Creamy low carb beef stroganoff made with ground beef, mushrooms and onions, in a tasty sour cream sauce flavored with brandy, herbs, and spice. Serve over low carb keto noodles or cauliflower rice.
Beef stroganoff is a comfort food favorite for cooler evenings or chilly winter nights. Although strips of steak are traditional in stroganoff, this easier and faster hamburger stroganoff recipe promises great flavor with just a few tweaks.
The mark of a good stroganoff is flavor. It’s a dish which builds flavor in the pan as each ingredient is cooked. This type of cooking takes a little time – not a lot of time, but more time than today’s typical cooks who are often rushed for time.
Making beef stroganoff with ground beef, or hamburger stroganoff, is a lifesaver for those who need to get dinner on the table fast! There is no need to trim and cut the steak, just put the ground beef in the pan and cook.
If your family is anything like mine, then your kids love ground beef.
My kids proclaim anything made with hamburger their “favorite” dinner. So I make sure to have cooked ground beef in the freezer to turn into quick weeknight meals like skillet chili, sloppy Joes or this low carb beef stroganoff.
How to Make Beef Stroganoff With Ground Beef
- Brown and remove mushrooms.
- Sauté onions then add ground beef and cook.
- Add brandy, beef base, the mushrooms and simmer gently.
- Stir in the cream cheese, and sour cream.
- Sprinkle with parsley and a hint of lemon zest.
- Serve over cauliflower rice or cabbage noodles.
So, how is this particular beef stroganoff recipe low carb? There is no flour or starch to thicken the sauce. Instead, I use less liquid and bump the flavor with a little beef base. It’s a great trick.
NOTE: To get great tasting thick sauces without adding flour or starch, use less liquid and bump the flavor with chicken base, beef base, a little wine, vermouth, dry sherry or brandy. Also, make sure to build flavor in the pan when you can.
Low Carb Beef Stroganoff (ground beef stroganoff)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, lean
- 4 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 1/4 cup onions, chopped or sliced (1 ounce)
- 3 tbsp butter, divided
- 2 tbsp brandy
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp beef base (I like Better than Bouillon)
- 2 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese. softened
- 1 cup full fat sour cream
- 1-2 pinches grated nutmeg
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
Serve Over: (Cabbage Noodles or Cauliflower Rice)
- 12 oz cabbage, cut into thin strips then fried in a pan until tender (8.3 g net carbs per serving with the cabbage)
- 12 oz cauliflower rice (raw weight), fried in a pan or steamed (7.87 g net carbs per serving with the cauliflower rice)
Instructions
Preparation:
- Gather ingredients. Cook cabbage or cauliflower rice and keep warm. Slice mushrooms and onions.
Method:
- Heat a medium-large pan over medium heat until hot. Add 2 tbsp butter and swirl to coat. Add the mushrooms and spread evenly in the pan. Leave to cook for 2 minutes (or until browned) then turn them over, cooking for another 1 1/2.
- Push the mushrooms to the sides of the pan and add the remaining tbsp of butter to the middle of the pan with the onions and saute until softened. Remove the mushrooms and onions from the pan.
- Cook the ground beef in the pan, breaking it up into small pieces, until just cooked through. Add the brandy, beef base, and Worcestershire sauce, stirring well.
- Scrape the mushroom mixture (and any accumulated liquid) back into the pan with the ground beef, sprinkle the nutmeg over the top and let some of the liquid simmer off. Add the cream cheese, stirring to melt. Stir in the sour cream and simmer gently until thickened. Stir in the parsley. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve over cooked cabbage noodles or cooked cauliflower rice. Serves 4.
NOTE:
- The beef stroganoff is 4.6 g net carbs per serving on its own. Served over cabbage noodles it's 8.3 g net carbs. Served over cauliflower rice it's 7.87 g net carbs.
- If you have a higher carb tolerance, this low carb stroganoff is delicious over cooked spaghetti squash.
Nutrition
Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers
Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe (low carb, keto)
I just discovered your website last week. This is the second recipe I’ve tried (the first being the beef stew). This is another winner – so quick, easy to make and very delicious! I will be making this again and am looking forward to trying many of your other recipes. Thank you for your wonderful website!
I’m glad you found two winners, Kelly. I know not everyone has the same tastebuds, so I’m happy you enjoyed the recipes! Thank you for your gracious comment and have a great week! -Kim
Thank you for such a fabulous recipe and easy to make! I replaced the brandy with apple cider and it was great! I have been yearning for stroganoff for so long and this is it!!! It really bothers me when someone leaves a rating and they haven’t even tried it. I have tried it and my family loved it. Thank you again!
I am so happy you like the recipe, Kathryn. Thank you for coming back to leave a rating after trying it so that people have a more honest way to judge the recipe. Have a wonderful weekend. -Kim
I made this for dinner one night last week and it was delicious! The whole family loved it. It’s on our favorites list. Thank you.
I made this last night. We loved it so much it went on the “could have every week” list.
Great, Sandy! Thanks for letting me know. Have a wonderful week. -Mim
This looks soooooo good. I can’t wait to try.
I served this over your cabbage noodles along with a salad for company last night and received rave reviews. We all agreed that it was better than regular stroganoff because the sauce mixed in so much better. So thank you for another wonderful recipe.
Hi Carole! I am so happy to hear that. I hope you an your husband are doing well. -Kim