Sautéed Mushrooms With Marsala Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

Sautéed mushrooms with Marsala wine is an elegant, restaurant-style side dish that’s also ridiculously easy to make. This is one of those sides you’ll return to again and again!

Ben and I love chicken Marsala. Especially Ben. He’s one of those guys that orders the same thing every time we go to certain restaurants. I’m the opposite; I like to try something new every time.

That said, he might be on to something with chicken Marsala. The flavors of the Marsala wine, chicken, and mushrooms—yum. It’s such a classic dish, and with good reason. And then there’s creamy chicken Marsala which is simply over-the-top yummy!

But if I had to choose one thing, chicken or the mushrooms, I’d choose themushrooms because sautéed mushrooms go well with so much more than just chicken. Who doesn’t love a juicy grilled steak with a pile of buttery mushrooms?

And that’s how this recipe for sautéed mushrooms with Marsala came to be!

About these Sautéed Mushrooms With marsala

• Low effort, big payoff. And aren’t those the best kinds of recipes? Sautéed mushrooms with Marsala are like something you’d order off the menu at a steakhouse, but they’re so easy to make at home.
• Versatile. This is a super simple recipe that makes a great side dish for busy weeknights. I’m thinking steak, of course, but alsogrilled chickenorpork. Vegetarian? Toss them in a bowl of pasta with skinny Alfredo sauce. They’re amazing on a salad. Or spoon the mushrooms and mushroom sauce over Instant Pot mashed potatoes. (Ooh yes!)
• No pricy mushrooms needed. I want to be the person who throws a container of fancypants mushrooms into my shopping cart at the grocery store, but then I look at the price and grab the white mushrooms instead. (Seriously, fancy mushrooms are so expensive!) This recipe adds depth and complexity to a skillet of everyday white mushrooms.

Ingredients you’ll need

• White Mushrooms: White mushrooms have a mild flavor, but that doesn’t matter in this sautéed mushroom recipe because the Marsala does the heavy lifting. That said, you can use cremini, portobello, or another variety of mushrooms instead of, or in addition to, white mushrooms.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: No need for anything fancy here since you’ll be cooking with it.
• Kosher Saltand Black Pepper: Always essential for enhancing the flavor of any dish!
• Marsala Cooking Wine: You can use either sweet or dry in this recipe; naturally, you can expect mushrooms cooked in sweet Marsala to have a sweeter finish.
• Butter: A dab of butter enhances the rich flavor of the Marsala mushrooms.
• Garlic: Add more if you’d like a bolder garlic flavor in your sautéed mushrooms.
• Dried Thyme: Earthy mushrooms always pair well with the woodsy flavor of thyme. Fresh thyme isn’t as strongly flavored as dried thyme so if you happen to use fresh, feel free to add more.

How to make Mushrooms With Marsala

Wash the mushrooms; slice them in half, or in quarters if they’re large.

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan set over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, then season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat in oil, then spread the mushrooms in a single layer.

Cook the mushrooms for 4 minutes undisturbed, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes without stirring.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the garlic for 1 minute.

Stir in the wine, butter, and thyme. Continue to cook for 3 to 4 more minutes, or until the Marsala wine has reduced slightly and the mushrooms are cooked through.

Important Tips For Success

• Allow the mushrooms to brown. It’s so tempting to stir the mushrooms frequently but for the best color and flavor, allow them to cook undisturbed for at least 4 minutes before flipping them.
• Use a large skillet. Spreading the mushrooms out in a single layer promotes browning. If there’s not enough room in the skillet, the mushrooms steam as they release liquid.

FAQs

What to Serve With This Dish

Serve sautéed mushrooms with Marsala spooned over air fryer pork chops, steak (or cauliflower steak!), or roasted chicken. Use them as a topping for black bean burgers or air fryer hamburgers, or enjoy them on top of a piece of toasted Dutch oven bread with freshly grated Parmesan. There are so many ways to enjoy this recipe!

Ways To Change up These Sautéed Mushrooms

• Try a different wine: Sherry and Madeira are both fantastic with mushrooms, or use any dry white or red wine you happen to have on hand.
• Swap in fresh herbs: If you have fresh herbs growing in your garden, swap sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary for the dried thyme. Another option is to skip the dried thyme during the cooking and finish your sautéed mushrooms with freshly minced chives or parsley.
• Add shallots: Instead of garlic, mince a large shallot; they work well with mushrooms and with wine, but they’re less pungent than fresh garlic cloves.

Storage, Make-Ahead & Reheating Tips

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
• Freeze/Make Ahead: Raw mushrooms don’t freeze very well because they get mushy. The good news is that sautéed mushrooms can be frozen very successfully. Buy mushrooms when they’re on sale and sauté them, with or without marsala. Cool to room temperature, package and freeze for up to a year. I like to put them in resealable bags, in a single layer (more or less), so they lie flat and thaw very quickly.
• Reheat: Mushrooms can be reheated on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave.

Leftover Love

Lucky you if you have leftover mushrooms! Toss them with pasta, butter, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Top fresh greens with warmed mushrooms. Add them to an omelet.