Name: Marinated Mushrooms
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 18 min
Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Ingredients: 1 pound cremini (aka baby bella) mushrooms (or substitute button mushrooms); 1 shallot, minced; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley; 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup red wine vinegar; 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1 teaspoon kosher salt

This marinated mushrooms recipe makes the ideal appetizer! Each bite is bright and zingy from the flavorful marinade.

Here’s an easy Italian-style appetizer that will wow everyone with minimal effort: Marinated Mushrooms! You know those seasoned mushrooms you find at an Italian deli counter or antipasti bar at the grocery? They’re easy to make at home and full of bold, zesty flavor. Add them to a cheese board or antipasti platter, and everyone will be singing their praises. When we make a batch neither of us can stop sneaking intensely savory, tangy bites!

Ingredients for marinated mushrooms

Most of what you need for marinated mushrooms are pantry ingredients: but a few different fresh herbs are helpful for big flavor! Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:

Cremini mushrooms (aka baby bella)
Shallot
Garlic
Italian parsley
Fresh thyme
Olive oil
Red wine vinegar
Dijon mustard
Onion powder
Red pepper flakes
Sugar
Salt

Find cremini (baby bella) mushrooms

Our favorite type of mushroom for making marinated mushrooms? Cremini mushrooms! They’re a small mushroom with a round brown top, also known as baby bella mushrooms. We like the flavor best here because it’s more savory and developed than a button mushrooms. Here’s why:

Cremini mushrooms are the same variety as button mushrooms and portobellos. White mushrooms, aka button mushrooms, are an earlier growth stage and have a milder flavor. Portobello mushrooms are the oldest stage, so they have the most meaty and savory flavor.
What do they taste like? Cremini mushrooms have an earthy, savory flavor that tastes like a milder version of a portobello and a more developed version of a white mushroom.
Can you substitute white button mushrooms here? Yes! They work perfectly with this marinade.

Tips for marinated mushrooms

Making this marinated mushrooms recipe is very simple: the most important part is boiling the mushrooms first. Why? Here’s what to know:

Boil the mushrooms before marinating them. Do not skip this step! Boiling helps the marinade to permeate the mushrooms, and it also has a secondary function. It helps to wash off the dirt that may be stuck to the fungi when you buy them. Throw them right into the boiling water dirty: you’ll drain and strain it all out at the end.
Place mushrooms in the marinade for 30 minutes to 3 hours. They taste good right away: but the flavor is very vinegary when they are just made. After 2 to 3 hours, the taste melds into a rounder flavor.

Storage info

Store homemade marinated mushrooms for up to 1 week refrigerated. Keep in mind that the olive oil in the marinade solidifies in the refrigerator. So, you’ll want to leave ample time for the mushrooms to sit at room temperature prior to serving (about 15 minutes).

How to serve marinated mushrooms

What’s the best way to serve this marinated mushrooms recipe? They’re delicious right out of the bowl or jar (we like to sneak them out of the refrigerator). Here are a few ways to serve marinated mushrooms:

On a cheese board
On an antipasti platter
As a topping for bruschetta or crostini (with a whipped ricotta or goat cheese spread)
As a garnish for a Bloody Mary

More appetizer recipes

Looking for snacks or appetizers for a party? Here are a few more fun appetizer recipes to try:

Try Cranberry Goat Cheese or Blueberry Goat Cheese
Go for Margherita Flatbread or Caprese Flatbread
Opt for Olive Tapenade or Marinated Mozzarella
Grab Loaded Hummus Dip

This marinated mushrooms recipe is…

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