One-Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff

This One-Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff recipe is a quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for a busy weeknights. This classic comfort dish is made with tender ground beef, mushrooms, and egg noodles in a rich sour cream sauce. And it’s not only delicious, but it’s also a great way to save time and effort as it’s cooked in a single pot, reducing dishes and cleanup. This easy ground beef stroganoff is ideal for a cozy meal on a chilly day or an easy weeknight dinner that will please the whole family. And if you love comfort food dinners, check out my recipe for Old-Fashioned Smothered Swiss Steak.

This easy ground beef stroganoff recipe is made with hamburger meat instead of a more expensive cut of beef, making this a budget-friendly, everyday recipe. It’s a great shortcut alternative to classic beef stroganoff. And it’s all made in one pot, so it’s also a great time saver.  I like to think of it as a delicious homemade Hamburger Helper or hamburger stroganoff.

And of course, most meat is expensive in general these days, but ground beef is still a fairly cost-effective option for a protein source, especially when you’re stretching a pound of meat with inexpensive pantry staples like egg noodles. As a result, this recipe will make you feel like you’re eating a fancy restaurant-quality dish while still saving you money at the grocery store.

So let’s talk about the ingredients:

What ingredients are in Ground Beef Stroganoff?

Ground Beef – I like to use 85% lean ground beef. I find that it has just enough fat so that I don’t have to drain it, but there is enough fat in the pan after browning the beef that I can cook my onions and mushrooms. Of course, you can whatever beef you like or have on hand. Additionally, you can also switch out the beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, ground bison, or whatever ground meat you prefer. You can even make a more traditional beef stroganoff by using sliced beef (like steak). For this, I find that top sirloin steak works well and turns out very tender with this recipe. 

Onion – I like a yellow onion for this recipe, but any type of onion will work. 

Mushrooms – Baby Bella or cremini mushrooms are what I typically use for this recipe, but you can use whatever type of mushrooms you like. White button mushrooms also work well, and, in a pinch, you can add canned mushrooms (but they aren’t quite as tasty as fresh mushrooms.)

Beef broth – You’ll need a few cups of beef broth. You can use beef broth or beef stock, either store-bought or homemade. Just make sure it’s something that tastes good or your final dish won’t taste good. And you’ll need to adjust the salt you add to the dish depending on how much salt is in the broth. Just remember, you can always add more salt, but you can’t take it away. 

Egg Noodles – Regular whole egg noodles or no-yolk noodles will work. I like to use wide, hearty noodles in this dish. Any noodle that is too fine may become mushy and just won’t stand up to the rich, creamy sauce.

Dried thyme – I prefer to use dried thyme instead of fresh because it’s something I always have in my spice cabinet. Fresh thyme will work, too, but I think the flavor of the dried thyme actually works better here. If using ground dried thyme, use about half of the amount. 

Paprika – Use regular sweet paprika, or use smoked if you like a bit of a smoky flavor. I don’t recommend using hot paprika in this dish. 

Sour cream –  I recommend using full-fat sour cream as reduced-fat sour cream is more likely to split when added to the hot broth. And no one wants a lumpy, split sauce. 

Optional Ingredients:

Dried or fresh herbs – In addition to (or in place of) dried thyme, you could also add a small pinch of dried rosemary, poultry seasoning, or ground nutmeg (which goes very well with a cream sauce). Also, you can’t go wrong with adding a bay leaf to the simmering pot. Additionally, you can garnish the finished dish with fresh herbs like fresh parsley or dill.

Sherry – If you keep sherry on hand, add a splash of it to the pan along with the broth. Or you could use a splash of white wine.

Worcestershire sauce – A small splash of Worcestershire sauce will also punch up the flavor. Don’t add much or it will overpower the other flavors. You just need about a teaspoon.  

Extra vegetables – You can add some extra vegetables to this dish for a little extra nutrition. Saute a finely diced carrot with the onions and mushrooms. Or add some fine green beans or a handful of peas along with the noodles and allow them to simmer. 

Tips for Making One-Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff:

• I like to use my Dutch oven or a large skillet to make this one pot ground beef stroganoff. You want to use a roomy pot with a lid.
• Keep an eye on the pot while it’s cooking and give it a stir once or twice. You don’t want to walk away and allow everything to stick to the bottom of the pan, or for the noodles to become mushy. So, be sure to remove it from the heat as soon as the noodles are done to your liking. Also, you don’t want to walk away and the pot to boil over, so watch out for that, too.  
• Don’t allow all of the liquid to evaporate from the pot because you’ll need to have about a cup of broth left in the pot to make the sauce. So if it starts to look too dry, add a splash of water or broth. I cook it with the lid on but slightly ajar to allow the steam to escape while retaining some of the broth.
• Be sure to remove the pot from the heat before adding the sour cream. This will help to prevent the sour cream from curdling. 
• Do not be concerned if the sauce looks a little bit runny after adding sour cream. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes and the sauce will thicken as it cools. 
• As always, adjust the seasonings to taste. Add more salt, pepper, or other seasonings as necessary before serving. 
• I store my leftover beef stroganoff (if there is any!) in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

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This recipe for One Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff is pure comfort food. I hope you try it and If you do, I hope you love it.  And don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram so you don’t miss a post. 

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