Your guide for how to grill mushrooms and the best easy balsamic grilled mushroom recipe. Believe me, if you aren't grilling your vegetables yet, it's time to start. You also need to try this Grilled Cauliflower and Garlic Grilled Zucchini.
Once it gets warm out, I want to make all my meals on the grill and that means side dishes too. There is nothing I hate more than having to run between the grill, oven, and stove to get one meal on the table. That means, whenever possible, everything is going on the grill. Vegetables are no exceptions and in fact, we like them even better on the grill. And grilled mushrooms, they are one of our all time favorites.
Grilling mushrooms does something pretty magical to this humble plant. The outside gets browned and caramelized with hints of smoke and char from the grill. The inside gets tender and meaty. They are delicious. Trust me.
They also do a great job of absorbing flavors. Whether you are making grilled portobello mushrooms for sandwiches or grilled criminis for a side dish, you can add tons of flavors with simple marinades and spice rubs to match any type of meal.
With all that said, I hope you are ready to add mushrooms to your grilling menu. You won't regret it.
What mushrooms are best for grilling?
The short answer is that you can grill any type of mushroom but depending on the type of mushroom, you will need to prep them slightly differently. We will cover the three most popular mushrooms for grilling.
- Portobello mushrooms: These large mushroom caps are one of the best options for the grill since they won't fall through the grill grates due to their large size. They can be used for sandwiches, steaks, or sliced for a side dish. To prep them for the grill, brush off any dirt or debris. Then remove the stem and if you like, scrape out the gills. They can be cooked directly on the grill.
- Crimini mushrooms (baby bellas): These smaller mushrooms are young portobellos that haven't matured as much. They are also called cremini or brown mushrooms. They are darker in color with a firmer texture than a white mushroom. They are great for the grill since they have a firm texture and get a nutty flavor when grilled. To prep for the grill, simply remove any dirt and then slice in half. Smaller mushrooms can stay whole. These work best on a skewer or in a grill basket.
- Button or white mushrooms: These are the most common mushrooms and also work great on the grill. To prepare, make sure to clean them, and then slice them in half. Very small mushrooms can stay whole. Due to their smaller size, these come out best on a skewer or cooked in a grill basket.
- Other varieties: Other varieties like shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, or enoki mushrooms can all be grilled as well. Since these mushrooms tend to be delicate, it is best to grill them on skewers or in a grill basket.
How to grill mushrooms?
Grilling mushrooms is actually extremely easy and you can make amazing mushrooms in just a few simple steps.
- Prep the mushrooms by brushing off any dirt or debris. For larger portobello mushrooms, remove the stem and gills if desired. For smaller mushrooms, cut the mushrooms in half.
- Add flavor with a simple marinade, spices, or seasoning. The simplest option is simply to toss the mushrooms with olive oil and your favorite spice blend. Simple salt and pepper work great. For marinades, please note that mushrooms absorb flavors quickly, so they shouldn't be marinated for more than 30 minutes. Marinades can be something simple like olive oil and vinegar, a store bought marinade or dressing, or a more complicated homemade marinade.
- Get the mushrooms ready for the grill. Larger mushrooms can go right on the grill. Smaller mushrooms should be threaded onto skewers or placed in a grill basket. In a pinch, you can also grill mushrooms in foil. More info on that below.
- Time to grill! Most mushrooms will take about 8-10 minutes. Make sure to flip the mushrooms (or skewers) or shake the grill pan during cooking. They are ready when there are grill marks and the mushroom is golden brown and tender.
How long do mushrooms take on the grill?
Most mushrooms will take between 8-10 minutes to cook and they should be flipped over halfway through the cooking time. If cooking in a grill basket, shake the grill basket 1-2 times during cooking. If you are grilling whole mushrooms, they will likely take 14-16 minutes to grill.
How to grill mushrooms in foil?
Another option for grilling mushrooms is to grill them in foil. This works best for smaller mushrooms and can be done with whole, halved, or sliced mushrooms.
Start by laying out a couple of heavy duty pieces of foil. Place the mushrooms in the center and toss with olive oil (or melted butter) and any seasoning you like. Then fold up the foil on the side and seal the packet closed. Place the foil packet directly on the grill and cook for 12-15 minutes, turning the packet once during cooking. Open carefully and serve.
What are the best ways to serve grilled mushrooms?
- Serve them as a side dish with your favorite grilled protein. We love them with this Grilled Greek Chicken, Grilled Tuna, and Grilled Sirloin Steak.
- Use grilled portobello mushrooms to make a delicious vegetarian burger with all your favorite toppings.
- Use smaller grilled mushrooms tossed in taco seasoning to make some amazing vegetarian tacos.
- Use your leftovers for salads, wraps, and the best breakfast scrambles.
- Serve mushrooms over rice, pasta, or your favorite grains with arugula and some quick cooking chicken sausage.
Flavor Ideas for Grilled Mushrooms
Mushrooms are like a blank canvas and take on flavors really well. Here are some of our favorite options for adding flavor to grilled mushrooms.
- Soy sauce: Instead of using salt for mushrooms, I love using soy sauce. It plays up the earthy flavors in the mushrooms and works great in marinades.
- Vinegar: Grab some balsamic, red wine, or sherry vinegar and add it to olive oil to create an easy marinade. The bite of the vinegar works great with the mushrooms.
- Steak seasoning: Mushrooms have a meaty flavor that stands up to spice. Premade spice blends like steak seasoning and montreal seasoning are a great option for mushrooms tossed with a little olive oil.
- Garlic butter: It's hard to talk about mushrooms without thinking about garlic and butter. Since garlic can burn on the grill, I like to saute some garlic and butter on the side and tossed the grilled mushrooms with it after cooking them.