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Try these top baby bella mushroom recipes, from sautéed to roasted, stuffed to grilled! Cremini mushrooms easily transform into savory, meaty dishes perfect for any meal.
Baby bella mushrooms are some of the most versatile ingredients to use in your cooking. Also known as cremini mushrooms, baby bellas are small edible fungi with a round brown top and a robust savory flavor. They’re actually the same variety as white button mushrooms and portobello mushrooms: just a growth stage that’s in between the two!
Here are my favorite baby bella mushroom recipes that are perfect for showcasing this flavorful variety. As a cookbook author and recipe developer, baby bellas are one of my go-to types of mushrooms because of their deep savory flavor: you can enjoy them sautéed, roasted, in soups, pastas, pizzas, and more!
10 Baby Bella Mushroom Recipes
Hold on to your hats. This is the best sauteed baby bella mushrooms recipe! 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!” This recipe is plant based with not a lick of meat or dairy, but it has the feel of taking a satisfying bite of meat. It also takes only 10 minutes to make!
It's a toss up though: our other favorite baby bella mushrooms recipe has them baked in the oven! Yes, these roasted mushrooms can convert even mushroom haters into die-hard fans. Tender and meaty, topped with fresh herbs, you might not be able to stop eating them. (We inhale them in just a few minutes.)
These studded baby bella mushrooms have everything going on: they’re savory, meaty, and herby, with a tender exterior and a crunch in each bite. In fact, they came out even better than we expected! Even better, this recipe is incredibly easy: no need to sauté filling ingredients. Chop them up, fill, and bake!
Here’s a pretty darn perfect side dish: baby bella mushrooms and onions! This recipe is truly exceptional. The amount of savory umami flavor you get from cooking mushrooms and onions with a little butter and Worcestershire sauce…it’s out of this world. Pair it with almost anything for an outstanding meal. They’re just as good in a vegan rice bowl as with steak!
Here's another exceptional baby bella mushroom recipe: this mushroom pasta with goat cheese! It is so seriously good: it pairs savory mushrooms with bright lemon, Parmesan cheese, and garlic butter. And it’s done in less than 30 minutes. Boom! Mushroom lovers: you’re not going to know what to do with yourself.
Baby bella mushrooms are perfect in pasta...and soup! What’s better than a steaming cup of mushroom soup to warm your insides? This one delivers with flavor: the umami of the mushrooms against the creamy broth is absolute magic. It's a variation on our fan favorite wild rice soup (also with baby bellas) and it’s every bit as satisfying.
Of course...don't forget pizza as a prime baby bella mushroom recipe! This one's a white pizza, so no red sauce here! It’s covered with mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, and 'shrooms sauteed with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon. Perfection!
This baby bella mushroom recipe gives the humble quesadilla a fancy upgrade! The mushrooms are sauteed with fresh herbs, then nestled into a tortilla with gooey Brie cheese, arugula, and honey. The savory sweet combination is incredibly good. It's an elegant recipe that takes no time at all to whip up.
Here's another great soup starring baby bella mushrooms: mushroom barley soup! This one is full of flavor: it uses both dried and fresh mushrooms for earthy savoriness. And it’s got a warming broth and nutritious veggies. Whole grain barley infuses each bite with a pasta-like chewy texture. It’s perfect for desk lunches in a thermos or enjoying a big steaming bowl after a long day.
This farro with mushrooms is bursting with flavor from the savory baby bella mushrooms, garlic, and fresh thyme and oregano. Add a spritz of fresh lemon juice and some grated Parmesan cheese and well, its pretty heavenly. It's a fantastic side dish, or perfect for lunches with fresh veggies.
Last up in our baby bella mushroom recipes: grilled mushrooms! You can get big flavor with no need to marinate: just toss them with olive oil, lemon juice and herbs. Throw them on skewers and grill until tender, and they’re one of the best summer side dishes: hands down.
How to Select and Store Baby Bella Mushrooms
Look for baby bellas with firm, plump caps and no dark soft spots when shopping. Avoid any that look slimy or smell off. Size-wise, like to use medium sized mushrooms, but often you don’t have a choice when buying a package.
Storage actually makes a big difference in how long mushrooms last. I keep mine in their original packaging or in a paper bag in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh for 5 to 7 days this way: the paper bag is the best choice because it allows the mushrooms to breathe.
Preparing Baby Bella Mushrooms for Cooking
Here’s the right way to clean mushrooms: and it takes no time at all! There’s a best case method, and a cheater method in case you’re feeling lazy:
- Bowl method: Fill a large bowl with water. Add the mushrooms and toss them in the water for a minute or so until the dirty mostly settles to the bottom. Remove from the bowl and pat dry.
- Strainer method: Or for a cheaters method, you can simply place the mushrooms in a colander and spray them with water until the dirt washes away. Then pat the mushrooms dry.
For both methods, make sure not to soak the mushrooms: remember, shower not bath! You’ll want to get the mushrooms out of the water as soon as you can.
More Mushroom Recipes
There’s no shortage of mushroom recipes to choose from, featuring all different types—from baby bella to portobello and even more unique varieties! Here are some of my favorites:
- Vegan Walnut Taco Meat: Make vegan taco meat using walnuts and baby bella mushrooms!
- Broccolini Salad: Try baby bellas raw in this tasty salad.
- Vegan Biscuits and Gravy: Go savory with biscuits and mushroom gravy.
- Stuffed Portobellos, Portobello Mushroom Burger or Grilled Portobello Mushrooms: These massive and meaty mushrooms are mighty delicious.
- Oyster Mushrooms, King Oyster Mushrooms, Lion’s Mane Mushrooms or Enoki Mushrooms: All worth finding at your local grocery!
Sauteed Baby Bella Mushrooms (& More Recipes!)
Attention, mushroom lovers: here’s THE perfect sautéed baby bella mushrooms recipe! It brings out the best savory flavor with lemon and fresh herbs.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 9 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Sauteed
- Cuisine: Mushrooms
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 16 ounces baby bella (cremini) mushrooms
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh thyme and oregano*
- 3 tablespoons olive oil**
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Clean the mushrooms, then slice them. Chop the fresh thyme and oregano.
- In a saute pan or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often (the mushrooms will start to release their liquid at this point).
- Add the herbs, kosher salt, and pepper, and cook another 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is cooked out and the mushrooms are tender. (Taste to assess doneness.)
- Turn off the heat and add lemon juice and stir. Taste and add another pinch salt as necessary.
Notes
*I highly recommend using fresh herbs here for the best flavor!
**Step it up and add richness with butter if you’d like!
Your recipe is simple and I’m sure the outcome will be delicious with some additions
We love Baby Bella mushrooms and I buy a tub every week at the grocery. My problem is that I always saute them with shallots and red bell pepper and just vary whatever we put the delicios mixture over. Today my wife of 61 years told me, “I’m getting tired of that recipe.” I told her, that I’d look around for new recipes. I browsed my many cookbooks but failed to turn up much. Then I tried the internet and discovered you! Thanks for 10 new recipes. Problem
solved.
Thank you! Hope you enjoy.