Stuffed Mushrooms
134 Comments
Oct 05, 2024
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Stuffed mushrooms are always a party favorite, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tender mushroom caps are filled with a cheesy, herby, and garlicky filling, and then baked until golden. It’s the perfect vegetarian appetizer!
My Favorite Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe
Every time I bring these stuffed mushrooms to a holiday party, they disappear incredibly fast. So heads up, you might want to make two batches! Not only are they the perfect bite of cheesy, crunchy, umami goodness, but they’re really easy to make (and can even be prepped ahead of time). But, here’s what else you’ll love about my version:
- They have a unique filling. Instead of panko breadcrumbs, I use sauteed onions and crunchy pecans for extra texture and flavor. Plus, this makes them naturally gluten-free, so everyone can dig in without a second thought.
- They’re a BIG hit for holiday parties. Both these stuffed mushrooms and my crab stuffed mushrooms are highly requested for parties and holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Though I do make this classic version most often. And if you and your significant other are mushroom lovers, they’re the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day.
Stuffed Mushrooms Ingredients
- Cremini Mushrooms: Since this is a bite-sized appetizer, you’ll need baby mushrooms, specifically creminis or baby bellas. And keep scrolling below for my section on why you should try to avoid white mushrooms.
- Butter: You could honestly use butter or olive oil, but I prefer butter for a touch of richness. These are already a little indulgent, so might as well go all the way for maximum flavor!
- Onion and Garlic: Typically there’s no onion in a traditional stuffed mushroom, but I love a good garlic and onion combo. The little bits of onion also give the filling some texture and bulkiness. Shallot would be a great alternative as well.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese makes for an ultra-creamy texture and helps keep all the filling bits together. It’s the “glue” if you will.
- Cheese: Freshly grated parmesan adds another layer of flavor. But pecorino romano, gruyere, or any other hard cheese works—choose your favorite!
- Fresh Herbs: Freshly chopped parsley is my go-to. But you can use whichever tender fresh herbs you have on hand.
- Pecans: Chopped pecans add a deliciously crumbly texture and crunch. Plus, pecans really accentuate the fall vibes in this appetizer.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below
Why You Should Avoid White Mushrooms
White button mushrooms and cremini mushrooms actually come from the same species called agaricus bisporus. But the real difference here is that cremini mushrooms (also known as baby bella mushrooms) have a deeper, more complex flavor than white ones. Especially when made into these savory, stuffed mushrooms. White mushrooms will just taste a bit more flat or muted. So do yourself a favor and make sure to grab creminis instead of white mushrooms. You’ll have a much tastier appetizer!
How To Make Stuffed Mushrooms
Prep the mushrooms. Grease a baking sheet with a little olive oil. Then, remove the stems from the mushrooms by simply pulling them out with your hand. But don’t toss them away as you’ll need these to make the filling! Finely chop them up and set aside for later.
Saute the mushroom onion mixture. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook the chopped mushroom stems for 5 minutes, then add the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes and transfer the mushroom mixture to a mixing bowl. Give it some time to cool so it doesn’t melt the cheese mixture right away.
Mix up the filling. Once the mushroom mixture has cooled, stir the cream cheese, parmesan, parsley, and pecans together in a bowl. Remember to reserve one tablespoon of parmesan and pecans to sprinkle on top before baking.
It’s time to stuff! Since these are small to medium sized mushrooms, you’re going to use about one tablespoon of filling to stuff the mushrooms, creating a small mound on top. Just don’t add too much stuffing because your mushrooms will shrink in the oven.
Bake until golden. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 400°F (200°C), until the top is golden and the mushrooms are slightly soft. Don’t forget to sprinkle a little parsley on top before serving for a fresh, green touch!
Common Questions
One trick is to chill the filling before stuffing. This will help hold the cheesy mixture together as it bakes. If the filling is too soft or wet, it will slowly seep through the mushroom. You can also place the mushrooms on a wire rack on top of the baking sheet, which will allow the mushroom juices to drain away from the mushrooms.
No, you don’t. In fact, I’d avoid washing the mushrooms as it will soften them and they’ll become soggy once baked. Instead, use a damp paper towel to gently wipe the surface clean.
Absolutely! You can chop up other types of nuts like almonds or walnuts. If you’re not gluten-free, panko breadcrumbs are a traditional filler, though I do personally love this version with pecans!
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- To store in the fridge: Stuffed mushrooms will keep for 4 to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
- To reheat stuffed mushrooms: When you’re ready to eat, just pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute.
- Make ahead tip for the holidays: You can assemble stuffed mushrooms up to 12 hours before you plan to serve them. Just store them in the fridge in an airtight container, then pop them in the oven right before you’re ready to eat. Note–you may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time since they’ll be chilled.
More Holiday Appetizers
- Deviled Eggs: This is the number one holiday appetizer hands down.
- Hummus: You can’t go wrong with a classic hummus served with veggie sticks.
- French Onion Dip: Ditch the store-bought mix and make this homemade version–it tastes a million times better.
- Whipped Feta: A creamy whipped feta dip with roasted tomatoes on top.
- Shrimp Cocktail: It’s a timeless holiday appetizer with a zesty homemade cocktail sauce.
- Baba Ganoush: This smoky eggplant dip is insanely delicious.
If you make these stuffed mushrooms, I’d love to know how they turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration (and exclusive content), join my free newsletter.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Description
Video
Equipment
- Baking Sheet Pans My favorite sheet pans!
- Zwilling Chef's Knife The chef's knife I love to use.
Ingredients
- 20 baby bell or cremini mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ medium onion, finely diced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, grated
- ⅓ cup whole pecans, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Prep the mushrooms. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a baking sheet with a little olive oil. Remove the stems from the mushrooms, finely chop them, and set aside.
- Cook the mixture. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped mushroom stems and cook for 5 minutes, or until most of the moisture is gone. Add the onion, garlic, salt, and pepper, and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the onion has softened. Transfer the mushroom mixture to a mixing bowl, and let it cool slightly.
- Mix the filling. To the mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, parmesan (reserve 1 tablespoon), parsley, and pecans (reserve 1 tablespoon). Stir until well combined.
- Stuff mushrooms. Fill mushroom caps with the cheese filling, and evenly sprinkle the tops with the reserved parmesan and chopped pecans.
- Bake mushrooms. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden and the mushrooms are slightly soft. Garnish with extra parsley to serve.
Lisa’s Tips
- Avoid wet and soggy mushrooms by either chilling the filling before stuffing, or using a wire rack on top of the baking sheet to allow the mushroom juices to drain away as they cook.
- While it’s tempting to pack as much filling as possible, don’t overdo it. Stuff the mushrooms just until they’re slightly heaping—this ensures even cooking and avoids spilling since mushrooms will shrink slightly as they cook.
- Add more flavor into the filling by adding chopped sundried tomatoes, olives, crispy bacon bits, or other fresh herbs like chives, thyme, or rosemary.
- Make ahead tip for the holidays: You can assemble stuffed mushrooms up to 12 hours before you plan to serve them. Just store them in the fridge in an airtight container, then pop them in the oven right before you’re ready to eat. Note–you may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time since they’ll be chilled.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally published November 2021, but updated to include new information and photos for your benefit!
These are seriously amazing, next time I’m planning to make double so they last longer :) If I were to double the recipe would I just double everything or would some ingredients be increased by less?
Hi Ang – Happy to hear you’re loving these stuffed mushrooms! If you’re doubling the recipe, you can keep everything the same.
I just to do this, but I forgot, although I never put cream cheese. I love this recipe. Is better than mine. Thank you
Hi Julieta – I’m glad you love this recipe!
I’ve made these several times for before a big dinner gatherings and they literally vanish. So good. I did one small modification using an equal mix of Parmesan, Asiago and Romano cheeses. Great recipe. Everyone wants the recipe and I refer them to your website.
Hi Linda – Happy to hear this stuffed mushrooms appetizer has been such a hit!
Can you make and freeze these a week in advance? Having a party next week with no time to prep next weekend!
Fabulous recipe!! I made this for New Years and they were awesome!!! I substituted the cream cheese for low-fat ricotta cheese. We couldn’t stop eating them!! They are very easy to make. I also used your idea to elevate them on a baking rack while cooking which made an huge difference on the amount of liquid they absorb, which I really didn’t care for with other stuffed mushroom recipes. I’ll be making these during the year for sure!!
Hi Susan – Wonderful! Now you have an appetizer idea you can always count on :)
Love the idea of pecans rather than breadcrumbs! Thank you for an amazingly delicious recipe!!!
Yes, they add a lovely crunch. Enjoy!
Excellent Recipe. Made these for our NYE party and our guests loved them! I didn’t know what to expect really, I didn’t see how the cream cheese was not going to melt and these were not going to be a mess, but they held up! The Parmesan gave it a nice cheesy flavor, the cream cheese is smooth and buttery, and the onion and parsley give it depth. The surprising ingredient are the pecans that really work, a little crunch and that earthy taste that’s works so well with the mushroom. The beauty of this recipe is the mushroom comes through, it isn’t overpowered by the other ingredients!. In a way I felt all the other ingredients helped the mushroom come forth more. We followed the recipe to the letter, shrinkage does occur but had no affect on the final product. We had 20 guests, made 60 mushrooms and they were all gone in the first hour, and we had a full menu! Will make this again.
Thanks so much for the detailed and thoughtful review, Anthony! I’m thrilled that you and your guests loved these stuffed mushrooms for New Year’s.
Absolutely delicious! I had shallots so that in place of the onion. Also did 2 garlic cloves. Had leftover filling so served with a baguette. Will definitely make again!
Happy you enjoyed the recipe, Carrie!
Great recipe for a New Years party! I add some diced pablano peppers in with the onion and diced mushroom mixture. Addionally I sauté the mushroom caps slightly in butter with a few drops of Worcestershire before cooling the caps prior to filling. This removes any excess moisture and adds an additional layer of flavor.
Love those tweaks – sounds delicious!
One of my new favorites to make! It’s so easy, delicious and made me a runner up in our family food contest! Even my 3 year old daughter loves it!
I’m happy to hear it’s a favorite!
I am bringing these to a friends house who lives 45 min away – should I bake them first or bake when I get there
I would recommend baking there if possible. But you can assemble before hand. Enjoy!
Made these as a Christmas dinner appetizer and they were out-of-this-world delicious. Even our (meat loving) friends agreed, and they asked me to make them again for New Year’s :). Thanks, Lisa, for another amazing recipe!
Yay, happy to hear they were a winner! Thanks Cat!
Looked and tasted so delicious! They were a hit!!
Awesome! Happy to hear that!
Could you add sausage or breadcrumbs to this recipe?
Hi Jill – Yes, you can swap the nutty topping for breadcrumbs instead or a bit of sausage.
Wow, Lisa! These are amazing. I’ve been making stuffed mushrooms with parmesan for years but these have pushed aside my old recipe. Thank you so much! These are so delish! A big hit and so addictive!
Hi Deborah – So happy to hear you love this recipe!
What is the serving size the nutrition facts are based on? Sorry if I missed it!
Hi there! Each serving should be 2 stuffed mushrooms.
I’ve made these for the past 2 Christmases and they have been a hit. Very easy and quick to put together, I chopped the onion, mushroom stems and pecans in my mini food processor which made it even quicker. Today, I subbed in powdered garlic and dried parsley and still delicious. I used about 25 mushrooms and had plenty of filling. Lisa’s recipes never disappoint!
Hi Julie – So happy to hear this stuffed mushrooms appetizer is always a hit at Christmas!
This Stuffed Mushrooms are SO good!! I took them to a party and everyone raved about them!
Yay, love to hear that! They really are the best party appetizer. Enjoy!
I made this recipe to serve at a Progressive Dinner, as one of the many appetizers. The stuffed mushrooms received the most raves!! Delicious.
Amazing! I’m glad this stuffed mushroom recipe was a hit, Ann.
I would like to try these but I’m limited to an air fryer, can you give me an idea of time and temperature to do so.
Thank you
I haven’t tested these in the air fryer yet! But, I’ve read that cooking them at around 380°F for about 8 minutes might work.
I made these for Thanksgiving and YUM! The pecans add an extra hardiness… didn’t miss the sausage or bread from traditional recipes one bit! These will be a regular in my quick and delish repertoire!
So happy you loved them!
Wow, served for appetizer on Thanksgiving. They were delicious and a huge hit with everyone!
I made them the night before (I used the cookie sheet warmer rack as suggested).
They were perfection!
I will be making these again for sure!
Thanks!
Yay, happy everyone loved them. Thanks, Linda!