My brother requests this creamy dinner every single week. Hearty, delicious, and easy on the wallet.

This slow cooker 5-ingredient hamburger stroganoff is the kind of creamy, stick-to-your-ribs dinner my brother asks for every single week. It’s hearty, comforting, and made with simple pantry ingredients that don’t break the budget. Everything simmers low and slow in the crockpot, and by the time you’re ready to eat, you’ve got tender egg noodles and savory ground beef wrapped in a rich, mushroomy sour cream sauce. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, game days, or any evening when you just want a cozy, no-fuss family meal.

Serve this hamburger stroganoff straight from the slow cooker into bowls, with a sprinkle of black pepper or a little chopped parsley if you have it. It’s wonderful alongside steamed green beans, a simple side salad, or buttered peas to add some color to the plate. Warm dinner rolls or buttered toast are great for soaking up the extra sauce. For a bigger spread, pair it with a fruit salad or applesauce—easy, kid-friendly sides that make the meal feel complete without a lot of extra work.

Servings: 6

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumble and cook the ground beef until it is fully browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.

Lightly spray the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray for easier cleanup.

Add the browned ground beef to the slow cooker. Sprinkle the onion soup mix over the meat.

Pour in the beef broth and add the condensed cream of mushroom soup. Stir everything together until the soups and broth are well combined with the beef.

Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or on HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the mixture is hot and bubbly and the flavors have melded.

About 30–40 minutes before serving, stir in the dry egg noodles, making sure they are mostly submerged in the sauce. If needed, gently press them down with a spoon so they soak up the liquid.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 25–35 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the noodles are tender but not mushy. If the mixture looks too thick, you can add a splash more beef broth or water.

Once the noodles are cooked, turn the slow cooker to WARM or LOW. Stir in the sour cream, if using, until the sauce is creamy and smooth. Taste and add black pepper and salt if needed.

Let the stroganoff sit in the slow cooker for 5–10 minutes with the lid on to thicken slightly, then spoon into bowls and serve hot.

For extra budget-friendliness, you can cut the ground beef back to 1 pound and add a can of sliced mushrooms (drained) to stretch the protein. If your family doesn’t love mushrooms, use cream of chicken or cream of celery soup instead of cream of mushroom for a milder flavor. To sneak in some veggies, stir in a cup of frozen peas or mixed vegetables during the last 10–15 minutes of cooking time, just long enough to heat through. For picky eaters, you can leave out the onion soup mix and season with just a little garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If you prefer a thicker, richer sauce, start with only 2 1/2 cups of beef broth and add more as needed when the noodles cook. You can also swap the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt for a bit more tang and protein—just stir it in off the heat so it doesn’t curdle. To make it feel a bit fancier for company, top each bowl with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or grated Parmesan. Leftovers reheat well on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of broth or milk to loosen the sauce.