Ground Beef Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff

Copycat homemade hamburger helper beef stroganoff in a skillet is here! Made with ground beef or our a meatloaf mix, this is an easy way to make this classic casserole dish. Instead of stew meat this is a super easy ground beef recipe that cooks up fast in one pot.

Beef Stroganoff Hamburger Helper Recipe

The third and final way to make this pasta meal would be to use frozen meat, like in our Meatball Stroganoff. That is right, instead of browning and breaking up into pieces you can just pour frozen meatballs right out of the bag and toss with your sauce. Choose your fave and let us know what y’all think!

We are focusing on the stovetop in this post because pretty much everyone has one of those. As far as the meat goes we’re using ground. Beef is the most common but if you wanted some heat you could use spicy ground sausage from Jimmy Dean. This is how long to cook ground turkey for lower fat, not much different.

Hamburger Helper Ground Beef Stroganoff Ingredients

Now I have made my quick meatloaf recipe mix before and used that from the get go to add a LOT of flavor. With a packet of onion soup mix in there you can really skip all the other seasonings in that case.

• Pound of ground beef
• Worchestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• Salt and black pepper
• 2 c milk or dairy free almond milk
• 1.5 c beef broth
• 1/2 c sour cream
• 8 oz wide egg noodles uncooked

You will need a pot to bring to a boil and cook the noodles until they are al dente and a large skillet or cast iron pan to make the rest of the dish. A colander is handy to have in order to drain the hot water from the noodles too.

Now you can go a step further when this Beef Stroganoff Casserole Recipe is done and sprinkle some crispy fried onions all over the top!! OH yes those are great on other things other than just at Thanksgiving on top of green beans y’all. 😉

How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper from Scratch

You may have made our Crockpot Hamburger Helper before and that was a hit. I would say this is a tweak from that version but creamier vs. a tomato base. For this one you do want to make sure that your pan is large, with high sides so it can hold all the liquid etc…

• In a deep dish skillet, add ground beef (could add 1/2 chopped onion too).
  • This is How Long to Cook Ground Beef in a number of different ways too but stovetop works well in this case
• Cook over medium high heat until browned. Drain grease and return meat to pan. Season with Worcestershire sauce and mix well.
• Add cornstarch, salt and pepper and mix. Stir in milk and beef broth.
• Add uncooked pasta.
• Cook over medium heat until boiling.
• Cover and reduce heat to low and continue to boil, stirring occasionally for about 12 minutes or until noodles are cooked to as tender as you’d like it to be.
• Stir in sour cream (+ 1/2 can of cream of mushroom soup if you want it creamier with a thicker sauce) and top with chopped fresh parsley, if desired, before serving.

Allow to sit for at least 5 minutes to thicken for best results. Will continue to thicken as it sits and cools. Quick and easy to make on busy weeknights when you are really craving comfort food but don’t have hours on hand to do it.

What happens if you don’t use milk in Hamburger Helper?

You wouldn’t want to use water because it wouldn’t be as creamy or rich. A dairy free almond milk, coconut milk or even sour cream would make it thicker. There are lots of alternatives to choose from.

What can I add to hamburger helper stroganoff?

If you wanted to throw in 1/2 cup of frozen vegetables as it simmers you could. The most obvious is the addition of noodles or rice when done and served together.

You make a form of Hamburger Helper Potato Stroganoff with adding 1 cup of frozen hashbrowns into the mix to soften and get tender too. Another idea would be to air fry or bake diced pieces of russets tossed with olive oil and seasonings. Once browned and tender inside you can sprinkle them on top.

Different textures would be the main difference between these two ideas really, both great. Also if you go beyond what is listed below your pan may need to be even larger. I wouldn’t use anything smaller than a 12 inch skillet no matter what.

If you have only tried this classic dish with chunks of steak like our Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff with Stew Meat I assure you, that this one will be a hit as well. A bit easier to chew, kids typically prefer this texture overall, and I have to admit that the flavors permeate a bit better with ground meat instead.

Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff No Cream of Mushroom

That is right, no condensed soup is used here!! Why we love that is it takes away more of the processed ingredients AND you can make it dairy free easier. Use lactose free sour cream and plain almond milk is great to use as alternative too.

Other tweaks people choose to do at times would be to add 1 tbsp of dijon mustard so it is a bit more like our Swedish meatball sauce. Sour cream and mustard gives it a bit more ooomph but either way it is delicious. Garlic powder and/or onion powder sprinkled in or on when done is a winner too.

How do you store casserole for the next day?

Storing a casserole for the next day requires proper handling and storage methods to ensure it remains safe to eat and maintains its flavor and texture. If it is still in the original baking dish, you can cover it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. If you’re transferring it to another container, make sure the lid is securely closed.

If you are putting it in the refrigerator you should do so as soon as possible after it has cooled. Ideally, you should refrigerate it within two hours of cooking to minimize the risk of bacterial growth. If you want to store the casserole for a longer period, consider freezing it. Place the casserole in an airtight, freezer-safe container or wrap it well with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Make sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Frozen casseroles can be stored for a few months.