This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
Table of contents
Our crabmeat stuffed portobello mushrooms combine quality ingredients with simple preparation to create a dish that’s perfect for a special dinner, an indulgent weeknight treat, or a starter for a multi-course meal. Our easy recipe features meaty portobello mushroom caps filled with a savory mixture of lump crabmeat, panko breadcrumbs, sautéed onion and garlic, fresh thyme, zesty lemon juice, and finely shredded mild cheese.
Notes From the MGC Kitchen
We got the idea for this recipe about 15 years ago when a friend of my mom’s served her a version that used store-bought, frozen crab cakes to stuff portobello mushroom caps. She would cook the crab cakes according to the package directions, then chop them up, add some cheese, stuff the mushrooms, and bake them until the mushrooms were tender.
The overall idea is a good one, but since most frozen crab cakes are already fully cooked, the thought of cooking the crabmeat for a third time seemed a bit much. Consequently, we set to work on developing a version that used pasteurized crabmeat and a modified version of our popular crab cake recipe. Thank you, Rita, for the inspiration.
Key Ingredients
Here’s an overview of the essential ingredients for this recipe, along with shopping tips, and possible substitutions. The complete ingredient list is in the recipe card below.
- PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM CAPS: When shopping for portobello mushrooms, look for ones that are firm, evenly colored, and free from dark spots or discoloration. Portobellos are often packaged together under plastic wrap, but if you’re able to pick them individually, avoid any that have slimy spots or damaged gills. If they are wrapped, check to be sure there’s no condensation under the plastic. Store portobellos unwashed in the coolest part of your refrigerator and use them within 3 days if possible.
- CRABMEAT: Pasteurized crabmeat can be found in the refrigerated section of your grocer’s seafood department. It’s fully cooked and ready to eat (see our guide to the different varieties below). Unopened, it has a shelf life of six months to a year, so be sure to look for a “use by” date stamp on the container. Once you’ve opened it, though, you’ll want to use it up within a day or two.
- MILD SHREDDED CHEESE: For the best results, we recommend using Muenster or Monterey Jack cheese. Both melt easily and have a mild flavor that complements the crab without overpowering its delicate flavor.
- PANKO BREADCRUMBS: Panko crumbs are crispier and less dense than regular dry breadcrumbs, so they are definitely the better choice for this recipe.
- FRESH LEMONS: Fresh lemon juice in the crabmeat stuffing and extra lemon wedges for serving are essential for this dish. Their fresh citrus flavor cuts through the richness of the crabmeat and cheese.
- FRESH THYME: We really enjoy the earthy, herbaceous flavor of fresh thyme in this recipe. Thyme and mushrooms have a natural flavor affinity which complements the crab nicely.
A Guide to Shopping for Crabmeat
Most grocery stores carry a few varieties of pasteurized crabmeat. Since they can all be pretty pricey, we’ve created this little shopping guide to help you choose the best type for your recipe and make the most of your purchase.
LUMP: Crabmeat labeled as “lump” generally consists of a mixture of small pieces from the jumbo lump area as well as pieces from other areas of the crab’s body. Lump crabmeat has a delicate texture that makes it the perfect choice for making crab cakes.
JUMBO LUMP: Premium crabmeat labeled as “jumbo lump” comes from the two muscles that are connected to the swimming legs of the crab. The pieces are large, with a tender, meaty texture, and sweet flavor. You can certainly use this variety to make crab cakes, but given its hefty price tag, jumbo lump crabmeat is best reserved for dishes like salads, pasta, or cold seafood cocktails.
CLAW: The meat from the claws of the crab is darker in color, stronger in flavor, and not as sweet as lump crabmeat. It’s best used in dishes like soups and dips where the crab flavor needs to stand up to other ingredients.
How To Make Crab Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Here’s a basic overview of how this dish is prepared. For detailed, step-by-step instructions and a complete ingredient list, please refer to the printable recipe card below.
PRE-BAKE THE PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM CAPS: Preheat the oven and coat a shallow baking pan with nonstick spray. Remove the stems from the portobello caps and reserve. Scrape the gills from the mushrooms, then brush the caps clean with paper towels. Place the mushrooms on the baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 8 minutes, then blot away any liquid that has pooled inside and around the mushroom caps with paper towels. Set aside.
PREPARE THE STUFFING: Dice the mushroom stems and place them in a mixing bowl. Add the crabmeat, panko, onion, garlic, thyme, and lemon juice.
Reserve some shredded cheese for topping, then add the remainder to the crab mixture. Combine, season to taste, then add a beaten egg. Divide the stuffing between the mushrooms and compress it to form a mound in each mushroom cap.
BAKE AND SERVE: Bake the crab-stuffed mushrooms until the crabmeat stuffing is firm and golden brown. Remove from the oven, top with shredded cheese, and return to the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with lemon wedges and a dash of hot sauce if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions For Crab-Stuffed Portobellos
Mushrooms contain a lot of water, which is released during cooking. When making stuffed mushrooms, you’ll want to pre-bake the caps to draw out the water. Some of it will evaporate, and you can blot away the remainder before adding your stuffing.
Crab stuffed portobello mushrooms are a light entrée that pairs well with simple side dishes like roasted asparagus or steamed green beans, a fresh green salad, and slices of crusty bread with butter.
When properly handled, crab-stuffed portobellos can be kept for up to two days and reheated. Be sure they have completely cooled before storing them in an airtight container. When ready to serve, heat them, uncovered, for 10 minutes in a preheated 375°F oven.
Although we don’t recommend it because of potential changes to their texture, you can freeze crab-stuffed mushrooms for up to a month. Allow them to cool completely, wrap them individually in aluminum foil, then place them in a zip-top freezer bag. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and reheat uncovered in a preheated 375°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
Discover More Ways to Cook With Crab
Having some pasteurized crabmeat on hand in your fridge means you’re always ready to whip up a tasty, seafood-based dish with ease. Fully cooked and ready to use straight from the container, it can be used in a wide range of dishes, from salads and dips to simple yet elegant main dishes.
Our easy crab cake recipe is ready in just half an hour and is our favorite way to cook with crab. Another favorite, particularly in summer, is Crab Louie salad, a classic American dish made with fresh ingredients and a unique, tangy dressing. We’ve also created a simple pasta dish made with linguine and lump crabmeat tossed with a light white wine butter sauce and diced fresh tomatoes.
Crab-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 4 portobello mushroom caps, 3-1/2 to 4" diameter
- 8 oz lump crabmeat, see notes
- 1/2 cup panko crumbs
- 2 tablespoons minced sweet onion
- 1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1/4 teaspoon dried (see notes)
- 1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed from 1/2 lemon
- 2/3 cup mild shredded cheese, divided (see notes for recommendations)
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
Pre-bake the portobello mushroom caps:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and coat a shallow baking pan with nonstick spray.
- Remove the stems from the portobello caps and reserve. Using a spoon, gently scrape the gills from the mushrooms, then brush the caps clean with paper towels.
- Place the mushrooms (top side down) on the prepared baking sheet and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bake for 8 minutes, then blot away any liquid that has pooled inside and around the mushroom caps with paper towels. Set aside.
Prepare the stuffing:
- While the portobellos pre-bake, dice the mushroom stems and place them in a mixing bowl. Add the crabmeat, panko, onion, garlic, thyme, and lemon juice.
- Reserve 2 tablespoons of the shredded cheese for topping, then add the remainder to the crab mixture. Combine gently and season to taste with salt and pepper before stirring in the beaten egg.
- Divide the stuffing between the mushrooms and gently compress it to form a slight mound in each mushroom cap.
Bake and serve:
- Bake the crab-stuffed mushrooms for 10 to 12 minutes, until the crab mixture is firm and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, top each mushroom with a portion of the remaining cheese, and bake for an additional 2 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve with lemon wedges and a dash of hot sauce if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What grocery stores can you buy full portabello mushrooms at?
Hi Kelsea,
I’ve seen whole portobello mushrooms (stem included) at Whole Foods Market, but portobello caps, which is what this recipe calls for should be available in the produce section of most local grocery stores.
This recipe was delicious. I served these with a creamy horseradish dip on the side to give it a zing.
Thanks for the recipe.
I’m traveling on Thanksgiving and I can’t cook until I get to my destination . Can I precooked the mushrooms the night before? Or will the mushrooms become soggy?
Hi Neff,
That’s a good question! All mushrooms give off liquid as they cook, so if you’re not going to serve them right away, I would pre-bake the portobello caps to get them to release some of that liquid before you add stuffing. Up the oven temperature to 400°F, lightly salt the inside of the portobello caps, and bake for 5 to 7 minutes. When you take them out of the oven, blot any liquid that pools in the center with paper towels and let them cool down before adding the stuffing. Lower the oven temp back to 375°F and bake until the crab mixture is set and just beginning to brown. Let them cool completely before refrigerating so they don’t give off steam. This should prevent the stuffing from getting soggy. Reserve the extra cheese for when you’re ready to reheat and bring them to room temperature before popping them into a 400°F oven for 6 to 10 minutes. You’ll need to keep a watchful eye. Hope this helps!
Can I substitute Mozzarella cheese instead of Muenster or Jack? I have never made stuffed crab before which at my age who loves trying new dishes is a shocker. I can’t let my husband think that I stopped experimenting lol
Hello!
These look fantastic. I was wondering though how many ounces for each mushroom? I found a 2 pack and they are about 7 oz each. Are those the ones you used?
Hi Nicole,
Most portobello mushroom caps weigh 3 to 3-1/2 ounces each, so yes, you absolutely have the right size.
Hi, weird question but any way to do on the stove top with a grill pan? I bought all the ingredients but my oven broke..
Hi Kimberly,
Truthfully I think you’d be better off with a regular frying pan than a grill pan, but here’s what I think you could try:
Brush your frying or grill pan with a little oil, add your portobello caps and cook over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes per side to tenderize them, then set aside.
Combine the remaining ingredients and form the mixture into crab cakes that are about the diameter of your mushrooms. Add some more oil to the pan and fry them until golden, maybe 2 minutes per side. The tricky part here is keeping the crab mixture holding together as a crab cake. If they don’t stick and you’re careful turning them it should work out.
Once they’re lightly browned, carefully press them into the mushroom caps, then put them back in the pan, filling side up. Add a little extra cheese on top, cover the pan and cook over medium heat for another 3 minutes or so.
Good luck!
Do you publish a cookbook?
Hi Kevin,
We don’t publish a cookbook at this time, but all our recipes are easily printable. Thanks for asking!
My husband and I loved this recipe. Next time I plan on adding some Dijon mustard. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Judi,
Glad to hear you liked the recipe. I think adding Dijon is a great idea. It would blend nicely with the lemon and add a little extra punch. Thanks!
Wish you had given size of the mushrooms..
Hello Holly,
Sorry for that omission. Most portobello mushrooms are about four inches in diameter.
It was fabulous, big hit with even my husband who doesn’t like cooked mushrooms. We made on the BBQ – too hot for oven. Thankyou!!