The most amazing Beef Stroganoff you will ever have! Golden seared juicy beef strips smothered in an incredible sour cream mushroom gravy, this Beef Stroganoff recipe is an easy 30 minute recipe.
Never suffer through dry chewy beef or bland Stroganoff sauce again – this recipe delivers!!
Beef Stroganoff
If you’ve ever chewed your way through dry, overcooked beef, you’re going to LOVE this Beef Stroganoff recipe! Just two simple rules for juicy, tender beef:
using the right cut; and
the 30 Second Sear ( <– PS I totally made up this name)
The first rule is fairly self explanatory – for a quick cooking recipe like Beef Stroganoff, you can’t get away with using a better value tough cut like chuck beef.
Sure, you could do a slow cooker stroganoff.
But if you want to make this retro classic the way it’s intended and to experience all that Beef Stroganoff is when the beef is tender, juicy perfection, then there’s no getting around the fact that you will need a good quality steak that’s nicely marbled with fat.
I know, I know, you see juicy steaks like the rib eyes above and your instinct is to throw them on the barbie.
I hear you. I have to fight the urge myself. But then I remember that sour cream mushroom gravy, and I remind myself that the only way to experience a truly great stroganoff is to use a good steak, and it’s all good. We proceed with no regrets.
What cut of beef is best for stroganoff?
The best cuts of beef for stroganoff are tender, juicy cuts such as:
Boneless rib eye – also called scotch fillet (pictured above)
Boneless sirloin
Sirloin steak tips
Beef tenderloin
Some recipes recommend beef round steak (aka topside) which I do not recommend. The beef flavour is ok but but it’s not a good cut for fast cooking like in stroganoff, it’s dry with an unpleasant texture. It’s best slow cooked.
Want to use stewing beef?
Make this Slow Cooked Stroganoff with tender fall apart chunks of beef!
And now, the 2nd secret to never suffer through dry beef in stroganoff again……
The 30 second sear
Thin strips of beef overcook in a flash. But forgoing the sear would be a blasphemy (in my books). Sear = flavour on both the beef AND in the gravy.
Therefore, there is only one way around this. A super quick sear in a smoking hot skillet. And when I say super quick, I truly mean it. 30 seconds on each side, if you miss some pink bits too bad! GET IT OUT OF THE SKILLET!!!
The beef will still be raw at this stage but don’t worry! It finishes cooking in the gravy at the end.
What is stroganoff sauce made of?
Stroganoff sauce is a sour cream gravy made with beef broth that’s thickened with flour. It’s flavoured with mustard and has mushrooms in it.
I love the pale brown creamy colour against the deep golden brown seared beef!
If you happen to have leftovers or are meal prepping, beef stroganoff will keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. But be very careful when reheating not to overcook the beef!
Wondering if you can freeze beef stroganoff?
Yes you can! The sour cream won’t separate or congeal. Thaw, then reheat – be very careful not to overcook the beef when reheating.
What to serve with beef stroganoff
Serve it over noodles, pasta or mash – anything that’s a suitable vehicle to slop up all that gorgeous mushroom gravy. Try cauliflower mash for a low carb alternative!
If using noodles or pasta, I recommend using a short pasta. It just makes it easier to eat, ensuring you get a bit of everything with plenty of that sauce in every bite!
Dinner – on the table in 30 minutes. EVERYONE WILL LOVE THIS!!! – Nagi x
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Sometimes it helps to have a visual – so watch me make this Beef Stroganoff recipe!
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Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients
- 600 g / 1.2 lb scotch fillet steak / boneless rib eye (Note 1)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil , divided
- 1 large onion (or 2 small onions), sliced
- 300 g / 10 oz mushrooms , sliced (not too thin)
- 40 g / 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour (Note 2)
- 2 cups / 500 ml beef broth , preferably salt reduced
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 150 ml / 2/3 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper
Serving:
- 250 – 300 g / 8 – 10 oz pasta or egg noodles of choice (Note 3)
- Chopped chives , for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Use your fist (or rolling pin or mallet) to flatten the steaks to about 3/4cm / 1/3″ thick. Slice into 5mm / 1/5″ strips (cut long ones in half), discarding excess fat.
- Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over high heat. Scatter half the beef in the skillet, QUICKLY spread it with tongs. Leave untouched for 30 seconds until browned. Turn beef quickly (as best you can!). Leave untouched for 30 seconds to brown. Immediately remove onto a plate. Don’t worry about pink bits and that it will be raw inside.
- Add remaining 1 tbsp oil and repeat with remaining beef.
- Turn heat down to medium high. Add butter, melt. Then add onions, cook for 1 minute, then add mushrooms.
- Cook mushrooms until golden. Scrape bottom of fry pan to get all the golden bits off (this is flavour!).
- Add flour, cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Add half the broth while stirring. Once incorporated, add remaining broth.
- Stir, then add sour cream and mustard. Stir until incorporated (don’t worry if it looks split, sour cream will “melt” as it heats).
- Bring to simmer ,then reduce heat to medium low. Once it thickens to the consistency of pouring cream (3 – 5 minutes), adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Add beef back in (including plate juices). Simmer for 1 minute, then remove from stove immediately. (Note 4)
- Serve over pasta or egg noodles, sprinkled with chives if desired.
Recipe Notes:
- boneless rib eye (aka scotch fillet)
- boneless sirloin, sirloin steak tips
- beef tenderloin
Nutrition Information:
Beef Stroganoff recipe originally published January 2018, updated March 2019 for housekeeping matters, no change to recipe (because readers love it as it is!).
More quick dinner ideas you’ll love!
Quesadillas (Beef, Chicken or Veg)
A Mushroom Sauce for Steak, Chicken or anything!
Beef and Rice with Veggies (One Pot)
LIFE OF DOZER
” Dozer! Catch the water!”
And so he obliged. Well, attempted to. Oh so enthusiastically!
Nagi, it’s not ideal, but how do you think it’ll turn out with ground beef? I’ve got two little ones, and need to to make dinner quickly. Thanks!
I made this with ground beef, turned out just fine. Had to make my own sour cream with buttermilk powder, water and lemon juice. Still came out great
Can I use boneless strip steak?
Well this recipe is more yummy than the other recipe that i try to cook….thank you
You’re so welcome Rowena!
Made this a few times. My husband always requests this recipe. It’s so easy to put together. I appreciate the level of detailed you’ve put into explaining choosing the right cut of meat for this recipe. Love your blog – it’s the FIRST place I go for meal planning ideas!!
Great, easy recipe! I used shallots instead of onions, crimini mushrooms and a dash of worcestshire sauce. Excellent!
Hello Nagi! Thanks for sharing this recipe! I just tried this tonight and everything was going perfectly well especially the aroma when my daughter and I dumped greek yogurt for the same amount as the sour cream and it smelled and tasted sour from that point onwards. How should we have corrected the recipe?
By far the best beef Stroganoff recipe I have made. Rest of the family said the same. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome Frank!!
I’m so glad I chose this recipe! When I cook beefy, sauce meals, they always seem blah to me. I’m always searching for a special ingredient to put something over the top. The Dijon really made this dish special. I wrote this recipe in my book for a forever keeper!
Woah that’s awesome Jennifer, I’m so happy you loved it!
So…how do you recommend reheating? As you said, I don’t want to over cook the beef, but I do love some leftovers!!!
Hi Stephanie, I usually just reheat in the microwave – N x
WOW. My new go-to recipe for Beef Stroganoff, for sure. Made this tonight and used leftover pot roast gravy (from a slow cooker recipe I like) in place of the beef broth. I will definitely be doing THAT again. Delicious! Also, I was a little short on sour cream but made up the difference with Greek yogurt, which worked (3:1 cream to yogurt ratio). The ribeye though is really what made the difference. Spot on! Thanks!
I’m going to try this with slow braised beef chuck (as I’ve had the beef strips version many times), like a Bolognese Ragu I recent did, and add the sour cream at the end once the beef is pulled apart. Tossed with fettuccine. Can’t wait!
This is great! The recipe I’ve been looking for! Very simple ingredients, easy to make, and fantastic to eat!
Thanks so much for the awesome feedback!
Spot on, delicious! Great recipe. We added rib eye strips charcoal grilled to medium rare, topped it with rosemary in addition to the chives and plated it with drizzled chile habanero. Thank you!!
Sounds divine Araya!
I have tried many Stroganoff recipes and they are never that great- until yours!! Thank you for sharing this. The leftovers were delicious as well!
Wahoo! That’s awesome Tami ❤️
As with all of your recipes, this Beef Stroganoff recipe is delicious. I only had rump steak, so I cooked whole pieces, rested them, sliced them and added just before serving. I also used about 100mls of dry white wine to deglaze the pan, before adding the stock and sour cream. Everyone asked for this dish to be placed on rotation, so you know it was good, and so easy to make. Thanks Nagi
Beef Stroganoff – suggest cutting down the beef stock AND the sour cream (can’t believe I just said that…). Added more mushrooms. Beef was tender. So good! Served with homemade egg noodles.
Hi Tara, you could definitely cut down the liquids if you prefer, but for me, stroganoff needs to be extra saucy! ☺️ I’m so glad you enjoyed it – N x
This recipe just bumped my mum’s traditional one out of the book! Flavoursome sauce, tender meat and not complicated to cook – gobbled up by all the family. Thanks Nagi!
No worries Nadia, glad you love it!! –Nx
This was so good! Loved your recipe, so easy to follow. I will definitely make again!
Question: if I’m looking at the nutritional info, what’s the serving size?
This is the best beef stroganoff recipe I have ever made and ever had! I love your method of just searing the meat, works perfect. This will be the only beef stroganoff recipe I will ever use!
Woo! So glad you love it Lisa 🙌 — Nxx
This beef stroganoff was excellent. I have made it when you cook it for a while. I like this version so much better. Yummmm thanks
Do you have a slow cooker version of this? Thanks
It’s on the cards Winnie! Been meaning to do a slow cooker version for ages. Keep an eye out 🙂