Easy Budget-Friendly Beef Stroganoff Dinner | Under $8!

Beef Stroganoff originates from Russia, but you know we’ve added some sass to it by turning it into a budget-friendly meal for the whole family. The primary ingredients you’ll need are ground beef, onions, mushrooms, sour cream, beef flavoring, salt, and pepper and of course some pasta to put it on. We know you’ve got the salt and pepper lying around, and most of these other ingredients are available at your local grocery store at wallet-friendly prices!

You’ll also want to dress up your plate with a veggie. A balanced meal isn’t complete without something green on your plate! Green beans are the perfect companion for beef stroganoff, adding a satisfying crunch and a burst of color. Plus, they’re packed with nutrients like vitamins A, C, and K. Pick up a can green beans, add some butter, and maybe a little garlic, and you’re on your way to veggie heaven.

To complete the meal you’ll want to add a little fluff, some good old-fashioned drop biscuits are the perfect way to do that. They’re quick, delicious, and easy to whip up.

INGREDIENTS

Get ready for a delicious dinner when you stock up on all of the essentials for Beef Stroganoff! You can find these budget-friendly items at any supermarket, and if you’re savvy with sales prices, it’s even easier to save. If your pantry is stocked with staples like egg noodles or mushrooms, then there’s no need to make an extra trip – just pick out the missing pieces from this list and get cooking!

• Extra Wide Egg Noodles (12 ounces) ($0.79 $1.25) – Purchased from Dollar Tree. Keep an eye out for sales, I’ve seen egg noodles as low as $1.00.
• Homemade Baking Mix (2 cups) ($0.36) – I make my baking mix, it’s easy to make, it’s cheaper, and tastes better.
• Green Beans (15 ounces) ($0.39 $0.50) – I found that Walmart has the best price for canned green beans. If you find them cheaper somewhere else I would suggest stocking up.
• Butter or Margarine (2 tablespoons) ($0.08) – I like to use butter whenever possible, but when funds are tight I’ll use margarine instead. You can pick up margarine for $1.25/pound at Dollar Tree and the best price on butter can usually be found at Aldi.
• Ground Beef (1 pound) ($1.88 $2.99) – Buying in quantity is usually the best way to get the lowest price on ground beef. I was able to buy 10 pounds for $29.88 at Walmart. I put what I didn’t use into freezer bags.
• Onions (1 small) (($0.04 $0.17) – I purchased a 3-pound bag from Aldi’s for $1.99, it had 6 medium-sized onions.
• Beef Bouillon (4 cubes) ($0.12 $0.25) – Bouillon cubes are something that I always have in my pantry. They are a great way to flavor foods. I find that Aldi’s usually has the best price.
• Mushrooms (4 ounces) ($0.69 $1.00) – For this recipe, I like to use stems and pieces. I normally purchase them from Family Dollar. Sometimes fresh mushrooms are cheaper and you can use those instead.
• Sour Cream (8 ounces) ($0.50 $1.16) – I get my sour cream from Walmart, they currently have the lowest price. I use to make my own using heavy whipping cream, lemon juice, and whole milk, but with the cost of heavy whipping cream right now it’s cheaper to buy it already made. 
• Salt and Pepper

HOW TO MAKE THE BEEF STROGANOFF

STEP 1
Cook the egg noodles according to the package directions. 

STEP 2
In a skillet, over medium heat, break up the ground beef and cook until it is no longer pink. Drain off any fat.

STEP 3
Add the diced onions to the pan and continue to cook over medium heat until the onions are translucent about 2-3 minutes.

STEP 4
Slowly add the water to the pan and drop in the 4 beef bouillon cubes. Turn up the heat and bring it to a boil, continue to boil until the liquid is reduced to about half.

STEP 5
Reduce heat to medium and add the can of drained mushrooms; cook for 2-3 minutes to warm up the mushrooms. Turn off the heat.

STEP 6
Add 1 cup of sour cream to the pan, and stir until well combined, add salt and pepper if needed.  Serve over egg noodles or mix it with the egg noodles.

MAKE IT A MEAL

ADD A LITTLE FLUFF
Throw together some drop biscuits using homemade baking mix and a little water. Brush the tops with some melted butter to give them added flavor and color.

DRESS UP THE PLATE WITH SOME COLOR
Place drained green beans into a small pan, add some butter, and cook over medium-low heat until the beans are heated through.

HOW TO STORE THE LEFTOVERS

BEEF STROGANOFF
To Store: Place leftover sauce into either an airtight container or a zipper storage bag. It can be refrigerated for up to 4 days and frozen for up to 3 months. *it is not recommended to freeze the pasta.

To Reheat: Heating the sauce on the stove is the best method, but you can also heat it in the microwave. If microwaving, don’t reheat at 100% power, that will overcook the meat and make it chewy. Try heating it at 50% power.

GREEN BEANS
To Store: Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Freezing is not recommended, as the green beans end up being mushy.

To Reheat: Heat on the stove or in a microwave.

DROP BISCUITS
To Store: Store at room temperature in an airtight container or zipper storage bag. *wrapping the biscuits in cling wrap before storing them will keep them from drying out.

To Reheat: Wrap the biscuit in a damp paper towel and heat in the microwave in 10-second intervals.

VARIATIONS

One of the beauties of this dish is that it’s easy to double or even triple the recipe to feed a crowd or simply to provide leftovers for the next few days. Tomorrow’s lunches are sorted! Plus, it’s easy to customize each component to suit your family’s preferences. Don’t like mushrooms? Leave ’em out! Fancy some extra herbs? Go nuts! The world is your budget-friendly oyster.