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Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Make this traditional Beef Stroganoff in the Slow Cooker with the best combination of ingredients that add so much flavor. My version is extra creamy with lots of ways to thicken it up, including my homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup!

This is a great recipe to serve over mashed potatoes with buttermilk biscuits!

A dutch oven filled with hearty Beef Stroganoff made in the Slow Cooker.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

I don’t think it gets more hearty and delicious than Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff, (unless you try my Slow Cooker Beef Stew or Creamy Chicken Stroganoff😉).

I am all about grabbing a nice Chuck roast when I’m at the store because it’s an economic piece of meat, especially if it’s on sale. The only trade off is that you need to give it plenty of time to render and cook slowly until it’s melt-in-your-mouth tender.

This recipe makes a lot of sauce so that each and every egg noodle is completely smothered. And I’m not shy when it comes time to thicken it up at the end.

PS- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 86!

What is Stroganoff Sauce Made of

Traditional beef stroganoff sauce is made with beef broth that takes on the taste of gravy after simmering with beef. It’s made creamy with “smetana” (soured heavy cream, i.e sour cream).

Other flavor enhancers include Worcestershire sauce, which adds umami and enhances the other flavors in the dish.

Dijon mustard not only adds even more depth of flavor but the acidity helps to break down and tenderize the meat, as does the red wine vinegar.

Mushrooms are also a common addition, along with garlic and onions. This recipe uses white wine which adds flavor and is used to deglaze the pan after searing the meat. Chicken broth may also be used instead.

Best Cuts of Beef for Stroganoff

  • Chuck roasts (the best option)
  • Rump roasts
  • Bottom rounds

The above cuts of meat need to be cooked low and slow in order to break down and become tender.

A raw chuck roast on a cutting board.

Searing the Meat

Searing the beef adds a nice color, flavor, and texture for the stew. 

Deglazing the pan with white wine (or chicken broth) adds a gourmet touch, and it allows you to soften the onions/garlic in the same pan. Overall, this creates a very flavorful base for the soup.

Sear just long enough to give the exterior a crisp texture, don’t cook it all the way through. 45 seconds per side is all it takes.

PRO TIP: Resist the urge to press down on the meat while it sears. Handle the beef least amount possible for extra juicy, tender results. Otherwise you’ll cause juices to run right out of it which will make it tough.

Seared cubes of stew meat for making beef stroganoff.

Shortcut Method

If you don’t have time to sear the meat, you can toss it in the flour mixture and place it right in the Slow Cooker along with the uncooked onions and garlic. If you choose this method, omit the white wine or let the wine cook down in a pan with butter, onions, mushrooms, and garlic before adding it to the slow cooker.

How to Make It

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Cut the beef into one-inch cubes. Sprinkle with garlic salt, pepper, and flour. Toss to coat.

Heat 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the meat in batches for 45 seconds per side. Use kitchen tongs to carefully remove and set aside on a plate.

A skillet with floured cubes of beef before and after searing.

Add 1 Tablespoon butter and white wine to the pot over medium heat. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” (deglaze) the bottom of the pan.

Add the onions and mushrooms and cook for 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat.

Deglazing a pan with white wine and cooking onions and mushrooms in it.

Add the beef broth, bouillon, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard to the Slow Cooker and stir to combine. Add the beef as well as any juice that may have dripped onto the plate. Add the onions/mushrooms/garlic.

Cook on high for 4-5 or on low for 8-9 hours.

A Slow Cooker with beef and mushrooms before and after cooking for making beef stroganoff.

Combine cornstarch/cold water mixture and whisk it into the Slow Cooker. Flip to warm.

In a medium bowl, whisk sour cream with 1 cup liquid from the slow cooker until smooth. Add to Slow Cooker and stir carefully to combine. Stir in the condensed cream of mushroom soup if desired.

Turn heat off and swirl in 2 Tablespoons of cold butter. This adds a smooth, velvety finish. Serve over egg noodles.

Creamy Beef Stroganoff sauce in a Slow Cooker next to a pot with egg noodles and sauce.

How to Thicken Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff tends to have a consistency similar to that of a stew. I use 3 methods to thicken the sauce:

  1. Sour Cream: Not only is this a classic addition to this recipe and is what makes the sauce creamy, but it also helps to thicken it.
  2. Slurry: This is a combination of cornstarch + water and also helps to thicken sauces, stews, and soups.
  3. Cream of Mushroom Soup: This is totally optional, but I love adding my homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup to this recipe. It thickens it up even more and adds the best flavor.

Storage

  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • I recommend that you freeze the sauce on its own and boil fresh noodles when you’re ready to serve it again!

Tools For This Recipe

(Amazon affiliate links)– Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.

  • Slow Cooker– This device has a browning/sauté function so that you can sear the meat right in the pot before slow cooking.
  • Stainless Steel Skillet: For searing the meat.
  • Kitchen tongs make it really easy to delicately handle the meat to place it into the pot for searing it and to remove it afterward.
  • Kitchen Scale– Perfect for weighing the meat if needed.
  • Measuring Spoons– To measure out the seasonings.
  • Pinch Bowls– I measure out my seasonings ahead of time and add them to these small bowls so they’re ready to go when it’s time to add them.
  • Silicone Spatula– I use these every time I cook.

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A white plate with egg noodles covered in a creamy Beef Stroganoff sauce. with mushrooms.

Tried This Recipe?

Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A pot filled with cream Beef Stroganoff with egg noodles.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

5 from 36 ratings
Make this traditional Beef Stroganoff in the Slow Cooker with simple ingredients that add so much flavor. The sauce is extra creamy with lots of ways to thicken it up at the end!

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ pounds stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 3-6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 Tablespoons cold butter, separated
  • ½ cup white wine, see notes
  • 16 oz. button Mushrooms
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 tsp better than bouillon, or 1 beef bouillon cube
  • 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

To thicken:

  • ¼ cup cornstarch + ¼ cup cold water
  • 1 ½ cups Sour Cream, not reduced fat
  • 10.5 oz. cream of mushroom soup, optional

For Serving:

  • 1 pound wide homestyle Egg Noodles

Instructions

  • Cut the beef into one-inch cubes and pat completely dry. Discard any large pieces of fat. Fat that’s marbleized into the meat is fine!
  • Season with garlic salt and pepper. Sprinkle with flour and toss to coat.
  • Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the meat in batches for 45 seconds per side, until browned but not cooked through. Use kitchen tongs to carefully remove and set aside on a plate. Add more olive oil between batches as needed and decrease heat slightly if the pan gets too hot.
  • Add 1 Tablespoon butter and white wine to the pot over medium heat. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” (deglaze) the bottom of the pan. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook for 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat.
  • Add the beef broth, bouillon, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard to the Slow Cooker and stir to combine. Add the beef as well as any juice that may have dripped onto the plate. Add the onions/mushrooms/garlic.
  • Cook on high for 4-5 or on low for 8-9 hours.
  • Combine the cornstarch/cold water mixture and whisk it into the Slow Cooker.
  • Flip to warm.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk sour cream with 1 cup liquid from the slow cooker until smooth. Add to Slow Cooker and stir carefully to combine.
  • Stir in the condensed cream of mushroom soup if desired. (My homemade version adds even more thickness and flavor.)
  • Finally, turn heat off and swirl in 2 Tablespoons of cold butter. This adds a smooth, velvety finish.
  • Serve over egg noodles. If desired, add cooked/drained egg noodles right to the Slow Cooker, stir to combine, and serve!

Notes

  • Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc are great wine choices in this recipe. Chicken broth can be used if you don't cook with wine.
  • This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 86!

Best Cuts of Beef for Stroganoff
  • Chuck roasts (the best option)
  • Rump roasts
  • Bottom rounds

Storage
  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • I recommend that you freeze the sauce on its own and boil fresh noodles when you're ready to serve it again! (You can also serve this over mashed potatoes!)

For an easy weekday version of this recipe, be sure to try my Ground Beef Stroganoff!

Nutrition

Calories: 500kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 40g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 140mg, Sodium: 1304mg, Potassium: 934mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 412IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 107mg, Iron: 5mg
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130 comments on “Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff”

  1. Should I add the liquid from mushrooms and garlic to crock pot or just the food items?

  2. Hi Stephanie,
    I have been making your recipes every week for the last month! Thank you for so many great ones. I’m in the mood for beef stroganoff tonight but since the hurricane I have packed up my slow cooker. If I have a Dutch oven and beef tenderloin, could I still make this? And do you suggest stove top or in the oven. Thank you!

  3. Hi there I would like to thank you for helping me today it was amazing just amazing I will be doing more of your recipe for sure thank you again 

  4. Good morning I have a question to ask can I use my Dutch oven instead of my crockpot 

    • You can mimic this process in a Dutch oven on the stovetop, yes!

      • Thank you so much for getting back to me right now I have it in the oven with the lid on at 225 do you think it will be done by 7 tonight or would the stove top be a little quicker thank you so very much 

      • Hi Kathryn, I think that should be fine, you may want to consider increasing the oven temp to 350 during the last hour. It’s hard to say as I haven’t tested it but I agree with your 225 temp for now, and just think that increase during the last hour might be perfect.

  5. Have you ever done Greek yogurt instead of sour cream in this recipe?

  6. Hi Stephanie!
    I’m planning on making this recipe while we are camping. To make things a little easier, I was thinking of doing the first 4 steps at home. Searing the meat, cooking the mushrooms, onions, garlic, then throwing all of that together in a baggie and freezing it until we are ready to cook it. Then continue on from steps 5 on. Do you think this will still turn out good if I did this?

    • Hi Courtney! I think that would work, I’m not 100% sure about the mushrooms as those don’t freeze and reheat quite as well. You can give it a try, or you can save those to sauté separately when you make this and add them to the finished dish at the end!

  7. I love beef stroganoff, but my husband hates mushrooms. Are there any alternatives that would be good in this?

  8. Highly recommend this recipe. This was truly amazing, easy and delicious! Even my 4 verry picky eaters went for 2nds. This is gonna be on rotation on our family table. Thank you for sharing this recipe. The beef was so tender, but juicy, really restaurant quality dinner at home. Greetings from the Netherlands.

  9. By far the best beef stroganoff recipe I have found.

  10. Hey Stephanie, I was just wondering, if I half this recipe will it turn out the same?

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