Freezer to Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

With its creamy sauce and tender meat, stroganoff is a classic comfort food that’s always a hit with the family. And with the help of this make ahead slow cooker beef stroganoff recipe, you can take your dinner from the freezer to the crockpot without missing a beat! That means this quick and easy recipe is perfect for any occasion – from a hearty Sunday supper to a quick weeknight dinner.Would you believe that the most popular recipe on this site is our Ground Beef Stroganoff?! It’s actually one of our all time favourite meals so it doesn’t surprise me too much.

Our love for it has made us branch out and try to find other stroganoff recipes we love as well such as our Ground Chicken Stroganoff and now this slow cooker stroganoff using beef strips.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beef stir fry strips
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• ½ cup beef broth
• ½ cup cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon parsley

Assembly Instructions:

1. Combine the beef strips, onion, sliced mushrooms, beef broth, cream cheese, basil, and parsley in a large freezer bag. Squish the ingredients together to combine the beef with the sauce.
2. Remove excess air from the bag and seal to close. Freeze the ingredients until you’re ready to cook.

Cooking instructions:

1. Transfer the beef stroganoff ingredients to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
2. Transfer the ingredients to the bowl of your slow cooker and set to cook on low for three to five hours, until the beef is cooked through.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe Ideas

You’re going to love how quick and easy this dinner recipe comes together in your crockpot. And since this recipe is so easy to make, it can easily be customized, too! Try these recipe adjustments and ideas to create a delicious and hearty meal that your family will love.

• Serve over pasta. The traditional way to serve your beef stroganoff is over a bed of pasta. Try serving your beef over cooked egg noodles or fettuccini to round out the meal.
• Make some mashed potatoes. Go a different route when serving your beef stroganoff and serve it with mashed potatoes in place of pasta. The beef and sauce tastes great when combined with creamy mashed potatoes.
• Serve over rice. Another great option for serving your beef stroganoff is over rice. Prepare a batch of white or brown rice to serve alongside your slow cooked beef.
• Try different cuts of beef. Using stir fry strips for your beef stroganoff is a great way to speed up the prep work of your dinner since the meat comes pre-cut. But if you have a few extra minutes to prepare your ingredients, you can use a variety of different cuts of beef in your stroganoff, including sirloin, chuck roast, stew meat, or even ground beef.

Can Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Be Made on the Stove?

This dump and go recipe is perfect for the crockpot. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use your stove to heat up your dinner! If you plan on preparing your stroganoff on the stovetop, simply transfer the ingredients to a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Cook the meat and sauce over medium low heat until the meat is cooked through.

Should I Brown Beef Before Cooking in the Slow Cooker?

Browning your beef pieces is a great way to add a crispy exterior to each piece of meat. But since this freezer meal allows you to transfer your beef stroganoff ingredients from your freezer to your slow cooker, there’s no need to brown the meat before adding it to the pot.

If you prefer to have the crispy edges on your beef, the meat can be browed before freezing. Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet and cook the beef pieces until they just start to brown. Then, transfer the meat to a paper towel lined plate to cool. When the meat is completely cool, you can transfer it to the freezer bag with the rest of the stroganoff ingredients.

How Do You Thicken Beef Stroganoff?

After giving your stroganoff plenty of time to cook in your crockpot, you should have a deliciously thick sauce coating your meat. But if your stroganoff isn’t as thick as you like it, there are a couple of things you can do to help make your stroganoff a little creamier.

• Add some sour cream. The traditional method for thickening stroganoff is to add sour cream to the sauce before serving. Do not add sour cream to the sauce before freezing because it may curdle in the freezer. Instead, wait until the stroganoff is almost finished cooking in the slow cooker. Stir the sour cream into the sauce and replace the lid. Continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes to help warm up the sauce.
• Make a cornstarch slurry. Another simple way to thicken your stroganoff is to add some cornstarch. Start by combining two tablespoons cornstarch with two tablespoons cold water. When all the cornstarch has dissolved, stir the mixture into your sauce. Replace the lid and turn the slow cooker up to high. Continue cooking the stroganoff until the sauce begins to simmer, around 30 minutes. Before serving, stir the ingredients to mix and thicken the sauce.

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Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

3 hrs

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: stroganoff

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb. beef stir fry strips
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• ½ cup beef broth
• ½ cup cream cheese softened
• 1 tsp. basil
• 1 tsp. parsley

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

1. Combine the beef strips, onion, sliced mushrooms, beef broth, cream cheese, basil, and parsley in a large freezer bag. Squish the ingredients together to combine the beef with the sauce.
2. Remove excess air from the bag and seal to close. Freeze the ingredients until you’re ready to cook.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Cook in slow cooker on low for three to five hours, until the beef is cooked through.