How to make budget-friendly beef stroganoff

Stroganoff is 25 minutes? Yes, please!

Easy-beef-stroganoff-pasta-bake-close-up

If there’s one dinner that always provides maximum comfort it has to be beef stroganoff. Hailing from Russia, this rich stew comprises of sauteed beef, onion, and mushrooms, which is finished in a creamy sauce made from paprika, mustard, beef stock and crème fraîche or sour cream. Traditionally it’s served with potatoes but a lot of modern recipes opt for pasta to soak up all that creamy goodness. 

This rich and comforting stew happens to be one of the most searched-for recipes on taste.com.au (all year round) and one of Australia’s favourite family-friendly dinners. 

Our recipe for beef stroganoff has been used by Aussies for over a decade and currently has a 4.5-star rating. Our members say it’s the perfect dinner party dish that gets “rave reviews from guests”, but what about those easy weeknights when you want to put something affordable and family-friendly on the table?

The ultimate budget-friendly beef stroganoff

As part of the taste + Coles Savvy Dinner Plan, our foodies made it their mission to make budget-friendly versions of all our most searched-for recipes. After crunching the numbers, I discovered that the most popular recipe in the 28-day plan was a more affordable version of our original strog recipe, so I challenged myself to make it. 

While our classic beef stroganoff is oh-so-tasty, the rump steak, button mushrooms, white wine and crème fraîche make it quite a pricey dinner. With a few ingredient swaps recommended by our food editors, I managed to make an affordable midweek dinner that was just as delicious as the real deal – and super filling. Bonus: I got it on the table in 25 minutes, as opposed to 45 minutes with the original recipe! 

This cheaper take on beef stroganoff is already receiving such positive reviews, with many taste.com.au community members calling this dish a true winner dinner for adults and even “notoriously picky toddlers”! One member said: “The flavours were perfectly balanced, the texture was comforting, and the aroma while it baked was irresistible.” 

What more could you want?

How to make easy beef stroganoff pasta bake

This saucy pasta bake has all the creamy and rich elements of beef stroganoff, but made in nearly half the time and for a fraction of the price. I used Coles Simply Pasta Spirals as a great way to stretch out the meal further without being too costly and compromising on the delicious stroganoff flavour.

I also swapped a few of the key stroganoff ingredients for more affordable options. Instead of the traditional rump steak, I opted to use beef strips – which cook faster too. Additionally, I used button mushrooms instead of cup mushrooms, sour cream instead of crème fraîche, omitted the wine and used a stock cube instead of liquid stock. 

These little swaps allowed for costs to be kept lower but still enabled me to enjoy the beef stroganoff we all know and love. 

Get the full recipe for our easy beef stroganoff pasta bake

Savvy dinner plan

My easy beef stroganoff pasta bake is just one of 28 budget-friendly dinner ideas in the taste + Coles Savvy Dinner Plan. This dinner plan includes recipes based on our most searched-for dinner recipes, plus tips and tricks to save time and money in the kitchen. 

Originally published as How to make budget-friendly beef stroganoff