Slow cooker beef stroganoff

Enjoy an all-time Aussie favourite of tender beef and mushrooms in a creamy paprika and tomato sauce, made easy in your slow cooker.

Slow cooker beef stroganoff. 

Heat a large frying pan over high heat add oil then cook the beef in batches for about five minutes stirring to brown it evenly. Transfer each batch to the slow cooker as you go. Heat more oil in the pan and add onion and mushrooms, cook for five minutes stirring occasionally until the onion softens stirring garlic, ground paprika, smoked paprika and mustard. Cook for another minute then add it to the slow cooker. Pour in the tomato and stock and give it a stir pop on the lid and cook for four hours on high or six hours on low.

To finish the stroganoff add sour cream and worcestershire sauce mix, cornflour and a little water then add it to the slow cooker, stir then cook for another five minutes to thicken the sauce. Season with salt and pepper.

If you don't have a slow cooker cook in a flameproof casserole pan over low heat for about two hours. Here's the perfect side for your beef stroganoff cook the fettuccine in a large saucepan of boiling water until al dente, drain well melt butter in the pan over high heat letting it brown slightly. Add the fettuccine parsley and dill and season with pepper. Toss to combine.

This classic family favorite is so easy to make in the slow cooker. 

Slow-cooker Beef Stroganoff in dish sprinkled with parsley. On a wooden board with white cloth.
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Serves

4

Prep

15m

Cooking

4h 30m

Ingredients

  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 600g Coles Australian No Added Hormones Beef Chuck Casserole Steaks, cut into 3cm pieces
  • 1 brown onion, thickly sliced
  • 400g brown mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 3 tsp ground paprika
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbs Dijon mustard
  • 400g can diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup (250ml) beef stock
  • 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream
  • 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbs cornflour
  • 375g fettucine
  • 40g butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tbs coarsely chopped dill

Method

STEP 1

Heat half the oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Cook the beef, in 3 batches, turning occasionally, for 5 mins or until brown all over. Transfer to a slow cooker.

STEP 2

Heat the remaining oil in the pan. Add onion and mushroom. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 mins or until onion softens slightly. Add the garlic, combined paprika and mustard. Cook for 1 min or until aromatic.

STEP 3

Spoon the onion mixture over the beef in the slow cooker. Pour over the tomato and stock. Cook, covered, for 4 hours on high (or 6 hours on low) or until beef is very tender. Add the sour cream and Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine. Combine the cornflour with 1 tbs cold water in a small bowl. Add to the beef mixture and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 mins or until the sauce thickens. Season.

STEP 4

Meanwhile, cook the fettuccine in a large saucepan of boiling water following packet directions or until al dente. Drain well. Return the pan to high heat. Add the butter and cook, stirring, for 2-3 mins or until nutty brown. Return the pasta to the pan with the parsley and dill and toss to combine. Season with pepper. Divide fettuccine mixture among serving bowls. Serve with the beef stroganoff.

Dietary Information

Kid-friendly
Nut-free
Peanut-free

Beef stroganoff recipe

When it comes to comforting dinners, you can’t go wrong with beef stroganoff – it’s a favourite on Aussie family tables all year round. What is beef stroganoff? Well, as the name suggests, stroganoff originated in Eastern Europe and it became famous worldwide in the 1950s and 60s. Usually made with beef, mushrooms and onion in a sour cream sauce, stroganoff is now bigger than ever and no wonder – it’s simple to prepare, has retro appeal and it’s packed full of flavour.

The traditional beef stroganoff recipe can be made a few different ways depending on the type of beef, the cooking method and how you want to serve it. This slow cooker beef stroganoff recipe is a great choice because the long slow cooking time lets you use tougher budget cuts of beef and maximises the flavour in the finished dish. This is the best beef stroganoff recipe if you want fall-apart tender meat and a rich-tasting sauce. You only need about 15 minutes prep time, then you can set and forget until just before serving.

Ingredients you will need for beef stroganoff

Some stroganoff recipes use quick-cooking beef strips or steaks, which can make for a quick and easy dish. For slow cooker beef stroganoff, though, you need to choose the right cut of beef for slow cooking. This recipe uses beef chuck or casserole steak, a cut from the shoulder area that’s ideal for stews, soups and curries – when cooked slowly, it becomes very tender with a big meaty flavour. If you prefer you can swap the chuck for gravy beef, also known as shin, which has a similar flavour and texture. You’ll need to cut the beef into large 3cm pieces so it can brown and cook evenly.

Of course, beef stroganoff isn’t all about the beef – it’s the stroganoff sauce that really makes the dish special. Having the right combination of ingredients is the secret to making a delicious sauce. The classic veggies to put in a beef stroganoff are brown onion and mushrooms –brown cup mushrooms are stronger in flavour than white cup mushrooms, but white are fine to substitute if you need to. It’s important to cut the vegetables into even sized pieces so they cook evenly, so cut the onion and the mushrooms into thick slices before you start. To make the sauce even more aromatic, add a couple of crushed garlic cloves along with a tablespoonful each of paprika – we’ve used a combination of regular ground paprika and smoked paprika to give the sauce extra smoky flavour – and Dijon mustard.

When making beef stroganoff in the slow cooker, it’s also important to use the right amount of liquid. The slow cooker should be kept covered with a lid and the liquid doesn’t evaporate much during cooking, so if you add too much liquid the finished dish will be watery. For this recipe you’ll only need 1 cup (250ml) beef stock and 1 can of diced tomatoes to create enough liquid for cooking the beef. Once the beef is cooked to perfection, finish the stroganoff sauce by stirring in 1/2 cup (120g) sour cream and 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce, then thicken it up with 1 tbs cornflour mixed with a little water. It’s best not to add dairy products to the slow cooker until near the end of cooking because they can easily curdle if overheated.

Equipment you will need for beef stroganoff

The main cooking equipment you’ll need for this slow cooker beef stroganoff recipe is, surprise, a slow cooker. This is much more convenient that cooking the same dish on the stovetop because you don’t need to stir it often to stop the ingredients from catching on the base. The gentle heat also means a slow cooker won’t overheat your kitchen, so it’s handy for cooking at any time of year. Try not to lift the lid too often to check on the food while it cooks – this allows heat and moisture to escape and can mean the stroganoff will take longer to cook perfectly. You can use either the low or high setting for this recipe – high will take about 4 hours and low about 6 hours.

Some slow cookers have a built-in browning function or a flameproof removable bowl you can use on the stovetop, but if yours doesn’t you’ll also need a frying pan for this recipe. Don’t skip this step – browning the meat in a frying pan over medium-high heat before transferring to your slow cooker gives a richer colour and flavour to the finished dish. Have a saucepan handy for cooking the side dish for your stroganoff too.

What to serve with beef stroganoff

We think the best side for stroganoff is a pile of buttery pasta or noodles – a wide ribbon pasta such as fettuccine or pappardelle is an ideal match. After draining the pasta, melt butter in the same pan over high heat, letting it brown slightly. Then toss the fettuccine in the browned butter with chopped fresh herbs and freshly ground pepper. Beef stroganoff is also delicious served with simple steamed rice or buttery mashed potatoes – delicious!

Now get cooking

Once you’ve tried our slow cooker beef stroganoff, you’ll want to make it again and again. Just follow our simple tips above for great results every time you make it. Want a change from beef? Give our slow cooker chicken stroganoff a go. If you’re short on time, you can still enjoy that classic stroganoff flavour in a quick and easy weeknight dish. Try our tasty pork stroganoff steaks and chicken meatball stroganoff. For something even easier, give our fun recipe for mini beef stroganoff cobbs a go and find more 5-ingredient dinners in our What’s for dinner? Plus, check out our slow cooker recipes collection for more easy ideas using beef, chicken, pork and veggies, as well as healthy slow cooking inspiration.

Nutrition Information

Per Serve

Energy: 3430kJ/821 Cals (39%)

Protein: 50g (100%) 

Fat: 34g (49%) 

Sat fat: 16g (67%)

Carb: 74g (24%) 

Sugar: 7g (8%)

Fibre: 8g (27%) 

Sodium: 692mg (35%)

 

FAQs

  • How to store beef stroganoff?
    Any leftover beef stroganoff can be cooled and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat before serving.

  • Can I freeze beef stroganoff?
    Freeze the cooled beef stroganoff in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat as above.

  • What else can I do to prep my beef stroganoff ahead?
    You can slice the onion and mushrooms the night before, ready to add to the slow cooker. Make sure you store them in an airtight container in the fridge, not in the bowl of the slow cooker. If the bowl is cold when you start it will take longer to heat, increasing the cooking time.

  • Can I make it without a slow cooker?
    If you don’t have a slow cooker, cook the beef stroganoff in a flameproof casserole pan over low heat for about 2 hours.

  • What if the mixture isn’t thick enough at the end of cooking?
    The cornflour should thicken the sauce nicely, but if you’d like it to be thicker, try removing the meat from the sauce and putting the sauce back on the heat to reduce. You can do this by simmering on the stovetop or setting the slow cooker to high with the lid off. Avoid boiling the mixture after adding the sour cream as this can cause the sauce to curdle.

Check ingredient labels to make sure they meet your specific dietary requirements and always consult a health professional before changing your diet. View dietary information here.