Impress your dinner guests with this easy and delicious recipe for Crab Stuffed Mushrooms. These savory appetizers are made with cream cheese, fresh crab meat, Parmesan cheese, and herbs for a flavorful bite.
Crab Stuffed Mushroom – The Perfect Appetizer
These stuffed mushrooms are amazing. These yummy mushrooms are the perfect party appetizer. They are easy to prep, quick to cook, and can even be reheated in the microwave. My guests rant and rave about them. Use fresh crab meat or lump crab meat. You can even sub-shrimp or do something crazy, like do a crab and shrimp for a seafood combo. I love serving these with classic egg rolls, hot spinach dip, cheese balls, and bacon-wrapped pineapple.
Ingredients for Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
What is the Best Crab to Use?
I like Alaskan King Crab, but it may be what I am used to here in the Midwest. Delicious, bright white meat, but it is slightly challenging to get out of the hard spiny shell. With a good pair of kitchen scissors, it can be done.
Snow Crab would be a close second. It’s much easier to get out of the shell but less available in my neck of the woods.
Ask any northeastern; they will swear that these are best made with blue crab. I am not familiar enough with that crab to testify to that, but my readers tell me all about it. Unless you live near an ocean, you may be limited in your crab choices and have to settle for canned jumbo lump crab meat.
How do you clean mushrooms?
Mushrooms are like sponges, so the best way to clean them is with damp paper towels. Don’t run them underwater. If you insist upon rinsing them, dry them immediately and thoroughly with paper towels.
How to make Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
First, lightly spray the mushroom caps with olive oil. Stir the cream cheese, bread crumbs, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, green onions, Parmesan, parsley, and crab meat together in a medium bowl. Spoon the stuffing mixture into the mushroom caps and place on a baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes. Turn the broiler on the last minute of cooking to brown the tops lightly.
Recipe Tips
- I got this hint from a reader. Precook your mushrooms for about 2-3 minutes. Turn upside down on a rack and allow the juices to drain so they don’t drip when you bite into them.
- If you like things to pack a little punch, then add a little bit of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
- Cremini mushrooms (baby bella mushrooms) can be substituted for white button mushrooms.
- I use medium-sized button mushrooms, but for a party, you certainly could use the smaller mushrooms, and this recipe would go further. Just reduce your cooking time by a few minutes for the smaller mushrooms.
- If desired, reserve the mushroom stems. Chop them finely, and before adding them to the mix, saute them with a bit of olive oil or butter and garlic in a small skillet over medium heat.
- Stuff portobello mushrooms with the crab mixture and make a main meal out of it.
- Use cooked crab meat and chop it up pretty fine. I like to use king crab, but you can use canned lump crabmeat and even imitation crab meat if your budget is tight.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is a must. It has much better flavor than the stuff in the canister, so use it.
- Experiment with different spices and herbs and sprinkle the tops with paprika, thyme leaves, chopped chives, chopped fresh parsley, dried oregano, snipped rosemary, or old bay seasoning.
- Try adding sauteed chopped spinach or chopped artichokes.
- Fresh bread crumbs are excellent in this recipe. You can always use croutons and crush them in a bag or a food processor.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for second increments until warm. Or reheat in the oven at 325 degrees for 5-7 minutes or until warm.
More Appetizer Recipes
Creamy Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 12 medium button mushrooms or cremini mushrooms cleaned with stems removed and discarded
- Olive oil spray
- 1 box 8 ounce cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs or panko breadcrumbs
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh chopped Italian parsley
- 1 cup cooked shelled crab finely chopped I use King Crab
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Lightly spray mushrooms with olive oil spray and arrange mushrooms cap side down on a baking sheet or baking dish. In a large bowl, stir the cream cheese, bread crumbs, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, green onions, Parmesan, parsley, and crab meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Scoop about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into each mushroom. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn the broiler on at the last minute of cooking to brown the tops lightly. Stay close by, as I have always found broilers unpredictable.
Video
Notes
- Storage Instructions: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Reheat in the microwave for short intervals at reduced power.
- You can add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper for a little kick.
- I got this hint from a reader. Precook your mushrooms for about 2-3 minutes. Turn them upside down on a rack and allow them to drain so they don't drip when you bite into them.
- If you like things to pack a little punch, then add a little bit of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper.
- I use the great big button mushrooms, but for a party, you certainly could use the smaller mushrooms, and this recipe would go further. Just remember to reduce your cooking time by a few minutes for the smaller mushrooms.
- Use cooked crab meat and chop it up pretty fine.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is a must. It has much better flavor than the stuff in the canister, so use it.
- Fresh bread crumbs are amazing in this recipe. You can always use croutons and crush them in a bag or a food processor. Most croutons have fewer preservatives and artificial ingredients than processed bread crumbs.
Nutrition
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Brianne
I love stuffed mushrooms! This is a recipe I look forward to making soon! They look super easy to make too!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Brianne! Yes they are easy to make!
Kisha Stewart-Harris
I don’t think there is an appetizer that I don’t like. These are no different. Made a slight variation by omitting the crab (allergic), but just added artichokes instead– delish! Loved this one.
Deanna
These crab filled mushrooms look amazing, one of my favorite appetizers. Our local farmer’s market has a signature stuffed mushroom recipe with bacon and lots and lots of butter.
Chastity
I am not a huge mushroom fan but I LoVe crab!! So I would be willing to try for sure. Looks yummy!
Beth Pierce
Thank you! They are so delicious! I wish I had some right now!
Catherine
Oh these look absolutely marvelous! I’d love to try these!
Jasmine Hewitt
i’ve made stuffed mushrooms a variety of ways. but never tried them with crab. this looks good!
Samantha
Wow! These look really good & not too hard at all. Such a nice recipe! Saving for others in my family that would love it. Thanks!
Beth Pierce
Thank you Samantha! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!!
Joy Nyargem
Oh yum that looks absolutely delectable! I will be sure to try out the recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Joy!
Marysa
I love mushrooms as well. This sounds delicious and are cute too. I will have to make these next time we have guests over – its nice to have some new recipes to try.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Marysa! They are delicious!
Sara Welch
We are hosting a small gathering soon and these would be a big hit! They look perfect!
John Mulindi
I haven’t taken mushrooms for a long time, am glad to have found this recipe that has something around mushrooms. Thanks for sharing.
Heather
Yum! I made something like this not long ago. SO delicious. I love crab and mushrooms
Nafisa
I love both crab and mushrooms. I need to try it, thanks for sharing
Beth Pierce
My pleasure! I hope you enjoy them!!
Erin
These look incredible! I’m not normally a big fan of mushrooms, but this is a recipe I’d try!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Erin! They are truly delicious!
Danielle Wolter
mushrooms are the BEST! i absolutely love them. i’m not much of an entertainer, but i’d just eat this while binging netflix 🙂
Lisa
What a delicious meal idea! I love mushrooms and crab so would love to eat this.