Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff (2024)

We’re kicking it old school with Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff from scratch. This crock pot beef stroganoff is made without canned soup, offers creamy, cozy flavor, AND is made easier in the crock pot!

I grew up eating my Grandmother’s classic beef stroganoff recipe, so this homey dish has a special place in my heart.

If you’ve never had Beef Stroganoff, it’s a rich, creamy beef and mushroom sauce served over noodles.

It’s the sort of no-frills family recipe that warms and reassures in that special way that I remember only grandma could—simply, unconditionally, and where food is involved, deliciously.

How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff from Scratch

This crockpot beef stroganoff recipe is based on my Grandma’s traditional beef stroganoff, but cooked in the crockpot to make it convenient and hands-free.

You’ll need a few key ingredients to make crockpot beef stroganoff.

Beef. As when you make Crockpot Beef Stew, the best, most tender cuts of beef for slow cooker stroganoff have marbling and can withstand long cook times, such as sirloin or chuck roast. Choose something you can cut into strips with some connective tissues that will break down and keep the beef tender.

• I opted for sirloin. Sirloin can still stand up to the long cooking time in the crock pot (and crock pot beef stroganoff = easy beef stroganoff) but is relatively lean compared to other cuts. When the stroganoff is finished, the beef is fall-apart tender, without being heavy or greasy.
• You can also use beef stew meat, though it is less preferable; since stew meat is a mix of different cuts, all of the pieces might not cook evenly.
• For a ground meat option or to use chicken, check out Ground Beef Stroganoff, or Chicken Stroganoff.

The Creamy Element. Sour cream (or Greek yogurt!)

• Instead of making the crockpot beef stroganoff with sour cream, I used plain Greek yogurt. It gives the stroganoff sauce the same richness I remember from my childhood, but Greek yogurt is higher in protein and lower in fat than sour cream.
• The remainder of the stroganoff sauce uses beef broth.

Herbs. Let’s be real: beef stroganoff is not a looker. That said, you can certainly add a pop of color and an extra layer of deliciousness by finishing it with fresh herbs.

• Thyme is my favorite herb to add to beef stroganoff and what you see pictured here.
• Parsley is another tasty choice.
• Dill, while not traditional, is another herb I really enjoy with beef stroganoff. While I don’t always have fresh dill on hand, I do have dried dill weed in my pantry, which is super yummy added to the beef stroganoff sauce. This is a matter of taste, so feel free to leave it out if you prefer.

Serving. Noodles, rice (or cauliflower rice), and even Garlic Mashed Potatoes are all options for serving your slow cooker stroganoff.

• You really can serve this crock pot beef stroganoff with any shape of noodles you like, but egg noodles are classic.
• Use whole wheat egg noodles instead of regular, as they offer more fiber and protein.

Grandma knows best, and here’s the most important tip about beef stroganoff my Grandma Dorothy shared every single time we ate it:

Go back for seconds. ALWAYS.

• 5-quart or larger slow cooker (I have this programmable one, which switches to “keep warm” once the time is up).
• Small whisk (perfect for thickening the sauce).