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There are several options if you can’t find cremini mushrooms! Here’s the best cremini mushroom substitute to use in your cooking.
Making a recipe and can’t find cremini mushrooms? We’ve got your back! Cremini mushrooms, also known as baby bella mushrooms, are small edible fungi with a round brown top and a robust savory flavor. They’re the same variety as white button mushrooms, but a stage older: so their flavor is more developed. They’re also a younger version of a portobello mushroom, the most meaty and savory mushroom of them all. So you’ll probably be able to guess what the best substitutes are…
Best cremini mushroom substitute
Remember: cremini = baby bella!
Before you start, remember that cremini mushrooms are the same as baby bella mushrooms! So if you’re at the store and can only find baby bellas: they’re one and the same! Grab a package of baby bellas and you’re done.
1. White mushrooms, aka button mushrooms
The best cremini mushroom substitute? White mushrooms, otherwise known as button mushrooms. White mushrooms are the same variety as cremini mushrooms, just a stage younger in development. This means white mushrooms won’t have quite the same developed savory flavor as the cremini, but they’re pretty close: and they have a very similar shape and size. This makes them the perfect 1 for 1 replacement.
2. Portobello mushrooms
The next best cremini mushroom substitute? Portobello mushrooms, chopped into smaller pieces. Portobello mushrooms are the same variety as cremini mushrooms, just a stage older in development. This means they have an even more meaty and savory flavor. In most cases, portobello mushrooms will make your recipe taste even better!
The only situation where this won’t work is if you’re making stuffed cremini mushrooms: in this case, use white mushrooms instead since they’re a better size match.
Related recipes
Here are some of our favorite cremini mushroom recipes:
- Sauteed Mushrooms
- Stuffed Cremini Mushrooms
- Roasted Mushrooms
- Cremini Mushrooms and Onions
- Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pasta
- Mushroom Pasta with Parmesan
- Wild Rice Mushroom Soup
- Cremini Mushroom Pizza
- Brie & Mushroom Quesadilla
- Mushroom Barley Soup
- Farro with Mushrooms & Parmesan
- Grilled Cremini Mushrooms
Sauteed Cremini Mushrooms (& Substitute Ideas!)
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Here’s the best basic cremini mushrooms recipe, sauteed to perfection! If you can’t find them, substitute white button mushrooms or portobello mushrooms.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cremini mushrooms (or white mushrooms or chopped portobello mushrooms)
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh thyme and oregano
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- 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 and 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.
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Sauteed
- Cuisine: Mushrooms
- Diet: Vegetarian
I’ve found many recipes that I’d like to try, but then I see “1 pound cremini mushrooms”. My husband hates mushrooms of all varieties. Like seriously hates them. Is there anything that can be substituted in to give the dish similar flavor (and fill in the bulk) of the mushrooms?
There’s really nothing like mushrooms! I’d probably go with sweet vidalia onions for bulk and savoriness.