The Best Beef Stroganoff (2025)

Article by Alice K. Thompson

Deeply satisfying and easy to put together, beef stroganoff has been comfort classic for generations. Whether you’ve been making stroganoff for years, or this is your first time cooking it, our recipe developers’ step-by-step instructions and pro tips ensure you get the best results every time. They’ll guide you through the quickest and easiest method for searing the beef and mushrooms, how to layer flavors for an outstanding sauce and how to serve it for an unforgettable meal.

How to Make Beef Stroganoff Like a Pro

Building a flavorful sauce, keeping the beef tender and adding the perfect amount of creaminess is key to a perfect stroganoff. Here’s what our experts want you to know.

Choose tender beef. A steak-like cut, not stew beef, is what you want for this recipe. Our test kitchen likes well-marbled boneless ribeye for its excellent balance of flavor and tenderness.

Prep ingredients ahead. Most of the cooking in the recipe happens swiftly, so doing a mise en place (“everything in place”) before you spark up the stove is helpful.

Sear quickly. Make sure to let the oil heat for a minute or two, until it starts to shimmer, before adding the beef — it should sizzle loudly when it hits the pan. This delivers a deliciously caramelized exterior for flavor without compromising the meat’s juiciness.

The Best Beef to Use for Stroganoff

It may look and taste like a stew, but a classic stroganoff is cooked relatively quickly so a tender cut of beef will give you the best results. Our test kitchen finds boneless ribeye ideal for its combination of meaty flavor and good marbelization for tenderness. You could also use strip steak or flat-iron (top blade) for similar flavor and texture. Tenderloin (filet mignon) is also an excellent choice; it will cook up terrifically tender although its flavor will be slightly milder.

Tougher cuts like sirloin or chuck need long, slow cooking, so save those for slow-cooker stroganoff. Ground beef won’t give you the juicy steak pieces stroganoff is known for, but you can use it in a pinch; remember to brown it longer and pour off excess oil before adding the butter and onion, or follow this recipe for Hamburger Stroganoff Skillet.

What to Serve with Beef Stroganoff

Beyond buttered noodles, a few dishes match particularly well with this rich, flavorful dish.

• You can’t go wrong with a simple sautéed vegetable for a nice green counterpoint. Sautéed spinach is a quick and easy side with earthy flavor that matches well with stroganoff. Sautéed green beans or sautéed broccoli are also good choices and take just minutes.

• A simple green salad is a light counterpart, as is a refreshing spinach salad or cucumber salad.

• Mashed potatoes are a popular alternative to noodles for stroganoff, or you could make spaetzle or try rice or pilaf.

• Go for even more comfort with a batch of biscuits, Parker House rolls or pull-apart rolls for sopping up one of the tastiest gravies around.

We used a marbled, tender piece of ribeye as the star of this comfort food classic. Two kinds of mushrooms are cooked until crispy to add an extra element of flavor. The whole dish is brought together with a rich, tangy sauce made with sour cream and Dijon and served over egg noodles.