Mushroom fans, you’ll love this roundup featuring dozens of cremini mushroom recipes, including appetizers, side and main dishes, sandwiches, soups, and lots more (they’re sometimes spelled crimini). This collection of plant-based, wholesome dishes will come in handy when you’re wondering what to do with that container of cremini mushrooms in the fridge!
Cremini (or crimini) mushrooms are also known as baby bella (short for baby portobella, even though the latter is more often spelled portobello these days). And like their larger cousin, they’re a brown, earthy-tasting mushroom that is, if anything, even more versatile.
The earthiness and umami of cremini mushrooms are heightened with light cooking, and there’s no category of savory dishes in which they’re not welcome. Let’s get started!
Main dishes with cremini mushrooms
Vegan Shepherd’s Pie with Lentils and Mushrooms: With a richly flavored filling of lentils and mushrooms, this is a deep dish of comfort. It’s a fantastic main dish for the vegans and vegetarians at your holiday table or as a company dish in the fall and winter.
Kale Pesto Pasta with Mushroom “Bacon”: Kale pesto goes a lot farther than using a bunch of basil, the traditional ingredient in pesto — and maybe you’ll find that it tastes even better. The lovely green color of this kale pesto pasta dish is assisted by a small amount of green peas.
Vegan Tetrazzini Pasta: This vegan interpretation of a classic pasta dish makes use of plant-based “chik’n” or baked tofu, and the creaminess is courtesy of silken tofu.
BBQ Roasted Tempeh and Vegetables: BBQ roasted tempeh and vegetables uses common vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, onion and zucchini, and mushrooms, adding up to a good, sturdy vegan main dish.
Roasted Vegan Sausage with Fennel and Polenta: What’s best about roasted dishes they need little embellishment. A few vegetables, a little olive oil, and subtle seasonings are all it takes to make a dish with an automatic wow factor.
Vegan Dirty Rice: Thanks to plant-based sausage and mushrooms, it’s easy to enjoy a “clean” interpretation of the original with this hearty recipe.
Skillet Broccoli Rabe with White Beans and Polenta: This is earthy preparation of broccoli rabe with white beans (cannellini) and mushrooms is good served on its own in shallow bowls with crusty bread, or over pasta or polenta.
Buddha’s Delight: Featuring seitan, vegetables, baby corn, and mushrooms, this Buddha’s Delight recipe replicates a traditional recipe that has become a Chinese restaurant menu favorite.
Mushroom-Barley Pilaf with Peas and Carrots: Here’s a hearty, naturally vegan skillet main dish or side, perfect for warming up on chilly evenings.
Vegan Vegetable Tart: This savory tart is practically effortless to make and gorgeous to behold. This recipe, featuring asparagus, mushrooms, bell peppers, and red onion on puff pastry, makes two generous rectangular tarts.
Cremini Mushroom Side Dishes
Braised Mustard Greens with Mushrooms: In this delectable mustard greens recipe, braising the greens with mushrooms is a doubly earthy preparation.
Sautéed Fennel with Leeks and Mushrooms is a simple skillet side dish with lots of character. Anise-flavored fennel is an offbeat vegetable that’s often overlooked.
Lemony Asparagus with Mushrooms: This is a fantastic choice as a side dish for springtime special occasion like Easter or Passover, but it’s easy enough to make for everyday meals. Aside from serving this just as is, you can used leftovers tossed into salads or cooked grains.
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts: If you love Brussels sprouts and spicy Asian flavors, you’ll adore this deliciously addictive spicy dish. It’s an easy and flavor-filled stir-fry that’s as irresistible as it is wholesome.
Mushroom Barley Wild Rice Pilaf: A comforting skillet dish, mushroom-barley wild rice pilaf is warming cool season weekend fare or a lovely side dish to serve at fall and winter holidays.
Sandwiches, Burgers & Pizza
Mushroom and Kidney Bean Burgers: An explosion of umami, these vegan burgers can be served with your favorite condiments, yet are tasty enough to eat on their own or over greens.
Pulled Mushroom Barbecue Sandwiches: Smothered in a savory barbecue sauce, these hearty sandwiched will win over the most ardent mushroom skeptics.
BBQ-Flavored Lentil Sloppy Joes: As satisfying as any kind of burger meal, these vegan barbecue-flavored lentil sloppy joes are ready fast if the lentils are cooked ahead of time. You also have the option of using canned lentils, because why not?
Red Onion, Mushroom & Baby Kale Pizza: Filling and flavorful, this red onion, mushroom, and baby kale pizza departs only slightly from tradition with a companionable trio of vegetable toppings.
Soups and stews
Mixed Mushroom Barley Soup: In this vegan interpretation of a classic soup, using a variety of mushrooms adds interest, and you also have the option of making it a mushroom-farro soup by swapping in this chewy, nutty ancient grain.
Gingery Miso Mushroom Bok Choy Soup: This light yet satisfying soup is a great way to warm up most any time of year.
Vegan Thai Coconut Soup with Vegetables and Tofu: Inspired by Tom Kha Gai, a classic Thai coconut soup, this vegan version can be made with tofu or other plant protein of your choice. It’s a light, lilting vegetable-rich soup that can be enjoyed year round.
Quick Asian Noodle Bowls with Colorful Vegetables: This quick, easy recipe is an easy delivery system for an array of colorful vegetables. Featuring bean thread noodles and mushrooms, this might just become your go-to recipe when you crave a warming Asian-style dish in minutes.
Spanish Vegetable Stew: Menestra de Verduras has many regional variations, and can be made with different vegetables according to season.
Appetizers using cremini mushrooms
Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms with Sriracha and Parsley: A simple dish of garlic mushrooms made in the skillet is spiced up to your taste with sriracha. Serve as an appetizer or side dish.
Vegan Mock Chopped Liver: What am I, chopped liver? Fortunately, no. Made of onions, mushrooms, and cashews, vegan mock chopped liver has replaced the classic Jewish pâté as a contemporary appetizer for special occasions.
Ajillo Mushrooms and Asparagus: This simple combination of mushrooms and asparagus was inspired by the popular Spanish tapas (appetizer) dish, champiñones al ajillo.
More cremini mushroom recipes
How to Make Vegan Mushroom “Bacon”: See how to easily make vegan mushroom bacon with just a few simple ingredients — soy sauce, maple syrup, and barbecue seasoning blend. And you can use almost any kind of mushroom — shiitake, cremini, oyster, portobello, and others.
The Best Vegan Biscuits and Gravy: Did you ever think you’d see the day when you could make vegan biscuits and gravy? Well, that day has arrived!
Savory Steel-Cut Oats with Greens and Mushroom “Bacon”: Warm bowlfuls of savory steel cut oats make a delicious weekend breakfast or brunch.
Chickpeas and Green Beans with Balsamic Mushrooms: Here’s an appealing medley of chickpeas and green beans embellished with brown mushrooms sautéed in balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Easy Vegan Mushroom Gravy is so easy to make for enhancing weeknight meals as well as special occasion fare. It’s a fantastic choice when you want something comforting that doesn’t take long to make. Use over mashed or smashed potatoes, green vegetables, tofu and tempeh, and more.
Easy Vegan Mushroom and Tempeh Chorizo: If you’re a DIY cook, you’ll be delighted by how easy and fast it is to make your own vegan chorizo with this recipe.
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