Mushrooms are a fantastic ingredient to really liven up just about any dish. Plus, they make for incredible side dishes and even main courses. However, you can’t just pick any mushroom from your yard and eat it. This is because only 4-5 percent of mushrooms worldwide are considered edible.
You can do so much with tender mushrooms. From soup to casseroles to side dishes, there are easy mushroom recipes for every occasion.
From simple mushroom recipes such as burgundy mushrooms to elegant mushroom meals like mushroom and wild rice soup, we’ve got you covered in this list of 21 easy mushroom recipe ideas.
Not sure which fresh mushrooms are which? Scroll down to the very bottom for an overview of the most common types of edible mushrooms you will find at the grocery store.
Now, let’s dive into these delicious mushroom dinner recipes.
When meat lovers start eating a vegan or vegetarian diet, one of the foods they miss most is bacon.
What if you could find a “bacon” that is vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free?
This recipe for crispy shiitake bacon is absolutely what you might be looking for.
Besides being a great crispy snack, this shiitake bacon is also perfect as a garnish for pasta dishes and kale salad.
To get the smoky flavor, use smoked paprika and liquid smoke. Meanwhile, maple syrup adds the sweetness we love in bacon and tamari brings a delightful salty kick.
Quesadillas are so easy to make and you can use nearly anything in your fridge to make this classic Mexican food.
We love it when we see creative recipes using diverse ingredients in quesadillas.
This recipe uses mushrooms, corn, and brie cheese to make a yummy quesadilla.
Also, you can use whichever types of mushrooms you like for this quesadilla, including button mushrooms, cremini, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and more.
With spices like cumin seeds, chili powder, and black pepper, these quesadillas are perfectly seasoned.
This elegant side dish is surely one of the easiest and best mushroom recipes.
Part of the beauty of mushrooms is that while mushrooms have their own subtle flavor, they also do a great job of soaking up the flavors of the other foods you cook them with.
When you need the perfect side dish to go with a rotisserie chicken or a delicious veggie topping for a beef steak, these sautéed mushrooms and onions and mushrooms really hit the spot.
This recipe for sautéed mushrooms has just six ingredients and it comes together more quickly than you would think.
To make these mushrooms and onions, you need butter and Worcestershire sauce to sautee the onions and mushrooms in.
The only seasoning you need for this delicious side dish is minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper.
When it comes to one-dish meals, nothing beats a savory, creamy risotto recipe.
This recipe is made with risotto rice, which is traditionally made with the short-grained Arborio rice from Italy.
Arborio rice has an excellent starchiness that really makes this risotto recipe special.
For the mushrooms, you can use any type you like. The recipe calls for chanterelle mushrooms, but you can also try crimini mushrooms, Hen of the Woods mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, white button mushrooms, and even shiitake mushrooms.
Butter, garlic cloves, fresh thyme sprigs, dry white wine, chicken stock (or vegetable stock), heavy cream, fresh lemon juice, and dry white wine all make this mushroom recipe the stuff of dreams.
Whether you’re a vegetarian or a dedicated meat lover, you will enjoy this savory and meaty portobello mushroom burger.
A marinade made with balsamic vinegar and tamari gives this burger its savory, tangy flavor. Meanwhile, extra virgin olive oil makes the savory mushrooms tender and moist.
Be sure your portobello mushrooms are super clean. Use a damp clean rag to wipe them off, then thoroughly dry them with paper towels.
Serve your portobello mushroom burger with french fries and all of the burger fixings. Think sliced tomato, sliced red onion, lettuce, and melty cheese.
These yummy sizzling fajitas are made with portobello mushrooms and they’re completely vegan or vegetarian.
Use fresh lime juice for these mushroom fajitas and give them lots of color with red onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper.
Serve these fajitas with flour tortillas, guacamole, cilantro, and some sour cream.
When you’re craving a vegan lasagna, turn to mushrooms for inspiration and flavor.
This vegan lasagna is loaded with spinach and sliced mushrooms, and it has four decadent layers of creamy vegan “ricotta” cheese, sauteed veggies, savory marinara, and ribboned noodles.
You can even use a jar of marinara sauce to make this recipe easier and quicker. We love Classico Riserva because of its low sugar count.
With onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes, this vegan lasagna has a lot of surprising flavors.
Are you looking for creative and healthy mushroom dishes that will satisfy the entire family? You can’t go wrong with mushroom pizza!
However, this taleggio mushroom pizza made with fresh herbs is far from ordinary.
What we love about this mushroom pizza is that you can use so many different types of mushrooms, including shiitake mushrooms, portobellini mushrooms, crimini mushrooms, or oyster mushrooms.
The herb topping consists of sage leaves, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, garlic, fresh parsley, and a splash of white wine.
Top this pizza with mozzarella cheese and drizzle with truffle oil.
To make this homemade pizza, you can make the easy pizza dough or use a store-bought pizza crust.
Different Types of Mushrooms
Do you need a quick and easy primer on which mushrooms are which? Here you go!
White Button Mushrooms: Button mushrooms are the ones you are accustomed to seeing at the grocery store in handy little eight-ounce packs. They are usually available either whole or sliced. Button mushrooms are actually the young stage of portobello mushrooms and have a very subtle flavor.
Shiitake Mushrooms: These unique mushrooms are native to the continent of Asia. Shiitake mushrooms have a savory flavor that has earthy notes. Their shape is delicate and shiitake mushrooms are delicious in stir-fry dishes, ramen noodles, and sauteed.
Maitake Mushrooms: In terms of size, maitake mushrooms are some of the smaller edible mushrooms. Maitake mushrooms are excellent roasted or sauteed. They have a peppery and earthy flavor and their edges are feathered.
Portobello (also called portabello mushrooms or portabella mushrooms): Usually, portobello mushrooms are the largest meaty mushroom available at the supermarket. The portobello mushroom is actually a matured version of cremini mushrooms. These large mushrooms have a unique flavor that is almost meaty. Their large size makes them perfect for grilling or stuffing.
Cremini or Baby Bella: Cremini mushrooms have a savory and robust flavor. These mushrooms are small and have a brown top. Cremini mushrooms are just slightly older than button mushrooms, but they’re younger than portobello mushrooms.
Lion’s Mane Mushrooms: We’ve been seeing lion’s mane mushrooms in nootropics (smart brain supplements) and even roasted in coffee to help people focus. However, lion’s mane mushrooms are also delicious when they’re sauteed or layered on a sandwich. Lion’s mane mushrooms have a tender, juicy, delicate, and meaty flavor. In appearance, lion’s mane mushrooms are white with a texture that looks like hair (like a lion’s mane, actually).
Want to be an expert on edible mushrooms? Watch the video below to learn how to pick the perfect mushroom for every single recipe.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
