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3-Ingredient Beef Stroganoff

Sarah Pyle

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Not necessarily traditional, this 3-ingredient beef stroganoff is a quick and easy dinner that is super budget-friendly!  Ground beef, cream of mushroom soup and egg noodles come together for a creamy, delicious meal that’s ready in 15 minutes!

overhead view of 3-ingredient beef stroganoff in white bowl with title text

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I know we’re not supposed to give personal stories in recipe posts anymore, but this recipe is a dear one. I have vidid memories of requesting and eating this all the time as a kid. Easily customizable, it is a delicious, budget-friendly dinner that is ready in 15 minutes. Can’t beat that!

You can enjoy as is, or dress it up with milk, peas or a scoop of sour cream if your budget allows.

For more frugal meals, make sure to check out these Cheap Health Dinner Recipes or these Casserole Dinners Using Pantry Ingredients.

ingredients

Ground Beef: You’ll need one pound of ground beef. I prefer 80%/20% but use what you have or what you can afford. You can also swap for ground turkey or ground pork. To make this recipe without meat, you can substitute with two cups of cooked lentils.

Cream of Mushroom Soup: I know some are not fans of condensed soup. If you have the means to make sauce from scratch, go for it. This recipe is intentionally frugal while still tasting great. To the condensed cream of mushroom soup, you will also use an equal part of water (fill the can with water).

Egg Noodles: With grocery stores changing sizes of products lately, you can traditionally find egg noodles in 12-16 ounce packages. You’ll need one. You can also make this recipe with any shape pasta. Just cook according to the package instructions.

Spices (optional): This recipe can truly be made with the three ingredients above (and water), but if you have onion powder and garlic powder on hand, it is a really nice addition.

ingredients for beef stroganoff: ground beef, egg noodles, cream of mushroom soup, onion powder, garlic powder

equipment

  • Large pot for cooking pasta
  • Strainer or Colander
  • Large skillet or pan
  • Wooden spoon

how to make 3-ingredient beef stroganoff

  1. Bring a medium to large pot of water to a boil and cook the egg noodles according to the package instructions.
  2. Next, while the pasta is cooking, heat a large pan over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef, breaking up pieces with a meat chopper or wooden spoon.
  3. Once the beef is browned, stir in the cream of mushroom soup, water, onion powder, and garlic powder.
  4. Finally, when the noodles are cooked, drain them and add the noodles to the pan. Stir to combine everything and allow to sit for one minute.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

variations

  • Add a bag of peas to the mix for a complete meal
  • Feel free to use ground turkey, ground pork or cooked lentils in place of the ground beef
  • Additionally, saute mushrooms while browning the meat to really beef up the mushroom flavor
  • To get closer to authentic beef stroganoff flavor, you can even had a bit of dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce to the sauce
  • Top with chopped parsley and a dollop of sour cream
close-up of beef stroganoff garnished with chopped parsley in skillet with wooden spoon

More 20 minute dinner recipes

For more quick and easy pasta dishes, try this Rigatoni Pomodoro or this vegetarian Broccoli Pasta!

Budget Friendly Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

3-Ingredient Beef Stroganoff

beef stroganoff (ground beef, cream of mushroom soup and egg noodles) in white bowl

Quick and easy, this 3-Ingredient Beef Stroganoff is perfect for busy weeknights and budget-friendly too! Your family will love this simple and satisfying meal! 

Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 (12 to 16 ounce) bag dried egg noodles
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
  • 10.5 ounces water
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a medium to large pot of water to a boil and cook the egg noodles according to the package instructions.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large pan over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef, breaking up pieces with a meat chopper or wooden spoon.
  3. Once the beef is browned, stir in the cream of mushroom soup, water, onion powder, and garlic powder.
  4. When the noodles are cooked, drain them and add the noodles to the pan. Stir to combine everything and allow to sit for one minute.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

    Notes

    As written, this is an extremely budget-friendly recipe with pantry ingredients and can be made with as few as three ingredients.

    Variations: If your budget allows, use milk or your favorite milk substitute instead of water. You can easily bulk up this recipe even more by adding frozen peas when cooking the egg noodles or saute chopped mushrooms when browning the ground beef. Top with sour cream for the tang of traditional stroganoff.

    Ground turkey or ground pork can be substituted for the ground beef, and you can easily use any pasta shape. Egg noodles are traditional and hold the sauce well, though. To make this recipe even more affordable, you can substitute one cup of cooked lentils for half of the ground beef, or use two cups of cooked lentils in place of the meat all together for a meat-free option.

    Storing: Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. When reheating, you may need to add a splash of milk.

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    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    4

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 469Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 119mgSodium: 745mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 36g

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    By on October 24th, 2023

    About Sarah Pyle

    Hi, I'm Sarah. The voice behind Feast for a Fraction. I've been a penny-pincher all my life, but still have a taste for nice things. I'm here to show you that you can eat (and live) well on a budget. From recipes and DIY tips to ways to make extra money, we'll be in control of our budgets together!

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    1 thought on “3-Ingredient Beef Stroganoff”

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