When you find yourself in a pinch, staring into your pantry, wondering what to make for dinner, it’s time to turn to pantry meals. These recipes come to the rescue when your fridge is looking a little empty and payday is still a few days away. In this post, we’ll explore a budget-friendly and flavor-packed pantry meal that’s sure to become a family favorite – Ground Beef Stroganoff.
The Pantry Magic
Pantry meals are like culinary magic tricks. With a little creativity, you can turn humble ingredients into a satisfying and delicious dinner. For this Ground Beef Stroganoff, you’ll need a few kitchen staples: ground beef, onion (or onion powder), egg noodles (or any pasta you have), gravy mix, cream cheese (or sour cream), and cream of mushroom soup. These are items that can often be found tucked away in the depths of your pantry or freezer.
A Flavorful Foundation
To kick off this pantry-inspired culinary adventure, grab a pound of ground beef. The foundation of your Stroganoff and will add a rich, meaty flavor to the dish. To keep things budget-friendly, you can use half a pound of ground beef, if you want, and double up on pasta and rice.
Spices and Gravy
Season your ground beef and diced onions (or onion powder) with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper. While that sizzles away, create your gravy mix by combining a packet of turkey or brown gravy with a cup of cold water. This mix will infuse your Stroganoff with a savory, comforting taste.
Creamy Elegance
Here’s where the magic happens. The creamy element of your Stroganoff can come from either sour cream or cream cheese. If you don’t have sour cream on hand, don’t worry – a small block of cream cheese will work wonders. It adds a luxurious creaminess that complements the savory gravy perfectly.
Mushroom Magic
A can of cream of mushroom soup contributes to the rich, comforting taste of this dish. Mix it into your gravy and cream cheese (or sour cream) blend, and watch the magic unfold.
While your flavorful sauce simmers to perfection, cook up your choice of pasta. I used egg noodles, but you can get creative with any pasta you have on hand. Just be sure to cook it to your preferred level of doneness.
Brining It All Together
Transfer the cooked noodles directly into your creamy stroganoff mixture. The slight hint of pasta water on the noodles will help the sauce cling and coat, making every bite an explosion of flavor. To finish off your masterpiece, sprinkle in a generous portion of dried parsley. If you have fresh parsley, even better. It adds a touch of freshness and color to the dish.
Savor The Magic
The result is a hearty, budget-friendly, and incredibly satisfying Ground Beef Stroganoff. It’s a meal that proves you don’t need an overflowing fridge to create a delicious dinner. This pantry-inspired dish is versatile, comforting, and perfect for those times when you want to stretch your ingredients and your budget.
Pantry meals like this Ground Beef Stroganoff are a testament to culinary creativity. With a few essential ingredients and a touch of inspiration, you can create a flavorful and hearty dinner that the whole family will adore. Embrace the magic of pantry cooking, and never stress about dinner on those in-between days.
FOR MORE INEXPENSIVE FAMILY RECIPES CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS:
- 3 Delicious Pantry Friendly Meals
- 105 Meals for $115 – Feeding My Family For a week
- The Top 10 Secrets to saving big on food!
MORE WEEKNIGHT RECIPES TO TRY:
- Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
- Cheesy Tortellini Bake(My Kids LOVE THIS!)
- Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas! (These are SO EASY!)
Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Ground Beef Stroganoff is the perfect pantry meal that’s both budget-friendly and loaded with flavor. Made with simple ingredients like ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, and pasta, this quick and easy recipe is a family favorite.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 onion, chopped (or 1/2 tsp onion powder)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 packet of turkey or brown gravy mix
- 1/2 cup sour cream (or 1/4 cup cream cheese)
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- 12 oz egg noodles (or pasta of your choice)
- 2 tbspoon dried parsley (or fresh)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and chopped onion (or use onion powder). Drain any excess fat.
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In a separate bowl, mix the cold water with the turkey or brown gravy mix until well combined.
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Pour the gravy mixture into the skillet with the beef and onions. Stir thoroughly.
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Add sour cream (or cream cheese) and cream of mushroom soup. Continue to stir until the sauce thickens and becomes well blended.
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Cook egg noodles (or pasta) according to package instructions. Drain the noodles.
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Using a slotted spoon, transfer the drained noodles into the stroganoff mixture. Gently combine until the noodles are well coated.
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Sprinkle dried parsley over the dish, and stir it in for added flavor.
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Serve your flavorful Ground Beef Stroganoff hot and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 20
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