Name: Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms With Thyme
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 13 min
Ingredients: 12 oz mushrooms (cremini and shitake, cut in half); 6 tbsp unsalted butter; 6 sprigs thyme; 6 cloves garlic (finely chopped); ¼ tsp sea salt; 3 tsp light soy sauce

These easy Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms With Thyme are the perfect 15 minute side dish to serve with any meal. Caramelized in garlic butter and a splash of soy sauce gives the mushrooms a boost and makes each bite rich and juicy.

Jump to Recipe

Close up of a large white bowl with a spoon and filled with cooked brown mushrooms.

We’re recreating the buttery and rich mushrooms you’d normally find in a steak house with this recipe for Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms With Thyme! The ingredients are really simple but don’t lack any flavor. Done in 15 minutes, you can add these juicy pan fried mushrooms to a rib eye steak, baked chicken, or even fish!

Sautéed in garlic butter, fresh thyme, and a dash of soy sauce, this easy mushroom dish is beautifully caramelized and full of flavor. You could whip this up in no time using ingredients you already have at home, or make a few easy changes to make the recipe your own.

What type of mushrooms are best?

It’s best to use mushrooms you’re already familiar with so there aren’t too many surprises. I used a mix of cremini and shitake mushrooms which worked well with the butter and slight umami flavor from the soy sauce. Go ahead and use any kind you already love.

To really speed up the process, slice the mushrooms before they go in the pan. They’ll cook much faster this way. Whole mushrooms will take a little longer to cook, but they add more texture to each bite.

Large white bowl with a spoon and filled with cooked brown mushrooms.

Ingredients you need

All you need are a handful of easy ingredients that are likely already in your kitchen! If you want to keep this recipe gluten-free, use tamari instead of the soy sauce.

These are the simple ingredients you need:

Mushrooms
Unsalted butter
Garlic
Thyme
Sea salt
Light soy sauce

Chopped mushrooms on a cutting board. Butter and herbs on the side.

How to make Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms With Thyme

This appetizer, side dish, or topping is so simple and ready in a flash! The process only has two steps you need to follow.

Here’s what you need to do:

Sauté the mushrooms: Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and add in the butter and mushrooms. Cook for a few minutes, then season with a little salt.
Add the aromatics and flavor: Add in the garlic and remaining butter. Turn down the heat and add in the thyme and soy sauce for the last minute of cooking.

Large pot with cooked mushrooms and sprigs of thyme

How to use garlic mushrooms

If you’re replicating the steak house vibe, be sure to top a grilled steak, pork chops, beef short ribs, or grilled salmon with these juicy mushrooms. Don’t forget the mashed potatoes on the side!

Use them to beef up your veggie side dishes. They would pair really well with broccolini, green beans, carrots, or asparagus. You could even add them to smashed potatoes, cauliflower gnocchi, or garlic herb spaghetti for extra earthy flavors.

Try them for breakfast! Pile them onto buttered toast, on top of scrambled eggs, or put them in an omelet.

Recipe variations

Make it vegan: Just swap the butter for dairy-free butter.
Keep it oil-free: Remove some or all of the butter for white wine or vegetable stock.
Make it really herby: Add in more fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, or parsley.
Add some onions: Sauté white, yellow, or red onions with the mushrooms or top with green onions when they’re finished.
Make it saucy: Top the mushrooms with homemade chimichurri, tarragon sauce, or more garlic butter.

Woman's hands holding a white bowl and a spoon, scooping out cooked brown mushrooms

Storing and freezing tips

Keep the leftovers for your toast the next morning or enjoy them as a simple side dish. Store the mushrooms in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge. They should stay fresh for up to 1 week.

You can also freeze cooked mushrooms by laying them out on a lined baking sheet. Place them in the freezer until they’re hard, and then transfer the mushrooms to a sealed bag or container.

More side dishes to try

Any of these flavorful side dishes will give your dinner or lunch a boost:

If you fall in love with these Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms With Thyme as much as I think you will, make sure to post and tag @lenaskitchenblog on Instagram and use #lenaskitchenblog hashtag!