Cremini mushrooms are probably the most widely used mushrooms in the US. They're flavorful without being too pungent, tender, and inexpensive.
The majority of mushroom recipes call for either white button or cremini mushrooms, which are both interchangeable. All of the iconic mushroom recipes are delicious with cremini mushrooms, so let's jump right in.
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Chicken marsala
Chicken marsala is one of my favorite recipes to make in winter when my CSA sends me endless quantities of mushrooms. The creminis soak up flavor from the butter and marsala wine, making a delicious sauce for your chicken.
Ready in just 30 minutes, this classic recipe from Salt & Lavender cooks thin chicken breasts on high heat, followed by sauce in the same pan. It's quick, easy, and has relatively few ingredients for an easy weeknight meal.
You can also add some balsamic vinegar to the mushrooms while they saute for a more complex flavor profile. The recipe from Half Baked Harvest cooks the mushrooms until they crisp up. This is definitely dinner party worthy.
For you cheese lovers out there, try stuffing the chicken with cheese first. The recipe is from Well Seasoned Studio and bakes the stuffed chicken first. The sauce also includes ¼ cup of sherry vinegar, which balances out the extra richness from the cheese. The recipe calls for white button mushrooms, but you can definitely use cremini.
A spinoff from chicken marsala, this recipe basically swaps in a different wine. Madeira wine is thick and nutty with a rich flavor.
I like the recipe from Jo Cooks, where the cremini mushrooms are slow-simmered in the wine, soaking up all of the delicious flavor. Most marsala (and madeira) recipes cook the mushrooms in butter, only adding the wine toward the end.
Beef stroganoff
Beef stroganoff sauce is creamy, rich, and a little tangy thanks to the sour cream. Any type of mushroom works well in these recipes, adding extra umami to the beef. For even more savory flavor, add in some shiitakes, which have more umami than creminis.
- Classic beef stroganoff - Recipe Tin Eats (pictured above)
- Beef stroganoff using ground beef - from Spend with Pennies
- Vegetarian mushroom stroganoff - by Evergreen Kitchen
- Halloumi cheese stroganoff with cremini mushrooms - from Life Around the Table
Top the beef stroganoff (or almost any of the recipes in this article), with roasted maitake mushrooms. Their frilly edges roast up crispy for a crunchy topping.
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Jägerschnitzel
Jägerschnitzel is a classic German dish of breaded pork or veal, smothered in a mushroom sauce. The mushroom sauce can be brown or a lighter cream color.
Check out my jägerschnitzel recipe that uses pork chops and cremini mushrooms for the sauce (although you can throw in some shiitake or other wild mushrooms if you find them.
Mushroom pizza
Mushrooms are a classic pizza topping, but they can also be the star. Either way, I definitely believe it is worth the extra step to cook them first.
This lets the mushrooms soak up flavor and even crisp up. It's much better than adding raw slices to the top when baking the pizza.
- Mushroom pizza with goat cheese & fresh herbs - recipe from A Couple Cooks
- Bacon-mushroom pizza with mushrooms cooked in bacon fat, and drizzled with a pistachio vinaigrette - recipe from How Sweet Eats
- Garlic mushroom & spinach pizza - recipe from Bianca Zapatka
Mushroom swiss burger
Another classic mushroom recipe: cremini mushrooms and swiss cheese on top of a burger. This is a great winter burger when fresh tomatoes are out of season. Common mushrooms (like cremini) have similar umami levels as tomatoes.
- Sweet onion mushroom swiss burgers from Little Spice Jar (pictured above)
- Mushroom swiss burgers with chipotle aioli - recipe from Tillamook
- Bacon, mushroom & swiss burgers - recipe from Sweet, Savory, and Steph (it calls for white mushrooms, but cremini can be subbed in)
Cream of mushroom soup
Homemade cream of mushroom soup is worth making at least once every winter. Cremini mushrooms are the standard, but feel free to mix in some wild mushrooms for even more flavor.
In fact, the version from Simply Recipes recommends adding a handful of shiitake mushrooms. Shiitakes don't have a strong flavor, but are packed with 3 times the amount of umami flavor as creminis.
The recipe also adds some dried tarragon, as a chef pointed out it brings out the flavor of the mushrooms. The rest of the recipe shares ways to adjust the recipe to your taste, like swapping in beef broth, adding different herbs, or making it dairy free.
You can also try adding in some Madeira wine, like in this recipe from Cafe Delites, or mixing in brie cheese like this recipe by The View from Great Island.
Other cremini mushroom soups
During soup season, there's no shortage of mushroom recipes. They add savoriness to both vegetarian and meat-based soups.
Here are some classic mushroom soups to try.
- Wile rice & cremini mushroom soup - recipe from Dishing Out Health
- Mushroom barley soup - recipe from Sip & Feast
- Creamy Hungarian mushroom soup - from Platings + Pairings
- French onion & cremini mushroom soup - recipe by Silver Oak and another from Half Baked Harvest
Cremini mushrooms can easily be added to other vegetable based soups, like parsnip, winter squash, or cauliflower. Try this cauliflower mushroom soup recipe from Sugar Salt Magic.
Or use the mushrooms to make a homemade mushroom sauce to replace canned soup in a green bean casserole. Use the recipe below or my make-ahead green bean casserole version (same recipe, but with make-ahead instructions).
Mushroom gravy & sauces
I admit to using McCormick gravy seasoning packets when I don't have the rendered fat and flavor from roasting chicken breasts or steak. A homemade mushroom gravy is a much better option that I now plan ahead for.
One method is to cook the mushrooms with broth, like in this recipe from Love & Lemons (pictured above). They simmer for 20 minutes for a thick, rich gravy.
Alternatively, you can cook the mushrooms in butter and garlic so they are golden and flavorful. The gravy sauce is made separately, then combined for just 1 minute to warm up the mushrooms. Get the instructions from Recipe Tin Eats.
You can also make a creamy light-colored gravy for your mashed potatoes, chicken, or biscuits. This recipe from Get Inspired Every Day uses cremini mushrooms, white wine, heavy cream, and rosemary.
Mushrooms sauces poured over steak, chicken, and pork are all classic. Try this recipe from EatWell101 with pork chops smothered in a mushroom sauce.
Lastly, consider adding dried mushrooms for even more flavor. This version from Serious Eats details how each element affects the flavor and consistency
Stuffed cremini mushrooms
There are two main types of stuffing mushrooms. Large portobello as great as a side or main dish. The small cremini mushrooms are stuffed and served as appetizers - perfect for a dinner party or holiday gathering.
The process is pretty easy too. Remove the stems, stuff with your filling, then bake until soft, toasty, and melty.
- Bacon & cheese stuffed mushrooms - recipe from Natasha's Kitchen (pictured above)
- Sausage stuffed mushrooms - recipe from Small Town Woman
- Crab stuffed mushrooms - from Heavenly Spiced
- Stuffed cremini mushrooms with sun-dried tomatoes & pine nuts - recipe from Love & Lemons
- Jalapeno popper stuffed mushrooms - recipe by Peas and Crayons
- Cajun-spiced stuffed cremini mushrooms - from This Wife Cooks
- Grilled cremini mushrooms stuff with basil & parmesan mayo - from Serious Eats
Mushroom risotto
A good, classic mushroom risotto relies on cremini mushrooms for their flavor and texture. I have a wild mushroom risotto recipe that is incredibly flavorful. If you only have cremini mushrooms, just sub those in for the wild mushrooms.
More resources
If you're wondering what else is currently in season, check out my calendars to see what produce is in season each month (and coming up soon).
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