Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Hearty and comforting Beef Stroganoff becomes fall-apart tender with a few hours in the slow cooker. Perfect for a busy day when you don't have time to cook dinner. Serve it over egg noodles!

By
Marta Rivera
Marta Rivera
Marta Rivera
Marta has 25 years of experience in the food service industry and has been developing recipes for 3 years. She is the author of Taste & See Cooks: Recipes to Inspire, Equip and Enjoy.
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Updated March 16, 2022
Marta Rivera
Easy Beef Stroganoff made in a Slow Cooker and served in a bowl
Marta Rivera

Beef Stroganoff is a very adult-sounding dish, isn’t it? To think, when I was a teenager, I was desperate to become an adult so that I could get out there to conquer the world! Now, I’m grateful to be able to sneak in a nap on the weekend—adulthood brings so many responsibilities.

Thankfully, I have a slow cooker at my disposal, which helps me make the most out of busy days. Because once those ingredients are in the pot, it’s hands-off cooking for hours at a clip.

A Slow Cooker Meal for Busy Weeks

I dream about this Beef Stroganoff while I’m away from home. I simply prep the ingredients and get them into the slow cooker prior to making my mad dash out of the house. When I walk in the front door hours later, I’m greeted with its hearty, welcoming aroma.

Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
Marta Rivera

The Best Meat for Slow Cooker Stroganoff

One of the things that I love about this particular recipe is its use of bottom round roast —an especially meaty cut of beef. You can also use chuck or chuck roast, but you definitely want something that has the connective tissue typical in these types of cuts. The connective tissue is key to tender bites of meat— it breaks down over the course of the long, steady cooking in the slow cooker and helps the meat become fall-apart tender.

TIP! Don't skip the step of searing the meat prior to cooking. This browns the meat and adds a rich, caramelized flavor to the finished dish.

Storing and Freezing Stroganoff

The sauce portion of this recipe (without noodles) keeps well for up to a week in the fridge, or a month or so in the freezer. Prepared noodles can be stored separately for up to a week and stirred into the stroganoff before reheating.

More Slow Cooker Meals to Try

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Prep Time 20 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

For the Stroganoff:

  • 1 1/2 pounds bottom round roast or chuck roast, cut into 2-inch chunks

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 1 medium white onion, diced

  • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced

  • 3 cups beef broth

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 bay leaf

To finish:

  • 12 ounces egg noodles

  • 1 1/2 cups sour cream

  • 1 cup beef broth (optional, if needed)

  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped

  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Method

  1. Season the meat:

    In a medium-sized bowl, season the beef with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Allow the meat sit for a few minutes to absorb the spices while you prep the rest of your ingredients.

    Tossing the meat for Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
    Marta Rivera
  2. Sear the meat:

    In a Dutch oven, or a pot with a heavy bottom, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. While your oil is heating, add the all-purpose flour to the bowl with the seasoned meat. Toss the beef in the flour to coat it completely.

    Once your oil is hot and you can see ripples on its surface, add half of the beef to pot. Keep the pot over medium-high heat in order to sear properly—you may want to open a window or turn on your stove vent because this can get smoky!

    Sear the beef for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the beef releases easily from the pan and the bottoms look brown and crusty. Give the beef a toss with a wooden spoon and sear for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. You don’t need the meat to be cooked; you just need some good searing on the surface.

    Transfer this batch of beef to a 6-quart slow cooker. Repeat the searing process with the remaining meat.

    Toss the meat for crockpot beef stroganoff with flour
    Marta Rivera
    make sure all the meat for slow cooker beef stroganoff is coated with flour
    Marta Rivera
    sear the meat for crockpot beef stroganoff
    Marta Rivera
  3. Cook the onion and garlic:

    Once all of your meat has been seared and transferred to the slow cooker, add the onion and garlic to the hot pan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the onions are glossy and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.

    cook the onions for slow cooker beef stroganoff in a dutch oven
    Marta Rivera
  4. Deglaze the pan:

    Add 3 cups of the beef stock to the hot pot and use a stiff wooden spoon or spatula to scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil.

    Carefully pour the mixture into the slow cooker to cover the beef chunks.

    Deglaze the pot for slow cook beef stroganoff with beef broth
    Marta Rivera
  5. Cook the stroganoff:

    Add the bay leaf and mushrooms to the slow cooker. Give everything a stir, cover, and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

    Add a bay leaf to the crockpot for slow cooker beef stroganoff
    Marta Rivera
    Stir in the mushrooms for slow cooker beef stroganoff
    Marta Rivera
  6. Cook the noodles:

    About 15 minutes before you're ready to eat, cook the egg noodles in a pot of boiling water. Drain and toss with a little melted butter or olive oil to keep them from sticking. Cover to keep warm until ready to serve.

    Alternatively, you can cook the dry noodles directly in the slow cooker—stir them in about 15 minutes before you're ready to serve and let them cook along with the sauce. (Just note that the noodles can quickly overcook and become mushy, so plan on serving the stroganoff as soon as the noodles are ready.)

  7. Finish the stroganoff:

    In a small mixing bowl, gradually add about a cup of the cooking liquid to the sour cream, stirring constantly to temper the cream and keep it from curdling. Add this mixture to the slow cooker.

    If the stroganoff seems too thick for your liking at this point, add up to another cup of broth. If it seems to thin, let it simmer with the lid off until thickened.

  8. Garnish with herbs:

    Prior to serving, remove the bay leaf and stir in the chopped dill and parsley. Serve over noodles along with crusty bread and a green salad.

    Stir the noodles into the finished crockpot beef stroganoff
    Marta Rivera
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
412 Calories
26g Fat
19g Carbs
27g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 412
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g 33%
Saturated Fat 10g 52%
Cholesterol 108mg 36%
Sodium 1130mg 49%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 27g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 88mg 7%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 583mg 12%
*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. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.