Best Ever Sauteed Mushrooms

Attention, mushroom lovers: here’s THE perfect sauteed mushrooms recipe! It brings out the best savory flavor with lemon and fresh herbs.

Hold on to your hats. This recipe truly makes the best sauteed mushrooms. They’re tender, juicy, and meaty with a brightness at the finish. Fresh thyme and oregano give an herby punch. Take one bite and you’ll exclaim “Wow!” (Yep, we promise. We did.) This recipe is all plant based but it has the illusion of taking a satisfying bite of meat. It also takes only 10 minutes to make. Your side dish game will never be the same!

How to make the best sauteed mushrooms

OK, we jest! But only a little. These sauteed mushrooms are indeed very tasty. One bite is the very definition of umami, that fifth flavor that rounds out sweet, salty, sour and bitter with savory. Here’s the thing: I’m a former mushroom hater who’s changed my tune. I’ve found that when cooked correctly, these little fungi are nature’s gift. Here’s what to do to make this easy sauteed mushrooms recipe (or jump to the recipe below):

• Clean and slice the mushrooms. Clean the mushrooms, then slice them.
• Sauté in olive oil. Sauté the mushrooms in olive oil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add herbs and continue cooking. Add roughly chopped fresh thyme and oregano and continue to cook, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Salt well. Mushrooms should be salted until the flavor pops (we recommend about ½ teaspoon kosher salt for 1 pound mushrooms).
• Remove heat and add lemon juice. When the liquid is cooked out, turn off the heat and stir in fresh lemon juice.

What’s the best type of mushroom to use?

The best type of mushrooms for sauteed mushrooms is baby bella mushrooms, aka cremini mushrooms. This variety is a more mature version of a white button, so it has a more robust, earthier flavor. As the name implies, it’s also a less mature version of a portobello mushroom. However, you can use white button mushrooms as a substitute if you can’t find baby bella mushrooms: they still taste great here.

Can you use portobello mushrooms? Or a mix of other mushrooms? Yes! Portobello mushrooms have a great meaty flavor. Simply chop the caps into bite-sized pieces. Using a mix of mushrooms is also nice, like in this Mushroom Pasta. Try a mix of baby bella mushrooms with shiitake and oyster, which results in lots of flavor and texture contrasts.

Can you use dried herbs instead?

The very best flavor comes from using fresh herbs in this recipe! Fresh thyme and oregano add an earthy, lightly citrus punch to this recipe. Or, use other fresh herbs you have on hand, like parsley or chives. It’s easy to find these fresh herbs in grocery stores, and of course if it’s summer: grow your own!

That said, you can substitute dried herbs here as well, though you’ll sacrifice a bit of the flavor. For 1 tablespoon fresh herbs, substitute 1 teaspoon dried herbs. (This substitution ratio works for any dried herbs.) So for the ⅓ cup fresh herbs, use 1 tablespoon dried oregano and 2 teaspoons dried thyme.

Variation: sauteed mushrooms & onions!

Want to vary these sauteed mushrooms? Try them with onions! This Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions recipe uses similar ingredients to make a seriously savory pan of goodness. It swaps out fresh herbs for meaty Worcestershire. Head to that recipe for a fresh variation!

Ways to serve sauteed mushrooms

There are so many ways to serve sauteed mushrooms! Here are a few ideas for how to serve them:

• With pasta. Serve alongside Mac and Cheese with Broccoli or Penne Pomodoro.
• With salmon. Try them as a side for salmon, like our Lemon Dill Salmon.
• In pasta. Boil up a pound of pasta, add these mushrooms, drizzle with olive oil and add goat cheese dollops or shredded Parmesan.
• On a burger. Try Black Bean Burgers, Chickpea Burgers, or Tuna Burgers with these mushrooms on top. Superb!
• On a pizza. They’re a natural pizza topping! Make our Homemade Cheese Pizza and throw them on top.

Mushrooms nutrition

Want more reasons to eat mushrooms? According to the New York Times, here are some of the nutritional benefits of mushrooms:

• They’re low in calories and fat and cholesterol-free (like all vegetables!)
• They have over a dozen minerals and vitamins, like potassium, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins such as folate.
• They’re high in antioxidants (like selenium and GSH), which are believed to protect cells from damage and reduce chronic disease and inflammation.

More mushroom recipes

Love this delicious fungi? Here are a few more of our top mushroom recipes to try:

• Throw them in the oven instead for Roasted Mushrooms, or go for Roasted Mushrooms
• Try Mushroom Pasta with Goat Cheese, an easy dinner recipe that tastes simply incredible.
• Opt for Mushroom Pizza with Fresh Herbs, a white pizza that’s covered with sauteed mushrooms and two types of cheese
• Go for Farro with Mushrooms, sauteed with garlic, fresh herbs and Parmesan
• Grab Creamy Mushroom Risotto, silky and luxurious

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Mushroom Pasta with Goat Cheese

02

Mushroom Pizza with Fresh Herbs

03

Creamy Mushroom Risotto

04

Roasted Mushrooms

This sauteed mushrooms recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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