Easy Roasted Mushrooms Recipe (2024)

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This recipe for mushrooms roasted in the oven results in a dish that's meaty, deeply flavored, and intensely savory.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

Easy Roasted Mushrooms Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated August 23, 2023

Why It Works

  • Roasting in a moderate, 375°F (190°C) oven gives the mushrooms plenty of time to concentrate in flavor.
  • Draining off the mushrooms' exuded liquid partway through the roast assists in browning and speeds up cooking time.

Let's face it: Raw mushrooms are bland, and having those raw slices added to my salads as a kid was part of the reason I grew up really disliking them. The other reason is that, when not properly roasted, they can be, well, slimy. A properly roasted mushroom, on the other hand, is meaty, intense, and deeply flavored. That's what we're after.

Easy Roasted Mushrooms Recipe (2)

Conventional wisdom tells you never to wash mushrooms, but it's okay—you can go ahead and do it. Even after a prolonged soak, they gain about 2% of their total weight in water, which is not enough to make a big difference in cook time. You can wash them in cold water, spin them dry in asalad spinner, and proceed as usual. Though I'd advise cutting and trimming them before washing, because, like the seminal 1986 Bon Jovi album, they're a bit slippery when wet.*

*Don't you just love contemporary topical references?

A moderate temperature is good for mushrooms, as you want to give them plenty of time to lose their internal moisture and concentrate in flavor. At 375°F (190°C), this can take over an hour, but there are ways to speed up the process.

See, mushrooms have a spongelike structure that very easily exudes its moisture. As this moisture escapes, it uses up the energy provided by the oven to evaporate. Until this moisture is mostly gone, it's very difficult for a mushroom to reach high enough temperatures for significant browning to take place.

I've found that by letting the mushrooms roast for a good 15 minutes, then draining off the liquid that's exuded into the tray, I can not only reduce total cooking time by about 15% and improve browning, but I also get the bonus of anintensely mushroom-flavored liquidto cook with. I like to think of it as a mushroom-flavored soy sauce alternative.

By the time the mushrooms have browned, they'll have shrunk down to about 50% of their original size. Oddly, the rules of mathematics don't seem to apply here, because they're way more than 200% more flavorful.

Roasted mushrooms are great on their own, tossed with a few herbs and olive oil, or as an ingredient in other dishes. Try adding them to your pasta, tossing them with sautéed green beans, or serving them cold with salads. And while this recipe is written for button or cremini mushrooms, the method can be adapted to work for many other types, including portobello, oyster, shiitake, wild mushrooms, and more.

December 2013

Recipe Details

Easy Roasted Mushrooms Recipe

Prep5 mins

Cook50 mins

Active5 mins

Total55 mins

Serves4to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (900g) button or cremini mushrooms, washed, trimmed, and quartered

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 8 to 12 sprigs thyme or rosemary

  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, chives, tarragon, or other fresh herbs

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Toss mushrooms with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Spread thyme or rosemary sprigs on top of mushrooms. Transfer to oven and roast until mushrooms release liquid, about 15 minutes. Carefully drain liquid into a separate container and reserve for another use. (It's a great vegan seasoning sauce.)

    Easy Roasted Mushrooms Recipe (3)

  2. Return mushrooms to oven and continue roasting until browned but still tender, about 30 minutes longer. Discard thyme or rosemary. Transfer to a bowl and toss with parsley, chives, or tarragon. Serve immediately.

Special Equipment

Rimmed baking sheet

Read More

  • How to Roast Fall and Winter Vegetables | The Food Lab
  • Roasting Mushrooms? Save the Cooking Liquid to Make a Savory Condiment
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
74Calories
5g Fat
7g Carbs
4g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories74
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g6%
Saturated Fat 1g3%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 220mg10%
Total Carbohydrate 7g3%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 3mg17%
Calcium 35mg3%
Iron 1mg5%
Potassium 691mg15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Easy Roasted Mushrooms Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to roast or saute mushrooms? ›

Roasting mushrooms is easy and one of the best ways to cook them. I roast mushrooms with olive oil and herbs until golden brown, then stir in fresh garlic a few minutes before they come out of the oven. Our oven-roasted mushrooms are simple and so flavorful.

What type of mushroom is best for roasting? ›

For our roasted mushrooms recipe, we use cremini mushrooms but you can make it your own and roast portobello, shiitake, or button mushrooms – whatever you have available! Cut into quarters and drizzle with olive oil and salt! Pro tip: place them cut-side down in a single layer to get that crispy bottom!

How long should you keep mushrooms in the oven? ›

Turn your mushrooms out onto the baking sheet and arrange them with the stem side down and then pop them into the oven. Keep an even space between your mushrooms so they have space to brown. Roast your mushrooms for 20/25 minutes until they are deep brown.

What is the best way to cook mushrooms? ›

Perfectly Cooked Mushrooms, Less Fat

You cook sliced or chopped mushrooms in a hot pan without adding any fat, liquid, or sauce. As the mushrooms heat up in the pan, they release their juices and cook in their own liquid, concentrating the flavor of the mushrooms.

Is it better to cook mushrooms in butter or oil? ›

Butter is great because it adds lots of flavor and produces a nice golden brown exterior, while adding oil allows the mushrooms to cook a little more quickly at slightly higher heat.

How to sauté mushrooms so they are crispy? ›

2Heat the olive oil in a large, wide skillet over medium heat. 3Add the mushrooms and spread into one layer. Then cook, without moving, until browned on one side, 3 to 5 minutes. 4Stir then cook another 3 to 5 minutes or until mostly golden brown on all sides.

What is the most flavourful mushroom? ›

Maitake. Also called Hen-of-the-wood, this is pound-for-pound the most flavorful mushroom around.

What is the healthiest mushroom? ›

Some of the mushrooms considered best for human health include chaga, lion's mane, reishi, turkey tail, shiitake, cordyceps and maitake. Often considered vegetables, mushrooms are neither plants nor animals. They belong to a unique kingdom of fungi.

What is the healthiest mushroom to cook with? ›

Shiitake, Oyster, and Lion's Mane mushrooms are considered one of the healthiest mushrooms. The shape, color, size, and flavor of mushroom varieties differ, but they do share similar nutritional values. Most mushrooms offer: Carbohydrates.

Should mushrooms be washed or wiped before cooking? ›

The Best Way to Wash Mushrooms

Yes, folks, you can indeed wash your mushrooms. The critical step is to wait to wash them until right before you cook with them so they don't get bogged down with water. After giving the mushrooms a rinse, dry them off, and you're ready to cook.

Do you cook mushrooms covered or uncovered? ›

Covering the mushrooms for the first few minutes of cooking helps them release their liquid and brown more quickly. Once uncovered, the liquid evaporates, and the mushrooms begin to brown.

Do you need to wash mushrooms before baking? ›

Regardless of the different schools of thought on how to get that pesky dirt off mushrooms, there is no doubt that it is important to clean mushrooms before cooking, one way or another. Vegetables (and fruits) can sometimes carry germs that can lead to foodborne illness, so it is important to be mindful.

Why do you need to soak mushrooms before cooking? ›

Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each morel mushroom stem and, if desired, cut the mushrooms in half from stem to tip. Rinse in cool water to remove any dirt and insects. If the mushrooms look clean, this may be enough; if not, a short soak in lightly salted water brings out any remaining insects and dirt.

What liquid to cook mushrooms in? ›

Olive Oil + Butter.

Sautéed mushrooms with butter have their benefits, but so do sautéed mushrooms with olive oil. I use both oil and butter for a dynamic duo that pairs searing (oil) with rich, satisfying flavor (butter). (I also use both in my Sauteed Spinach.)

How do you get the most flavor out of mushrooms? ›

The study demonstrated that cooking methods have an effect on the flavor profile of white mushrooms. Sear mushrooms for a more intense roasted, charred and smoky flavor and overall aroma. Roast mushrooms to get more sweet, salty and umami tastes with caramelized, nutty and buttery flavors.

What is the difference between roasting and sautéing? ›

Pan roasting means that the meat, poultry or fish is browned and then roasted, in a hot oven, until done in the same pan. Sauté means “to danse”and I'd done in a very hot pan using very little oil. Pan frying is done in deep fat at a controlled temperature at or around 350°F.

What is the healthiest way to cook mushrooms? ›

The researchers concluded that the best way to cook mushrooms while still preserving their nutritional properties is to grill or microwave them, as the fried and boiled mushrooms showed significantly less antioxidant activity.

How do you get the most flavor out of sauteed mushrooms? ›

Oil and butter: For the best and richest flavor, cook the mushrooms in a mixture of olive oil and butter. Mushrooms: A pound of sliced button mushrooms should comfortably serve about four people. Wine: A tablespoon of red cooking wine enhances the flavor of the sautéed mushrooms.

Do roasted mushrooms lose nutrients? ›

Even after harvesting, mushrooms can continue to produce vitamin D, whether exposed to UV light from the sun or a lamp. Humidity and cooking mushrooms in water do not appear to affect vitamin D content in mushrooms, but cooking them in fat (such as oils) can cause the vitamin to leach out because it is fat-soluble.

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