SLOW COOKER BEEF STROGANOFF
Beef stroganoff is a quintessential comfort food. It’s like chicken pot pie or a big ol’ pot of spaghetti sauce, it’s good for what ails ya. For those of you that know my family, you probably just read that last part in my father’s voice since I’m pretty sure he coined the phrase “it’s good for what ails ya”. I’m super lucky that I have kiddos who love food. My daughter especially is a chip off the ole block. At the ripe age of 4, she eats caviar and sushi and has never met a meat or fruit or veggie she doesn’t like. This little girl asks for turkey and Gouda sandwiches (because American cheese just won’t do) with pickles in her lunch and can smell an herb and identify it. It amazes me when she says “mommy I smell basil” or “mommy is that cilantro”. I cook most nights of the week and I think there has only been one time she didn’t like what she was served. Pretty awesome. When I’m meal planning, ninety percent of the time she’s included. She will tell me what protein she feels like eating and I’ll give her a couple options. Well, today my sidekick and meal planning consultant decided we would have beef stroganoff. It’s almost 80 degrees outside which may not sound like the kind of weather in which you typically make this dish, but it couldn’t be better timing! We got our groceries delivered this morning (lazy, I know!), did the quick prep of browning the meat, onion, and garlic.
Then we threw the meat mixture along with a can of French onion soup, mushrooms, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire in the slow cooker and headed to the beach. 
When we got home the house smelled like rich beefy heaven and dinner was just about done! I cooked the pasta, added the cream cheese and sour cream and gave it a stir then rinsed 30 pounds of sand off of my children while the beef sauce became creamy. I also thickened the sauce (instructions in direction section below) because we prefer a thicker sauce but this step is completely optional and does not affect the final taste, only the consistency. By the time we were clean from the beach and the table was set, dinner was served! If you like beef stroganoff and are looking for a super easy supper, please try my version! I have made it for about 10 years now and it hits the spot every time! 
INGREDIENTS
- 2-2.5 pounds sirloin cut into 1/2 inch chunks
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic, if you’re a garlic lover use 3 tbsp
- 1/4 cup butter, I use unsalted
- 1 10.75 ounce can French onion soup
- 1 8 ounce container sliced mushrooms, white or baby bella
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes (about 1/2 inch)
- 1 8 ounce container sour cream
- 8 ounces of wide egg noodles, cooked according to package directions.
- Optional: 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour or cornstarch to thicken sauce
- Optional: shredded Parmesan for topping/garnish
DIRECTIONS
- In a large sauté pan over medium high heat melt the butter. Add the sirloin, onion, and garlic stirring frequently until meat is browned on all sides, about 3 minutes.
- Dump meat mixture into slow cooker. Add mushrooms, French onion soup, Worcestershire, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook on low heat until meat is done and easily cut with a fork, about 4-5 hours. Caution, meat can dry out or get tough if you cook for way too long. I first did 7 hours and the meat was dry.
- When meat is done, stir in the cream cheese and sour cream and crank heat up to high and cook until dairy products are mixed into sauce, about 15-20 minutes. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Some people prefer a thin sauce. In my house we like it a little thicker. This step is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. To thicken sauce, put 1/4 cup of the stroganoff sauce from the slow cooker in a small bowl and add about 2 tablespoons of all purpose flour or cornstarch. Stir until all the lumps are out and dump into the slow cooker. Stir to blend and allow to sit (on warm setting) until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Serve beef stroganoff over egg noodles and top with Parmesan.
- Enjoy! If you make this and love it please post a pic and tag @thehungriesthousewife #thehungriesthousewife
