Beef Stroganoff Without Sour Cream | Dairy-Free Recipe

This easy beef stroganoff recipe is creamy, full of flavor and made with whole-food ingredients. It's dairy-free and your whole family with love it!

I liked stroganoff as a kid, and still do! The creamy sauce, the tender beef- it's an easy favorite.

But since then, I've discovered that if I eat too much dairy, I get migraines. Fun fact and I have no idea why that happens! So, I do what I can to cook without dairy, where possible. It's actually a lot easier than I thought it would be!

My husband has had some health issues as well and had a very restricted diet for the last 2 years. Sometimes it feels like there's so little he can eat, that I just get trapped in the cycle of cooking the same old easy recipes. But every time I venture outside of the usual (still with the same ingredients), I discover new meals we can add to the rotation. And it's so refreshing to cook and eat something new!

This homemade beef stroganoff recipe is one of those meals. We avoid grains unless they are sourdough or sprouted, so we usually eat the stroganoff on top of spaghetti squash. It's the perfect comfort food, yet is still filling and nutritious!

What's Beef Stroganoff?

A classic beef stroganoff recipe includes tender chunks of beef coated in a sour cream sauce, including beef broth, canned soup, worcestershire sauce, onions and mushrooms. Usually served over pasta, but can be served with rice, potatoes or spaghetti squash as well!

This recipe calls for a lot of different ingredients, but tastes very similar to conventional beef stroganoff!

Beef Stroganoff Ingredients

Beef - Classic beef stroganoff contains strips of steak (which are delicious, by the way!), but I usually opt for ground meat because it's just easier. Still a beef stroganoff, though and still a delight to eat!

Coconut milk - Adds a creamy element without the dairy. Normally beef stroganoffs are very high in dairy, often using sour cream and cream of mushroom soup. Coconut milk is a great option for anyone who doesn't consume dairy. And because we use "lite" coconut milk, you don't even notice a coconut flavor!

Onions - Essential to a stroganoff recipe. The onions are caramelized to perfection and blended into the sauce. Don't skip the caramelization! It tones down the onion and adds a lot of great flavor.

Nutritional yeast - Another ingredient to add a dairy-like component without any of the dairy. Nutritional yeast is known for its subtle cheesiness.

Red pepper flakes - Adds some background heat. Use only a ¼ teaspoon if you want it to be subtle, or up it to ½ teaspoon for more of a kick. A lot of beef stroganoff's don't have any spice, but I think it's a great touch, another layer.

Salt and pepper - I don't think I need to say anything about this. Salt brings out the other flavors and pepper adds a little bit more warmth and spice.

Rosemary - Another unconventional ingredient to go in a stroganoff, but it's subtle and plays really nicely with the other flavors.

Mushrooms - I actually don't use mushrooms in my stroganoff, because someone in my family hates them. And I don't think anything is wrong with how the dish is without them. However, if you want to add mushrooms, please feel free! Refer to the "Beef Stroganoff Variations" section below to learn how to add them to this recipe.

FAQ

Is Beef Stroganoff Healthy?

This ground beef stroganoff recipe is made with simple, whole-food ingredients that are nourishing to the body! Grass-fed beef is high in quality protein, Vitamin B12, zinc, iron and many more vitamins and minerals. Coconut milk is high in fat and many vitamins and minerals. It’s important to look for canned coconut milk without any additives (like guar gum) and packaged in cans that do not contain BPA (a chemical that can lead to cancer and reproductive problems…). The more simple and natural the better, so make sure you read the label! The last major ingredient in this recipe is onions, which are high in Vitamin C (essential for iron absorption among other things), B vitamins and potassium.

If you are going to eat your stroganoff with pasta, I recommend using einkorn (here's a recipe) or sourdough pasta. These are the easiest types for the body to digest.

Is Beef Stroganoff GLuten-Free?

All of the ingredients in the stroganoff are gluten-free, so as long as you eat it with gluten-free pasta, rice, potatoes or spaghetti squash, there will be no gluten in this dish!

What is the Best Beef For Stroganoff?

If you are going with something other than ground beef, look for the most tender, juicy cuts, such as boneless rib eye, top sirloin (also known as "rump"), sirloin tips, flank steak or beef tenderloin.

Which pasta for Beef Stroganoff?

Growing up, we always ate it with some sort of twisty pasta, like fusilli or gemelli, but you can eat it with any type of pasta! Egg noodles, spaghetti, penne, whatever!

Can YOu Make Beef Stroganoff Without Sour Cream?

In most conventional beef stroganoff recipes, sour cream is an absolute staple. If you take a recipe like that, you can actually use greek yogurt in place of the sour cream if you don't have any. But for those of us who don't do well with dairy, we need other options. This recipe using coconut milk is a great option and totally delicious! But you can also make a substitute for sour cream with cashews if you have a conventional stroganoff recipe you really like.

What is Beef Stroganoff Served With?

As mentioned, it's usually served as a sauce over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes or spaghetti squash. Some great side dishes would be simple green vegetables, like pan-fried asparagus, sauteed kale or a salad.

Can Beef Stroganoff Be Frozen?

Beef stroganoff can be stored in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 6 months. Simply thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in a skillet.

Beef Stroganoff Variations

• Mushrooms - Use 1 cup of sliced fresh mushrooms. You can use any kind- shiitake, cremini or button mushrooms are all good options. Once the beef is done cooking, push it to the edges of the pan, add a splash of olive oil and saute the mushrooms in the centre of the pan until tender, then turn off the heat. Then proceed with the directions as normal, adding the blended onion sauce to this pan and mixing everything together.
• Steak - If using a cut of beef, slice it into thin strips and cook over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes, until just cooked through. Then proceed with the instructions as normal.
• Sauce - If you'd like a thicker sauce, you can create a cornstarch slurry. Whisk 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder with 2 tablespoons water and pour it into the sauce as it's simmering. Continue to simmer until your desired thickness is reached.
• Substitutes - You can use 1 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary in place of the fresh rosemary (but it won't taste quite as good, that's just the truth!). You can also use 2 tablespoons butter instead of olive oil, if dairy doesn't bother you.

Tools You May Need

Cast iron skillets

Blender (I love this blender!)

How to Make Beef Stroganoff Without Sour Cream

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 3 white onions, peeled and sliced thin
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, minced (about 1 tbsp)
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 can lite coconut milk
• ¼-½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoon nutritional yeast

Instructions:

Add olive oil to a medium skillet and place over medium-low heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt and saute for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add rosemary and more olive oil if the pan is getting dry. Cook for 10 more minutes or until the onions are caramelized.

While onions are caramelizing, brown ground beef in a separate large skillet over medium heat until cooked through.

Put onions, coconut milk, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and nutritional yeast in a blender and blend until smooth (about 2 minutes).

Pour sauce into the skillet with the ground beef and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Make sure to scrape up any brown bits that have stuck to the pan. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

Serve hot over noodles, rice, mashed potatoes or spaghetti squash!

How to Store Beef Stroganoff

Beef stroganoff will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in a skillet or microwave.

Did you try this recipe? If so, I would really appreciate a 5-star rating and your comments below! Thanks!

MORE NOURISHING DINNER IDEAS

• OVEN BAKED BBQ BEEF SHORT RIBS
• HOW TO EAT A TOSTADA
• SPLIT PEA SOUP
• PORK AND BEEF MEATLOAF
• BRAISED VENISON SHANKS WITH GARLIC
• GRILLED SALMON BURGERS