Homemade Hamburger Helper Stroganoff

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As easy as the boxed stuff but tastier. Homemade Hamburger Helper Stroganoff is a beefy quick supper with creamy sauce and tender noodles.

serving hamburger helper stroganoff with mushrooms.

Best Homemade Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff

My kids didn't know Hamburger Helper was a "thing" until they were well into their teen years. Imagine their friend's faces when my kids mentioned this during sleepovers.

They also hadn't eaten Ramen Noodles or frozen pizzas.

Before you call the police, know I have always fed a relatively large family and I've always enjoyed cooking. So buying boxed foods at the grocery store didn't usually happen.

I think I can make a homemade version that's better tasting than the boxed version and more nutritious with nothing added I don't want to feed my babies.

Why is Beef Stroganoff So Good?

This ground beef stroganoff is a family favorite that I encourage new (and experienced) cooks to try making. It's one of my favorite easy dinner recipes. It's inexpensive. Quick to make. Uses typical pantry ingredients.

It's a creamy, beefy, comforting recipe that yields a delicious finished dish the whole family will love, even the picky eaters.

Hamburger Helper Stroganoff Ingredients

A list of simple ingredients you likely already have on hand.

1 pound of Ground Beef--Use ground pork, ground chicken, or ground turkey if preferred
Garlic Cloves, minced--Use garlic powder, if needed.
Onion, chopped--Use onion powder, if needed.
Fresh Mushrooms, sliced--darker mushrooms have more nutrients
Beef Bouillon--I like Better Than Bouillon brand. Use beef broth in place of water and bouillon, if preferred.
Milk or heavy cream
Wide Egg Noodles--Rotini or other small pasta works fine
Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning--Or other seasoning salt
Black Pepper
Kosher Salt
Sour Cream
Fresh Parsley, optional--to garnish

ingredients for hamburger helper stroganoff.

Hamburger Helper Stroganoff Instructions

In a large Dutch oven, cook pasta over medium-high heat as directed on the package. Set a timer for 1 minute less than the lowest time recommendation on the package. When al dente, drain the pasta and return to the Dutch oven.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown lean ground beef with onions and garlic. Avoid stirring too much to allow the meat to brown. Pour beef into large pot with cooked noodles.
In the same skillet, place mushroom slices in a single layer and allow them to brown. Adding a little olive oil if needed. After both sides are browned, add the to the pot with cooked beef and cooked pasta. Leaving the cooking oils from mushrooms and beef in the skillet.
In the skillet with the cooking fats, add the flour and stir to make a paste. Add a little oil to make 2 Tablespoons, if needed. Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until smooth and slightly browned.
Add 1 cup hot water and milk to the skillet. Whisk vigorously to eliminate any lumps. Bring to a boil then pour over noodle mixture. Stir.
Add sour cream and seasonings. Adjust to taste and serve.

cooking the mushrooms for hamburger helper stroganoff.

adding water to the flour mixture to make hamburger helper stroganoff.

Top Tips

Brown your burger until it is just starting to crisp leaving brown bits on the bottom of your skillet. This is where the flavor comes from.

Use a high-quality beef bouillon paste for best flavor.

Storage

Allow the chili to cool before putting it in a shallow airtight container and storing up to 3-5 days.

Store in a freezer bag or container and store for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost slightly before reheating in the microwave, skillet, or oven. Be careful not to overcook the noodles.

Reheating

Not only is this casserole a quick dinner for busy weeknights. It also makes a great lunch for the next day and easily heats up in the microwave. Add a splash of milk or water if it's a bit dry.

Substitutions and Variations

Spicy Homemade Hamburger Helper Stroganoff--Add jalapenos, green chilis, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, and/or hot sauce to the basic recipe to spice yours up.

Gluten-Free Homemade Hamburger Helper Stroganoff--Substitute gluten-free pasta, if desired.

FAQ

What are some add-ins for Hamburger Helper Stroganoff?

Add some frozen veggies for extra nutrition or a splash of Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce for some interest.

Can I freeze Hamburger Helper?

You can... though frozen noodles tend to be mushy when defrosted and dairy products can be weird. Instead, freeze the meat base, then cook the noodles while reheating the frozen meat base. Add sour cream with the noodles as directed.

Substitute for Sour Cream in Stroganoff?

Try cream cheese or plain yogurt if you are out of sour cream or it's not something you eat. Equal amounts as called for in the recipe will yield a rich creamy stroganoff.

Something Else to Try

If you're looking for other super fast, one pot, or easy casseroles for your dinner table, consider trying--

Quick Korean Bulgogi--another great ground meat dish that comes together in minutes. Sure to be a family favorite.

Cheesy Kielbasa Hash Brown Casserole--Who doesn't love cheesy, potatoes with kielbasa? Give this one a try.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta--Another Hamburger Helper improved.

Easy Creamy Pesto Gnocchi--Use a packaged Gnocchi to make an easy convenient supper.

Did You Try This Recipe?

Lastly, if you made Homemade Hamburger Stroganoff following this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a 5-star rating!

I love hearing from you! I'll do my best to respond to each comment.

And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag @laughingroostereats on Instagram and hashtag it #laughingroostereats! Seeing your photos is our favorite thing!

Food Safety

Wash hands before cooking
Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
Wash hands after touching raw meat
Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
Never leave cooking food unattended
See more guidelines at USDA.gov