24 Best Mushroom Recipes

Mushrooms are fungi, and they deliver a taste profile that's a little earthy, a little woodsy, and has a lot of umami, thanks to a substance called glutamate, which is also found in meats, fish, and cheese. This makes mushrooms a good meat substitute for vegans, vegetarians, or those looking to cut back on animal products. As a fungus, mushrooms are packed with vitamins and minerals including vitamin D, various B vitamins, selenium, phosphorus, copper, and potassium.

But not all mushrooms are alike. There is a wide range of mushrooms (not all of them safe to eat), each with a different size, flavor, texture, and nutritional profile that makes them perfect for different dishes. So if you're looking to add more mushrooms to your diet, consider these recipes for everything from mushroom steak rubs to mushroom broths to vegetarian-friendly mushroom "meatloaf." You're practically guaranteed to find a new favorite, and you might even discover a love for a mushroom variety you've never tasted before.

For cold winter nights when you want a hearty soup to enjoy alongside a slice of crusty bread, don't turn to a can of cream of mushroom soup. It's surprisingly easy to make your own, and this vegetarian-friendly recipe (it contains dairy products, so it's not ideal for vegans) can be ready to serve in less than 45 minutes.

Not to mention, if you make extra you can plan ahead and use it in place of canned soups when making casseroles that call for cream of mushroom soup. Things like a classic chicken casserole and the Thanksgiving favorite green bean casserole get an easy upgrade with this homemade soup.

Recipe: Umami-Rich Cream of Mushroom Soup

When you're looking for a simple side dish to pair with your favorite chicken or steak recipe, these white wine-sautéed mushrooms are the way to go. They feature button or cremini mushrooms (choose your favorite, or use both if you're so inclined), and, of course, white wine, which offers a slight acidity that deepens the umami flavor.

Given that the dish can be ready to serve in about 25 minutes, you may want to add it to your favorite rotation of weeknight side dishes. You can even add the mushrooms to hamburgers or pizzas, too.

Recipe: White Wine Sautéed Mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms, thanks to their large, round caps, are known for being used in place of hamburger patties, but that's not all they're good for. Those round, concave caps are also ideal for stuffing with other goodies, and this recipe for spinach and pancetta portobello mushrooms is one worth trying.

They take only 30 minutes to make, with just five minutes of prep work required. Stuffed with a tasty pancetta and spinach mixture before being roasted with a breadcrumb, Parmesan, and pine nut topping, you end up with the perfect juicy, crunchy, savory dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, side, or even a main course.

Recipe: Spinach and Pancetta Portobello Mushrooms

The next time you're craving a rich pasta dish, skip the shrimp scampi and opt for this vegetarian mushroom scampi instead. With a mix of three different types of mushrooms (shiitake, cremini, and button), you end up with a flavor profile that's deeper and more layered than if you were using a single variety.

The other parts of this recipe are fairly standard — spaghetti, white wine, lemon, shallots, and garlic all come together to give you the flavor you know and love, but the mushrooms are what make it stand out from the original. Considering it can be prepped and cooked in just 30 minutes, it's definitely worth trying if you're a fan of mushrooms.

Recipe: Mixed Mushroom Scampi

Veggie lasagna can step aside and leave room for fungi lasagna. Sure, fungi lasagna may not sound as appealing (which is why it's best to stick with the "mixed mushroom" lasagna title), but the umami flavors of the mushrooms provide the perfect meat-free alternative to a classic beef or chicken version.

This mixed mushroom lasagna features three different varieties — porcini, chanterelle, and cremini — layered between lasagna noodles with garlic, shallots, and classic lasagna cheeses. This makes it a vegetarian-friendly dish that's perfect for Meatless Mondays.

Recipe: Mixed Mushroom Lasagna

If you like pad Thai and you like mushrooms, you can't go wrong with this simple and quick recipe for mushroom and chicken pad Thai. It takes just 20 minutes to whip up, positioning it as an ideal weeknight dinner choice providing a well-balanced mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and vegetables... and fungi, of course.

Like most pad Thai recipes, this one includes rice noodles, scrambled eggs, and a sweet and savory sauce mixed with fish and oyster sauces and tamarind purée. It also includes shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, scallions, chopped peanuts, and a fair share of garlic. Together, you end up with an authentically South Asian, deeply umami dish that's sure to hit the spot (especially when sprinkled with a squeeze of fresh lime juice).

Recipe: Mushroom and Chicken Pad Thai

You can think of portobello mushrooms a bit like the "new baked potato" — you can stuff them with all sorts of different fillings for a variety of delicious side dishes or main courses. This recipe for stuffed portobello mushrooms is just one of many fantastic options when it comes to serving up these versatile fungi.

Aside from the portobello mushroom, of course, the stars of this dish include spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cannellini beans, and shallots. Together they make a vegan-friendly dish with a sweet and savory flavor that's absolutely worth trying at least once.

Recipe: Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

When you want to indulge in the creamy, carbohydrate-packed flavors of risotto, this easy recipe for mushroom and roasted garlic risotto is the way to go. It's not technically vegetarian-friendly (it includes chicken stock), but you could switch it out for vegetable stock if you want.

One thing that's great about this recipe is it's a "choose your own adventure" style of a recipe when it comes to the mushrooms — you literally just pick your favorite type and make the recipe from there. So if you want, you can use shiitake mushrooms this time, porcini mushrooms next time, and a mix of different types the time after that.

Recipe: Mushroom and Roasted Garlic Risotto

Lion's mane mushrooms may be a little challenging to locate, but if you come across these unique-looking mushrooms (they have the same appearance as their name implies), it's worth scooping them up. The "meat" of the mushroom actually shreds, lending itself to options like this "crab cakes" recipe.

Of course, there's no actual crab meat in this vegan-friendly appetizer, but the end result isn't all that different from the real deal. Just serve alongside the vegan mayonnaise flavored with Old Bay seasoning and dill relish, and you won't miss your standard crab cakes one bit.

Recipe: Vegan Lion's Mane Mushroom Crab Cakes

You may not think of mushrooms as a crispy side dish — usually, they're soft and even chewy in consistency — but when cooked right? They can end up being a crispy "extra" that can be eaten on its own or used as a topping on salads, baked potatoes, or stir-fries.

This recipe features oyster mushrooms (not to be confused with king oyster mushrooms) that are seared in butter and avocado oil along with garlic and shallots for a distinctly crisp and tasty side.

Recipe: Crispy Seared Oyster Mushrooms

Certainly, mushrooms and steaks are a well-known pairing, so it doesn't hurt to have a recipe for a tasty mushroom sauce on hand for the next time you're making steaks. The baby bella mushrooms are the star of this 20-minute recipe, alongside dry sherry, soy sauce, beef broth, and standard seasonings.

And while the sauce is intended to be used on steaks, there's no stopping you from using it to drench your vegetarian mains, like tofu or seitan. After all, when a sauce tastes this good, it elevates the flavors of whatever it's being served with. Just keep in mind the sauce itself isn't actually vegetarian-friendly, as it includes both butter and beef broth.

Recipe: Steakhouse Mushroom Sauce

Portobello mushrooms aren't the only mushrooms that can be stuffed to the gills with delicious fillings. This recipe for simple stuffed mushrooms features medium-sized crimini mushrooms that are perfect when served as a healthy, show-stopping appetizer.

The fillings for this one include artichoke hearts, onion, spinach, Parmesan cheese, and a number of seasonings. They take about an hour to make, but for a special event, they're well worth the time and effort.

Recipe: Simple Stuffed Mushrooms

When you want to feel like you're eating at an Asian restaurant without ever leaving home, you need to make this recipe for shiitake mushroom soup. It's hearty enough to be a meal on its own (it includes tofu, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and other veggies to help fill you up), but also makes a great starter before indulging in your favorite main course.

This recipe is also vegan and vegetarian friendly, as all the ingredients are animal product-free. That said, if you're vegan, just make sure the soy sauce and miso paste you're using haven't been made in facilities where there's a chance of cross-contamination with animal products.

Recipe: Shiitake Mushroom Soup

For the perfect morning brunch dish, look no further than this garlic and mushroom frittata. It only takes 30 minutes to make and is chock full of flavor, thanks to the maitake mushrooms, thyme, garlic, peas, parsley, mint, lemon, and goat cheese. And yes, of course, it contains eggs (it wouldn't be a frittata without them).

The maitake mushrooms help give the frittata a meaty, umami flavor and consistency, even without the meat. The cooking method (a combo of on the stovetop and under your oven's broiler) provides for the perfect, crispy "crust" with a golden brown finish and deliciously melted cheese.

Recipe: Spring Garlic And Mushroom Frittata

Most of the mushroom recipes on this list call for cooked mushrooms, but mushrooms don't have to be cooked in a traditional sense to be delicious. You can enjoy them raw, or in this case, pickled, offering an unexpected topping for a healthy and nutritious salad.

The pickling process for these beech mushrooms does involve allowing them to simmer briefly in boiling pickling liquid before sitting to cool for a few hours. The result is a slightly crisp (but not raw) mushroom with a tangy, sweet, and slightly nutty flavor. When added to the salad with kale, brown rice, figs, and carrots, you end up with a nutrition-packed meal that offers the perfect balance of bitter, sweet, salty, and tangy.

Recipe: Pickled Mushroom And Miso Brown Rice Salad

You don't need to whip up an overly-involved mushroom sauce to add a delicious mushroom flavor to your next steak. In fact, by using homemade mushroom powder, you can get the flavor you're craving with this dry rub in just five minutes flat.

By blending up dried porcini mushrooms and adding a few other key spices (garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper), you'll be ready to treat your steaks to the perfect dry rub. You can even make it ahead of time and keep it stored in an airtight container so it's ready to go whenever you need it.

Recipe: Porcini Steak Rub

Meatloaf is one of those comfort foods that really hits the spot on a cold winter day, but for vegetarians, it can be hard to get the same experience without beef. Enter vegetarian mushroom meatloaf. Featuring 2 pounds of mixed mushrooms, breadcrumbs, ground walnuts, and oats, you can create the same texture and experience of a classic meatloaf, with no meat required.

In addition to mushrooms' umami, meat-like flavor, and consistency, the semi-neutral taste easily picks up seasonings. Given that meatloaf is known for its heavy seasonings including everything from ketchup to cloves and thyme to oregano, when all is said and done, you won't even miss the meat.

Recipe: Vegetarian Mushroom Meatloaf

You won't miss the beef in classic beef stroganoff when you replace it with mushrooms in this vegan-friendly recipe. Simply choose the type of mushrooms you like best (any will do), and you can make this hearty dinner in less than 40 minutes.

Keep in mind, because it's a vegan-friendly dish, in addition to the mushrooms, a few of the other ingredients stray from the classic recipe. For instance, instead of sour cream and butter to help give the dish its creamy flavor, this recipe uses coconut milk and olive oil. It will end up with a slight coconut flavor, but you may discover you like it even better than the original.

Recipe: Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff

True mushroom lovers will want to add this recipe for mushroom and barley soup to their list of favorites, stat. With a combo of dried porcini mushrooms and 4 cups (4 cups!) of mixed mushrooms including shiitake, maitake, oyster, and beech, this hearty soup is guaranteed to cut all your mushroom cravings.

In addition to the mushrooms, the barley in this soup helps fill you up, and the celery, onion, and carrot offer additional bulk and flavor. All-in-all, it's a great option to enjoy on a chilly autumn night, paired with crusty bread and a glass of red wine.

Recipe: Mushroom And Barley Soup

Just as portobello mushrooms can make a great burger substitute, thanks to their meaty flavor and feel, they can also be sliced up and cooked fajita-style in a skillet with other classic fajita veggies like onions and peppers. Truly, this recipe for vegetarian-friendly fajitas will become a staple in your household, even if you consider yourself a meat lover.

It also doesn't hurt that the whole meal can be cooked in just 25 minutes, making it the perfect option for busy weeknights. Rounded out with fajita spices, avocado, and toppings like jalapeños, cilantro, and diced tomatoes, you'll love the flavor so much that you'll start making this recipe at least once a week.

Recipe: Portobello Fajitas

You really don't need to be buying vegetable broth at the store. It's incredibly easy to make at home, and this shiitake mushroom broth features a nice, umami flavor that makes it the perfect substitute for beef broth, too.

For this recipe, you'll be using dried shiitake mushrooms that have been soaked overnight to release their flavor into the broth. Then, you'll bring the reserved liquid and other veggies and herbs to a boil before allowing it all to simmer and reduce. The result is a delicious broth that's perfect for practically any recipe that calls for broth.

Recipe: Shiitake Mushroom & Herb Broth

When you want to impress your family and friends without putting in too much effort, it's hard to go wrong with a sheet pan dinner featuring a spatchcocked chicken, mushrooms, and kale. The whole meal is ready in just 40 minutes, with about 30 of those minutes spent cooking in the oven.

And for mushroom lovers? This recipe is stuffed to the gills with a variety of fungi. It includes porcini mushroom powder, along with shiitake, royal trumpet, maitake, and hedgehog mushrooms. The result is a flavorful assembly of ingredients that's sure to impress practically any discerning guest.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Spatchcocked Chicken, Mushrooms and Kale

Who doesn't love the ingenuity of the Instant Pot? The tool makes prepping and enjoying homemade meals so much simpler. And in the case of this mushroom risotto recipe, you can make the entire dish in the pot in just 25 minutes, with almost no hands-on work required.

With flavors of garlic, onions, Parmesan cheese, and thyme, it makes a delicious side dish when served with chicken or pork. Or if you're so inclined, you can enjoy it as a stand-alone dinner.

Recipe: Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto

For a hearty meat alternative, yet again, the portobello mushroom proves itself to be the perfect substitution in this "almost meaty" portobello pot roast recipe. It features everything you'd expect from a traditional pot roast — potatoes, carrots, and onions all cooked in a hearty and flavorful sauce — but in place of the beef, you cook four portobello mushroom caps to offer the meat-like flavor and texture without the animal fats and proteins.

The recipe takes less than an hour to make, and even if you're not sure you're ready to give up your traditional roast, it's certainly a recipe worth trying at least once. Who knows? You just might become a convert.

Recipe: Almost Meaty Portobello Pot Roast