7 Cremini Mushroom Substitutes

Mushrooms are some of the tastiest and most versatile ingredients out there.

7 Cremini Mushroom Substitutes

One of the best mushrooms out there are cremini mushrooms, also known as baby bella mushrooms, they have a delicious earthy taste and firm texture.

But if you don’t have any cremini mushrooms handy, or simply want to switch things up a bit, then you’re in luck!

here are plenty of great alternatives to cremini mushrooms out there that are just as good as the original – or even better!

We’ve gathered 7 of the best cremini mushroom substitutes in this handy list. So let’s get started, shall we?

7 Cremini Mushroom Substitutes

1. Button Mushrooms

These tiny mushrooms are actually from the same variety as cremini mushrooms, just at a different stage in their development!

As a result, they share a lot of the same qualities and flavor profile.

However, button mushrooms have a noticeably sweeter and more subtle flavor than the deep and earthy cremini mushrooms, making them the perfect substitute for lighter recipes.

Apart from the slight differences in size and flavor, though, button mushrooms and cremini mushrooms are almost identical.

This makes them the ideal 1:1 replacement in a recipe; essentially, button mushrooms pack all the great taste and texture of cremini mushrooms into one bite-sized package!

2. Chestnut Mushrooms

Chestnut mushrooms are well-known for their delicious earthy, nutty flavors.

They share a lot of similarities with cremini mushrooms; like button mushrooms, they are actually the same variety as creminis, but are a different strain.

Chestnut mushrooms are particularly great as a substitute in richer dishes, where their deep flavor and firm texture make them a delicious addition to any recipe they appear in.

With a distinctly stronger flavor than cremini mushrooms, chestnut mushrooms might just be even better than creminis!

3. Portobello Mushrooms

Just as button mushrooms are at an earlier stage in cremini mushroom development, portobello mushrooms are at their later stage.

This gives them a slightly larger size and a richer taste, packed with earthy umami flavors.

These brown mushrooms are high in riboflavin and protein, making them more nutritious than white mushrooms (as well as more flavorful!). 

Their firm texture and relatively low water content make portobello mushrooms incredibly versatile.

The perfect addition to anything from pasta to tacos to steak, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dish that can’t be improved by portobello mushrooms!

One of the most notable aspects of portobello mushrooms is their size, far larger than crimini mushrooms.

This means that you’ll have to chop them into much smaller pieces for most recipes if you’re using them as a substitute. alternatively, they’re the perfect size for stuffed mushrooms!

4. White Mushrooms

White mushrooms are essentially the same as button mushrooms and creminis.

As a part of the same variety of mushrooms, the only real difference here is a slight change in their size and flavor. 

Basically, white mushrooms are just baby mushrooms that are the same size as a crimini mushroom.

However, this just makes them the ideal alternative to cremini mushrooms, working as a perfect 1:1 substitution.

White mushrooms are incredibly similar to creminis visually, but without the brown coloring.

They also have a milder flavor than crimini mushrooms, and taste very similar to baby mushrooms.

They’re one of the most versatile mushrooms out there, making them a great substitute for cremini mushrooms in most recipes, and their firm texture helps give them a bit of a bite.

5. Porcini Mushrooms

Porcini mushrooms are one of the most underrated varieties of mushrooms out there.

With a distinctly earthy, ‘wild’ flavor and meaty texture, porcini are a delicious and versatile ingredient.

Porcini mushrooms have a more intense flavor than creminis, which does limit them slightly in terms of where they work best.

However, this rich and deep taste makes porcini mushrooms perfect for recipes such as stews and risotto, where they accentuate and absorb the richer flavors present.

6. Shiitake Mushrooms

These Asian mushrooms are famous for their rich, buttery taste and great health benefits.

Shiitakes have a strong, developed flavor that instantly improves any recipe they’re added to.

However, their flavor is much more pronounced than cremini mushrooms, and they can be overpowering in more delicate dishes.

Despite this, shiitakes are a great substitute for cremini mushrooms if you want an alternative with a richer, deeper flavor.

You don’t need as many shiitakes as creminis, so avoid using too many when you’re substituting them.

7. Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms have a delicate flavor that tastes like a button mushroom, but with more complexity.

Slightly earthy, slightly sweet – oyster mushrooms are great for adding a deeper flavor to a dish!

Their soft texture means that they aren’t as firm as creminis, but this spongy texture makes them great at absorbing the flavors of whatever they’re cooked in.

While oyster mushrooms are more different to cremini mushrooms than others on this list, they make just as good a substitute!

Final Thoughts

Mushrooms are a great ingredient that improve pretty much any recipe they’re included in.

They’re tasty, versatile, and are as good at taking on the flavors of dishes they’re added to as they are at improving them. 

Even if you can’t get crimini mushrooms, there are plenty of delicious substitutes out there that you can use in their place.

So if you’re ever caught without crimini mushrooms, don’t worry, Just use this list of 7 tasty alternatives to criminis, and you’ll have a dish that tastes just as good as the original – if not better!

7 Cremini Mushroom Substitutes

7 Cremini Mushroom Substitutes

Recipe by Jenna

Cremini mushrooms are a tasty and versatile ingredient, but there are plenty of substitutes you can use. This guide will take you through 7 of the best

Course: Dinner
5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

  • Button Mushrooms

  • Chestnut Mushrooms

  • Portobello Mushrooms

  • White Mushrooms

  • Porcini Mushrooms

  • Shiitake Mushrooms

  • Oyster Mushrooms

Directions

  • Decided on what substitute you need
  • Pick a substitute from the list above
  • Read what you need to substitute with
  • Create the recipe and enjoy

Recipe Video

Jenna
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