This mushroom sauce recipe takes the savory taste of sauteed mushrooms (cooked in garlic butter) and turns them into a sauce. Whether you’re looking to add a punch of flavor to your favorite dishes or just want a clean recipe with no fillers, this mushroom cream sauce is the one you’ll want to save.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for mushroom cream sauce, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Olive Oil – Used for sauteing. You can use avocado oil, or any neutral cooking oil you prefer. Cremini Mushrooms – You can buy them pre-sliced or slice them yourself. If you don’t have cremini mushrooms on hand, white button or chopped portobello mushrooms are great substitutions. You could even use shiitake mushrooms or wild mushrooms if you like. Unsalted Butter – Adds a rich, creamy texture to the sauce. Garlic – I recommend using fresh garlic for the best flavor, but you could use 2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for convenience. Fresh Thyme Leaves – You can also add or substitute other fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or oregano. If you want to use dried herbs instead of fresh, use 1 teaspoon dried to replace 1 tablespoon fresh, or just use a teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Chicken Broth – I used reduced-sodium because I always have it on hand, but you can use regular broth, vegetable broth, homemade chicken broth or bone broth if you prefer. You might need to adjust the amount of salt depending on how salty your broth is. You can also replace half of the chicken broth with white wine, which delivers more depth of flavor. Heavy Cream – This is the key ingredient for creamy mushroom sauce. It thickens nicely when simmered. Don’t substitute milk here, as the sauce will be too thin (unless you also add cornstarch or a cornstarch substitute). You can probably use coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk instead though, if you need to. Salt & Pepper – As needed to taste.
How To Make Creamy Mushroom Sauce
This section shows how to make mushroom sauce for steak or chicken, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card. I made this creamy mushroom sauce recipe with minimal ingredients, but diced onions are a common addition you can make. Simply dice 1/2 an onion and saute until browned before adding the mushrooms. (You can also throw in some leftover caramelized onions if you have them on hand — delicious!)
Storage Instructions
Store: Leftovers can keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To store, cool completely, pour into an airtight container, and place it in the fridge. Reheat: The stovetop over medium-low heat is the best method for reheating creamy mushroom sauce. It can separate if you use the microwave. Freeze: Since this sauce is dairy-based and doesn’t contain thickeners, it’s not ideal for freezing. You can try it (for up to 3 months), but it may separate when thawing.
Ways To Use Mushroom Cream Sauce
You can use mushroom sauce to create all kinds of flavorful dishes! Here are some ideas to enjoy these rich, comforting flavors: Medium-high heat will help the liquid evaporate, but you can reduce to medium heat if mushrooms start to brown too much.
Sauce too thin? Simmer it for longer! The mushroom cream sauce will cook down to get thicker, so just play with the cooking time to get the consistency you like. Sauce too thick? If the sauce reduces too much and becomes too thick, you can add more broth and cream in a 1:2 ratio, then simmer to thicken just enough. You can also thicken with parmesan. If you like the flavor, add 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese at the end and let it melt over low heat to make your sauce thicker. Sauce thickens as it cools. Keep this in mind, as it will get thicker when it goes from piping hot to warm. Consider how you’ll use it. A very thick creamy mushroom sauce for steak is ideal, but for chicken or pasta, a thinner one works better.
Below are a couple pictures from two different times I made this recipe, showing different thickness levels you can achieve — and you can also do something in between.
Chicken – I created this creamy mushroom sauce for chicken above all else, and it works with just about any prep method. Try it on pan seared chicken, crispy air fryer chicken thighs, or even mixed in with some shredded chicken. You could also use it on top of or as a stuffing idea for spinach stuffed chicken breasts. Steak – Mushroom sauce for steak is one of the best ways to use it! Try it over a classic reverse sear steak, a tender London broil, or an impressive ribeye steak. It’s also delicious over a roast, such as a juicy beef tenderloin or tri tip. Pork – I like to drizzle it over mushroom stuffed pork chops for the ultimate meal. Or, add the perfect finishing touch to pork steaks in the oven, a hands-off Crock Pot pork tenderloin, or simple air fryer pork chops. Potatoes – Add flavor and moisture to mashed potatoes (or cauliflower mashed potatoes for a lighter spin). Noodles – Serve mushroom sauce over your favorite pasta, or choose healthier noodle options like zucchini noodles and roasted spaghetti squash in the oven.
More Sauces For Steak And Chicken
Looking for other ways to amp up your chicken or steak! Try these zesty, herby, sweet, or savory options: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. Entire recipe makes 2 1/2 cups.
