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The Recipe · No.296 · Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff, and where to source it

Beef Stroganoff — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Beef Stroganoff Russian 5best2buy.com

Stroganoff wants a tender cut cooked fast and hot, so slice the beef thin and sear in batches rather than steaming a crowded pan. The sour cream goes in off the heat at the very end, or it breaks into grainy curds.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep20 min
Cook20 min
Makes4 servings
CuisineRussian
Cost$$$
Contains  dairy · eggs · gluten
Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free pasta or noodle (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 4 servings
Beef tenderloin or sirloin
A quick-cooking tender cut sliced thin against the grain stays soft.
1.25 lb
Mushrooms
Cremini browned hard give the sauce its savory depth; do not crowd them.
12 oz
Sour cream
Full-fat and stirred in off the heat so it stays smooth instead of curdling.
1 cup
Egg noodles
Wide egg noodles are the traditional bed; boil them just short of soft.
12 oz
Butter
For searing the beef and building the sauce base.
3 tbsp
Onion
Sliced and softened as the sauce base.
1
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●● Squeaky clean
About as virtuous as dinner gets.
EffortEasy
Cook it with
Instant PotSlow cookerOne-pot
The Method
  1. Sear beefSear the sliced beef in a hot pan in batches, 60 seconds a side, then set aside.
  2. Brown mushroomsCook mushrooms and onion in butter until deeply browned and any liquid has cooked off.
  3. Build sauceDeglaze with broth, simmer to a light body, then lower the heat to a bare simmer.
  4. Finish off heatStir in sour cream off the heat and return the beef; do not boil, or it will curdle.
The Toolkit

Wide skillet · Chef knife · Pasta pot · Wooden spoon · Colander

Straight Answers
Can you make Beef Stroganoff in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert

Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.

Can you freeze Beef Stroganoff? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Beef Stroganoff ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Beef Stroganoff gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free pasta or noodle (check the other labels too).

Is Beef Stroganoff vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

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