might enjoy this Creamy Chicken Stew, which offers a similar comforting texture with a different flavor profile.
Serving the stroganoff over mashed potatoes instead of noodles creates a softer, more indulgent texture. The creamy sauce blends into the potatoes, making the dish feel even more comforting and winter-focused.