Stuffed with creamy homemade spinach dip, topped with panko-Parmesan
crumbs, and baked until warm and tender, these super tasty Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms make for one very delicious appetizer or side. They're a perfect
party pick-up, dinner starter, game day nibble, or a tasty addition to any
holiday meal.
I don't know about you, but I simply adore stuffed mushrooms. Whether it be
the
basic stuffed mushrooms
my mom always made for Christmas Eve, my very favorite
Stuffing Stuffed Mushrooms, or just about any other combination around, there's just something
wonderful about warm, tender baked mushrooms stuffed to the brim with
deliciousness.
And when that stuffing deliciousness is creamy homemade spinach dip? -- It
makes for one truly tasty stuffed mushroom, indeed.
The combination of warm Baby Bella mushrooms and creamy spinach dip makes for fabulous flavor in every bite.
With this Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms recipe, Baby Bella mushrooms are
filled with a very simple homemade spinach dip. They're then sprinkled with
panko-Parmesan crumbs on top, and baked until warm and tender. The spinach dip
filling bakes up soft, while the panko-Parmesan crumbs bake up with a nice bit
of crunch, delivering up that wonderful creamy-crunchy combo we love in every
bite.
They're a perfect party pick-up, dinner starter, or game day nibble. Or
hey, Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms sure make for a great appetizer or side dish addition to any holiday meal, as well.
What's to Love About This Recipe?
- Fabulous flavor - The combination of warm Baby Bella mushrooms and creamy spinach dip makes for fabulous flavor in every bite.
- Wonderful creamy & crunchy combination - Crunchy Panko-Parmesan topping combines with the creamy spinach dip filling below to deliver up that wonderful creamy-crunchy combo we all know and love.
- Easy to make - Simply mix up a simple spinach dip filling, stuff the mushroom caps, sprinkle on the crunchy panko topping, and bake. It is truly easy indeed to whip up these tasty little stuffed mushrooms!
- Versatile - Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms make for a perfect party pick-up, dinner starter, and game day nibble, or are a tasty addition to any holiday meal.
Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms Ingredients:
Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms are comprised of three components: 1. the
mushrooms themselves, 2. the creamy spinach dip filling, and 3. a
crunchy Parmesan-panko topping.
For the mushrooms and spinach dip filling, you'll need:
- Baby Bella mushrooms - Baby Bella's are the darker-colored mushrooms you see in the grocery store, and have a more robust, richer mushroom flavor than regular white/button mushrooms that pairs beautifully with this recipe's spinach dip filling. Interestingly, Baby Bellas, full-sized portabella mushrooms, and white button mushrooms are actually the same species, just at different maturity levels. -- White button mushrooms are harvested at an immature stage, Baby Bellas at an intermediate stage of maturity, and portabella mushrooms are fully mature. That being said, button/white mushrooms are still quite tasty in this recipe and can be substituted for the Baby Bellas.
- Extra-virgin olive oil - A light brushing on the mushrooms moistens them for the oven.
- Salt & pepper - A small sprinkling before they're cooked nicely seasons the mushrooms and enhances their flavor.
- Cream cheese -Creates the base of the spinach dip filling. We recommend sticking with full-fat cream cheese for the best texture and flavor.
- Mayonnaise - "Loosens" the cream cheese to create a creamy spinach dip filling. Plain Greek yogurt may substituted.
- Frozen spinach - It wouldn't be spinach dip filling without the spinach! Frozen spinach works great in the filling, both for flavor and convenience. Be sure to thaw and thoroughly drain the spinach to keep the filling from becoming watery.
- Dried thyme - Seasons and adds a nice, distinct earthy flavor to the filling that pairs beautifully with the Baby Bella mushrooms.
- Crushed red pepper flakes - A small pinch adds a hint of heat to the filling. Use sparingly so the spiciness doesn't overpower the filling's other flavors.
For the crunchy Parmesan-panko topping, you'll need:
- Parmesan cheese - Grated Parmesan combines with panko bread crumbs to serve as the base of the crunchy topping. Shredded Parmesan could be substituted.
- Panko bread crumbs - Bring the crunch to the topping. Panko are Japanese-style bread crumbs that are larger and more crunchy than regular bread crumbs, and create a texture that's just not possible with regular bread crumbs. Look for Panko in canisters alongside regular bread crumbs in the grocery store.
- Dried thyme - Seasons the crumb topping, and compliments the thyme flavor in the mushrooms' spinach dip filling.
- Extra-virgin olive oil - Moistens the topping and helps it hold together in crumbs.
- Salt & pepper - Seasons and enhances the crumb topping's flavor.
How to Make Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms:
To get a batch of Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms going, start by
whipping up a simple homemade spinach dip filling. -- Just combine a
block of softened cream cheese and a bit of mayonnaise with
well-drained frozen chopped spinach, dried thyme, and a small bit of
crushed red pepper flakes.
Gently wash and remove the stems from Baby Bella mushrooms and fill the
caps with the spinach dip filling, heaping the filling up a bit to get the mushrooms nice and full.
To add a bit of crunch, combine some panko bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, olive oil, and seasonings as a topping. Sprinkle some of the crumb mixture on the top of each stuffed mushroom.
Pop the stuffed mushrooms in the oven and bake them up for about 20-30
minutes or so, until the mushrooms are tender, the filling is warmed
through, and the topping is a nice golden brown.
Then you're ready to serve up the stuffed mushroom deliciousness! With
their warm, creamy filling and crunchy crumb topping, Spinach Dip
Stuffed Mushrooms are a perfect party pick-up, dinner starter, or game day nibble. Or
hey, they also sure make for a great appetizer or side dish addition to any holiday meal.
Recipe FAQs:
- Can I substitute regular button/white mushrooms for the Baby Bella mushrooms to make Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms? - Yes, regular button/white mushrooms work just fine in this Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms recipe. Baby Bella mushrooms do produce a richer, deeper flavor that better pair with the spinach dip filling than do regular button/white mushrooms. That being said, button/white mushrooms are still quite tasty in this recipe and can certainly be substituted for the Baby Bellas.
- Can I used fresh spinach instead of frozen spinach in the spinach dip filling? - Yes, you can substitute fresh spinach for frozen in Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms' spinach dip filling. Frozen spinach has been blanched, so it's best to cook the fresh spinach before incorporating it into the filling. Starting with 16 ounces of fresh spinach to equate to a 10-ounce package of frozen, saute the fresh spinach in a large pan with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes until cooked down. Drain, cool slightly, and proceed with the remainder of the stuffed mushroom recipe.
- Can Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms be made in advance? - Yes, Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms can be prepared in advance up to the point of baking, and then baked just before serving. Prepare the spinach dip filling, stuff the mushrooms and sprinkle with the panko-Parmesan topping, then cover and refrigerate until needed. Bake just before serving, adding a few minutes to the baking time to account for the filling and mushrooms being cold. We recommend preparing them no more than 1 day in advance.
Check out these other super tasty recipes with
mushrooms:
Thank you for stopping by The Kitchen is My Playground. We'd love
to have you back soon!
Yield: about 20
Spinach Dip Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed with creamy homemade spinach dip, topped with panko-Parmesan
crumbs, and baked until warm and tender, these super tasty Spinach Dip
Stuffed Mushrooms make for one very delicious appetizer or side.
They're a perfect party pick-up, dinner starter, game day nibble, or a
tasty addition to any holiday meal.
Prep time: 25 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 50 Min
Ingredients
Mushrooms:
- 2 (8 oz.) packages Baby Bella mushrooms (about 20 mushrooms)
- extra-virgin olive oil
- pinch salt
Spinach Dip Filling:
- 1 (8 oz.) block cream cheese, softened
- 3 T. mayonnaise
- 3/4 tsp. dried thyme
- small pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- pinch salt & pepper
- 12 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed & well drained
Panko-Parmesan Topping:
- 1/4 c. plain Panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
- pinch salt & pepper
Instructions
Prepare Mushrooms:
- To clean the mushrooms, use a damp paper towel to wipe the caps and remove any dirt.
- Gently remove stems from mushroom caps; set caps in a baking dish.
- Brush mushroom caps with olive oil and sprinkle inside of caps with a little salt. Set aside.
Prepare Spinach Dip Filling:
- In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, thyme, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until well combined.
- Mix in spinach.
- Stuff mushroom caps, completely filling cap and heaping the stuffing filling up a bit.
Prepare Panko-Parmesan Topping & Bake Mushrooms:
- In a separate bowl, combine panko bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, thyme, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Toss with a fork to mix.
- Sprinkle crumb topping on top of the spinach filling in each mushroom cap.
- Bake at 350℉ for 25-30 minutes until mushrooms are tender.
- Serve warm.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
- Baby Bella mushrooms produce a richer, deeper flavor that better pairs with the spinach dip filling than does regular button/white mushrooms. That being said, button/white mushrooms are still quite tasty in this recipe and can be substituted for the Baby Bellas.
- Mushroom stems are pretty easy to remove if you just press gently on the stem, pushing it sideways toward one side and then the other. -- Usually they'll just pop right out this way. If not, use a small paring knife to cut around them and pop them out that way.
This post is linked with Weekend Potluck.
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