What to Serve with Beef Stroganoff? 6 Best Side Dishes (Updated 2024)

Name: 6 Best Beef Stroganoff Sides
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Meal
Ingredients: Buttered Egg Noodles; Pappardelle; Rice; Potato Fries; Vegetable Salad; Braised Red Cabbage

Updated Mar 26, 2023Recipe Marker

Are you making Beef Stroganoff and curious about what best to serve with it? In this article, we share our recommendations.

Beef stroganoff is a classic, weeknight staple, a well-loved comfort food the world over. Easy to make any day of the week, this fork-tender and flavorful dish make for the perfect heartwarming dinner (or lunch).

The rich, creamy, buttery, and earthy taste of beef stroganoff is sufficient to make anyone drool. However, paired with the best side dishes will transform your meal into something more fabulous and unforgettable.

If you and your family love this beef dish, spice up your meal with some of the best-tasting sides sure to complement your main dish.

With these variations, you will make your beef stroganoff more exciting than ever. Check out some of these combinations below.

What Is Beef Stroganoff?

With Russian origins, beef stroganoff refers to a creamy, earthy dish made with thin and tender strips (or cubes) of beef slowly cooked in a rich gravy traditionally made with sour cream.

The meat is complemented with various spices and herbs, as well as the earthy taste and texture of mushrooms. Consumed on its own, beef stroganoff has a rich, creamy, and buttery taste.

The dish is often attributed to Count Pavel Stroganov in Russia, in partnership with the French chef employed by the family.

The Stroganovs were considered one of the oldest aristocrats in Russia and lived a life of luxury, thus the extent of hiring French chefs while still catering to their native Russian palate.

The original beef stroganoff recipe was named after the family and was initially made with Russian sour cream and a basic French mustard sauce. The addition of mushrooms, onions, and sometimes tomato sauce, only came about later to add more texture and flavor.

Side Dishes to Serve with Beef Stroganoff

Thanks to the various additions to and experimentation conducted on this dish, there are now numerous side dishes that complement the rich taste of beef stroganoff. If you are looking for a delectable pairing, below are some options to try:

1. Buttered Egg Noodles

Traditional beef stroganoff comes over buttered egg noodles. The light and chewy texture of egg noodles act as the perfect contrast to the rich dish.

The sauce also coats the noodles seamlessly with the ridges soaking up the cream mixture beautifully.

Their relatively neutral taste, compared to the flavorful and umami-filled goodness of beef stroganoff, makes egg noodles a great partner. Plus, they have fewer calories compared to rice and even traditional pasta.

2. Pappardelle

If you don’t shy away from indulgence and want to take your meal to a whole new level, why not serve it with pappardelle?

Similar to buttered egg noodles, pappardelle acts as a wonderful foundation for the creamy sauce.

However, bear in mind that pasta of this kind usually has more starch and carbohydrates, which makes for a much more filling meal.

3. Rice

You can also pair your beef with rice. Because of its mild, neutral taste, rice can offset the rich taste of the stroganoff.

Plus, spooning some of the sauce onto the rice coats the grains evenly, allowing you to get a spoonful of flavor in every bite.

4. Potato Fries

Potato fries, or French fries, are also a suitable counterpart. Their fried and crunchy texture goes well with the soft, creamy texture of stroganoff.

5. Vegetable Salad

If you simply want something light, you will never go wrong with a side of vegetable salad. The light, refreshing, and somewhat tangy taste of the salad balances the taste of the decadent beef stroganoff. The crunchy texture is also a welcome addition to the tender beef.

Since beef stroganoff is a traditional Russian dish, you might want to head the Russian route on this one as well. A traditional Russian salad is easy enough to make with cucumber, tomatoes, scallions, and dill.

The combination of these veggies will serve as a palate cleanser of sorts that matches the creamy dish.

6. Braised Red Cabbage

You might want to try another traditional and common Russian side dish, braised red cabbage.

Often made with sugar and apples, this side dish not only adds that much-needed pop of color, but also serves as a nutritious and filling addition to your meal.

Plus, the subtle sweet taste of red cabbage serves as a nice contrast to the savory beef dish.