These stuffed mushrooms make the perfect appetizer for any occasion — they make great finger food. Who doesn't love comfort food in bite-sized servings? Bring them to a Christmas or New Year's Eve party, or serve at a bridal shower or birthday party. Whether you follow a meatless diet yourself or you're serving vegetarians, this delicious recipe is a crowd-pleasing appetizer for any occasion. They're flavorful and satisfying!

They take under an hour to assemble and cook, or you can prep the mushrooms and filling ahead of time to give you extra time to entertain.

While they make for great shareable appetizers, you can easily serve these as a side dish for a weeknight dinner at home. Just add a salad or soup, and you're good to go! The recipe is a Yummly original created by Sara Mellas.

Make Your Mushrooms Vegan

If you want to make these vegetarian stuffed mushrooms vegan, swap the cheese for vegan cheese, or make your own vegan parmesan using cashews and nutritional yeast. Rather than eggs, use a flaxseed egg replacement instead: stir together 2 1/2 Tbsp. of water and one Tbsp. of flaxseed meal, let the mixture rest for 5 minutes to thicken, then add it to the recipe in place of one egg.

Variations

Customize your stuffed mushrooms by using one of these ideas to make the recipe your own!

Use Different Types of Mushrooms. Instead of using cremini mushrooms, you could use white button mushrooms, baby bella mushrooms, or small portobello mushrooms. Any type of "stuffable" mushrooms will work — aim for a diameter of about 2 inches so you can stuff them.

Add Vegetables. Add a boost of nutrition by adding chopped vegetables like red peppers, green onions, or sundried tomatoes to your stuffing mixture. You can roast any additional vegetables ahead of time, or sauté them along with the shallot and garlic. You could also add in finely chopped fresh parsley and thyme instead of using dried herbs. Red pepper flakes, rosemary, or sage would also make great additions to this recipe.

Use a Variety of Cheese. Feel free to swap the parmesan and gruyere cheese for any type of cheese you would prefer. Swiss cheese or goat cheese are great alternatives or try using cream cheese for a smooth, creamy filling.

Go Gluten-Free. If you'd like to make this recipe gluten-free, feel free to swap the standard baguette for a gluten-free bread option. Just be sure (whatever type you use) that the bread is day-old and dried out. This helps absorb the maximum amount of flavor.

Preparing the Mushrooms

To get the mushrooms ready to use, brush each one dry with a soft brush, or use a damp paper towel if they are extra dirty. Don't soak them, as they absorb water easily and won't brown well when they cook. Remove the stems by gently twisting them off, and don't worry if a piece gets stuck inside the cap, as you can cut it out. If you'd like, you can save the stems and use them to make veggie stock or gravy!