Want more good mushroom recipes? You should try my Simple Shiitake Mushroom recipe as well as my Grilled Portobello Mushrooms.

Sautéed mushrooms have quickly become one of my go-to go-to, after-work side dishes. They are unfussy to prepare, and the simple combination of mushrooms, garlic, and thyme is simply so well-seasoned. Once you bite into one of these little gems, you’ll find that it’s almost impossible to stop eating them. They are certainly irresistible!

I’ve always truly enjoyed mushrooms, but since moving to the pacific northwest, I’ve been experimenting with them much more. Mushrooms of all kinds are everywhere here and it’s encouraged me to learn more about different varieties and how to cook with them. So, I want to start with the basics and a popular one – cremini mushrooms.

What are cremini mushrooms?

Cremini Mushrooms are actually the same thing as white button mushrooms except that they’re more mature. If picked earlier on, these mushrooms will be all white but if you let them mature a bit longer, they will brown and take on more flavor. Those brown and more well-seasoned mushrooms are what we refer to as cremini (or sometimes spelled crimini).

Fun fact: portobello mushrooms are the same thing as cremini mushrooms as well. The only difference is that portobello mushrooms are even more mature and thus larger and meatier.

Cremini Mushrooms vs Baby Bella Mushrooms

So wait, what are baby bella mushrooms? I wondered this for YEARS. Like, many years before I finally learned that cremini and baby bella mushrooms are the SAME thing. Yep, there’s no difference.

Remember when I told you that cremini mushrooms are only less mature portobello mushrooms? Well, that’s where the name “baby bella” comes from. They’re actually baby (porto)bella mushrooms. Fun, huh!?

sliced cremini mushrooms on a wooden cutting board

The Health Benefits of Mushrooms:

Aside from being an straightforward-to-cook satisfying veggie, cremini mushrooms are truly nutritious! They are a great source of many minerals including copper, selenium and phosphorus. They also provide B vitamins including; vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and B6 and they contain potassium, amino acids, vitamin D, selenium, riboflavin, phosphorus, zinc, folate, and manganese.

Mushrooms are surely a healthy addition to your diet!

Ingredients needed:

These flavorful mushrooms have tons of pleasing flavors thanks to the combination of earthy mushrooms, butter, garlic and thyme. Here’s everything you’ll need:

Cremini mushrooms. Use cremini mushrooms or you can sub with white button mushrooms or even shiitake mushrooms for this method. To save time, buy your mushrooms pre-sliced at the grocery store.
Butter + olive oil. Needed for cooking the mushrooms and giving them a rich, buttery taste.
Garlic + thyme. These are the flavor makers! Use fresh ingredients for go-to results. Feel free to sub the thyme with another go-to fresh herb.
Salt + pepper. To bring out all of the deliciousness!
Lemon juice. I highly recommend a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the flavor.

How to Sauté Mushrooms:

This cremini mushrooms recipe is particularly unfussy to cook and moves quickly. I recommend having all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go, near the stovetop before getting started. Here’s a short rundown of how to cook this dish, but scroll down to the recipe card for the full printable recipe.

Prep the mushrooms. Thoroughly rinse the mushrooms under water. Pat them dry and then cut the mushrooms into thin slices (about ¼ inch thick).
Cook the mushrooms. Add the butter and olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once the butter is fully melted, add in the sliced mushrooms with a good pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook for 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and herbs, stir, and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
Serve and enjoy! Garnish with additional herbs, a squeeze of lemon juice, and dig in!

Ways to serve these mushrooms:

Worth a second batch these sautéed mushrooms straight out of the pan or as a simple side dish, but here are some other fun ways to enjoy them.

Burger or sandwich topping. Drain any liquid and spoon some mushroom slices over your burger patty or sandwich fixings. For the reliable deliciousness, melt some cheese over the top. Yum!
Pizza. Drain the sauce from the mushrooms and use the sliced mushrooms as a pizza topping. So much flavor!
Potatoes. These sautéed cremini mushrooms (juice and all) are fabulous served over baked or mashed potatoes.
Protein. If you enjoy meat, these mushrooms are a pleasing topping for steak, chicken or pork chops but they’re also savory on top of a veggie burger or baked tofu!
Pasta. The mushrooms along with the juices are especially good mixed in with almost any type of pasta or tortellini.