Beef Stroganoff for Two

By
Janet A. Zimmerman
Janet A. Zimmerman
An award-winning food writer, cooking instructor, and author of five cookbooks. She focuses on dinners for two and date night cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/1/22
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Beef stroganoff with mushrooms served over noodles on a plate

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
816 Calories
40g Fat
58g Carbs
44g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 816
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 40g 52%
Saturated Fat 18g 91%
Cholesterol 199mg 66%
Sodium 475mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 58g 21%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 44g
Vitamin C 7mg 33%
Calcium 88mg 7%
Iron 7mg 40%
Potassium 1150mg 24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Beef stroganoff's origins may be Russian, but it's turned into a classic American comfort food dish over the years. It's also the perfect recipe when you have a few ounces of leftover cooked steak. It's a relatively easy recipe to make, even if you don't have cooked beef in the fridge; you can simply start from scratch with raw sirloin tips, for example.

The recipe begins with cooking the mushrooms in butter and water, letting the mixture boil until the water evaporates, resulting in tender, flavorful mushrooms that brown beautifully. Once the sauce is made, it's time to add the cooked steak. Incorporating the steak at the end will help to keep the meat tender and prevent it from overcooking and getting tough.

This dish is traditionally served over egg noodles. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley for a nice finishing touch.

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"The stroganoff had excellent flavor and was an easy preparation. The portions for two were sufficient, even somewhat generous. I served it with wide noodles and a cucumber salad. It was an enjoyable meal, and I am sure I'll make it again." —Diana Rattray

Beef Stroganoff Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 6 to 8 ounces cooked steak or raw sirloin tips, trimmed and sliced 1/8 inch thick

  • 8 ounces cremini or white button mushrooms, cleaned and quartered

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced shallot or onion

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 cup cognac or brandy

  • 1 cup low-sodium beef stock or broth

  • 3 tablespoons sour cream

  • 2 cups cooked egg noodles, for serving

  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill or parsley, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for beef stroganoff recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Remove the leftover cooked steak from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature.

    Medium rare cooked steak slices stacked on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Pile the mushrooms into a small sauté pan; they should be crowded. Sprinkle with the kosher salt and add the butter.

    Mushrooms and butter filling a small sauté pan

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Add enough water to cover the contents (the mushrooms will float, but that's OK). Set the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. When the butter melts, stir to combine. Reduce the heat to a low boil and cook until the water evaporates completely. Continue to cook, stirring, until the mushrooms begin to brown.

    Mushrooms covered with water in the sauté pan

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Add the shallot to the pan with the mushrooms and cook, occasionally stirring, until the shallot softens and starts to brown, about 3 minutes.

    Shallot being stirred into the browned mushrooms with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. Sprinkle the shallot and mushrooms with the flour and cook, stirring, for a few minutes until the flour is browned.

    Flour being stirred into shallot and mushroom mixture with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  7. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cognac.

    Cognac added to the pan off the heat

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  8. Return to medium heat and scrape the bottom of the pan to dissolve the fond (the brown bits).

    Wooden spoon scraping the bottom of the pan with the mushroom mixture

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  9. When the cognac is mostly evaporated, add the stock and bring to a boil. Cook until thickened to the desired texture.

    Stock being stirred into the mushroom mixture on the burner

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  10. Reduce the heat to very low—the liquid should almost stop simmering before the next step. Stir in the sour cream, then the beef. Heat for a few minutes, just until the sour cream is mixed in and the beef is warm.

    Thick creamy sauce with mushrooms and beef being stirred with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  11. Serve over egg noodles.

    Beef stroganoff served over egg noodles on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  12. Just before serving, sprinkle with the dill or parsley, if using.

    Beef stroganoff for two using leftover steak and sprinkled with dill
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  13. Enjoy.

How to Make the Stroganoff With Raw Steak

If using raw beef, sprinkle the slices with salt and toss. Let rest for 15 minutes to help it come to room temperature. Heat a couple of tablespoons of butter in a small sauté pan until the foaming subsides. Sear the beef slices on both sides just until done. If necessary, work in batches so you don't crowd the pan. Remove the meat and set aside. Add enough water to the pan to dissolve the browned bits on the bottom of the pan (this is called deglazing), scraping to get as much dissolved as possible. Add the cleaned mushrooms to the pan and continue with the recipe, adding the meat back into the pan toward the end.

How to Store

  • Beef stroganoff will keep in the refrigerator for three to four days if stored in a tightly sealed container.
  • Reheat the stroganoff gently to avoid curdling the sour cream sauce.

Tips

  • When adding the flour, it's important to stir and cook for about 2 minutes to cook away any raw flour taste.
  • If using raw steak, it's easier to slice when partially frozen.


Recipe Variations

  • Replace the sour cream with Greek yogurt.
  • Add an extra pop of flavor with a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
  • Instead of steak, make the stroganoff with leftover pork roast.
  • If you don't have cognac or brandy, use white wine.
  • If you prefer not to cook with alcohol, add an extra 1/4 cup of beef stock.
  • Instead of noodles, serve the stroganoff with hot mashed potatoes or rice.