10 Ways to Use Mushrooms As a Substitute for Meat

Toss mushrooms on baking tray — The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Here’s a not-so-secret culinary truth: Mushrooms are one of the best vegetarian substitutes for meat. To start, mushrooms are naturally chewy, they crisp up beautifully, and they readily absorb delicious sauces to make them even more flavorful. In addition to taste and texture, mushrooms are also an environmentally-friendly swap and they’re generally cheaper compared to their meat counterparts. The only downside? While mushrooms are great as a culinary swap, they're not a great nutritional swap because they have little to no protein (so bulk up on these plant-based proteins instead).

The “portabella as a burger patty” is probably the most popular way to use mushrooms as a substitute for meat, but that’s just the beginning. King Oyster mushrooms, for example, can be turned into crave-worthy pulled pork or a vegan alternative to scallops. Those creminis from the grocery store can be transformed into a ground meat-like texture, which is ideal for sty-fries, burgers, and not-meat sauces. And shiitake mushrooms might even beat out pork as your favorite morning bacon. Need even more proof? Let’s take a look at just how delicious mushrooms can be in your favorite meaty recipes.

01 of 10

Burgers

The Spruce

You don’t need a pre-made meat alternative to make a delectable veggie burger, you just need mushrooms, a little culinary know-how, and a hot pan. Unlike other vegetable-based patties, mushroom burgers brown beautifully with a little oil and enough heat. The results are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside — just like your favorite fast food burger.
02 of 10

Bacon

Here is where mushroom’s ability to absorb flavorful sauces really pays off. Soaked in a smoky, umami-rich sauce (think soy sauce, liquid smoke, smoked paprika) mushrooms mop up all the flavors of bacon. Then they can be sliced thinly and pan-fried or oven-roasted for a faux bacon to top salads, burgers, and breakfast sandwiches.
03 of 10

Vegetarian Stuffing

Cameron Whitman / Stocksy

You can stuff mushrooms in everything from empanadas, to zucchini, to Wellington (you know, without the beef). This is an easy way to bulk up your meals with something delicious and filling.
04 of 10

Kebabs

Ina Peters / Stocksy

Swap mushrooms for your favorite marinated chicken on the grill. Mushroom kebabs rival the best poultry version due to their power to take on your favorite marinade or BBQ sauce and they get wonderfully charred on the grill. King Oyster mushrooms are one of our favorites for this mushroom-for-meat m swap.

Continue to 5 of 10 below.
05 of 10

Pasta Sauces

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

Mushrooms can be the meatless alternative to bacon or guanciale in creamy carbonara; Or they can be finely minced for a vegetarian version of your favorite bolognese or Sunday sauce (think that meat packed red sauce, sans meat).
06 of 10

Potstickers

The Spruce / Christine Ma

Partnered with tofu, mushrooms can become the meaty filling of a vegan potsticker that tastes better than takeout. Shiitakes really shine in this simple, delicious filling.
07 of 10

Pizza Topping

Ivan/Getty Images

This fungi pie is delicious and you get a full serving of vegetables with your Friday night pizza fix. The key is to cook the mushrooms down before adding them to the pizza to bring out their flavor.
08 of 10

Steak

Frank Schiefelbein/EyeEm/Getty Images

We’d be hard pressed to say that mushrooms can really replace a steak on the grill or under the broiler — especially if they were put side-by-side. But consider this a call to try seasoning portobello mushrooms and putting them under the broiler or on the grill instead of just between burger buns.

Continue to 9 of 10 below.
09 of 10

Stir-Fry

The Spruce / Ali Redmond

This is the mushroom stir-fry to try if you love beef and broccoli. Mushrooms brown beautifully in a hot wok and take on every bit of stir-fry sauce as they cook.
10 of 10

Tacos

The Spruce Eats / Ubish Yaren

Look no further than your grocery store produce section for vegetarian taco and enchilada filling. With a quick pan-fry or roast, mushrooms can be quickly wrapped in tortillas for a fast and satisfying meal.

Article Sources

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Mushrooms, white button. Fooddata Central, United States Department of Agriculture