Looking for a hearty meatless main? This Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steak is meaty in texture, smokey and savory in flavor, and brings tons of abundance to any meal.
Plus, it only requires 5 ingredients, 30 minutes to marinate, and cooks quickly on either an outdoor grill or inside on a grill pan. And as a busy mom with a gourmet palate, this ticks all the boxes—easy, efficient, and elevated!
I’ve found that portobellos make for a great stand-in for steak, whether I’m grilling it or baking it like in this Vegetarian Philly Cheesesteak recipe.
In this recipe you will learn how to prep your portobellos, whip up a quick marinade for them, and grill them to perfection.
Portobello Mushroom Steak Ingredients
Here’s everything you need:
- Portobello mushrooms. The star of this dish!
- Garlic. For tons of flavor.
- Olive oil. So that the mushroom doesn’t stick to the pan.
- Balsamic vinegar. For subtle sweetness and acidic flavors.
- Steak seasoning. You can use your favorite! I used Montreal Steak Seasoning.
- Liquid smoke. While this is optional as I know it is not always a typical pantry item, and you will get some smokiness from grilling, I do recommend it to get the smokiest and meatiest flavor.
Portobello Mushroom Steak Tips and Tricks
How to Clean and Prep Portobello Mushrooms
The best way to clean your mushrooms is to do so dry. You can either use a kitchen towel or clean hands to wipe any visible dirt off of them. Rinsing mushrooms may actually cause them to get a little slimy and/or soggy, and that sliminess can remain even after grilling!
Then, carefully remove the stems of the mushrooms. The stems of portobellos are a little tough and woody, but the primary reason we are removing them is so the mushrooms can sit flat on the grill.
The stems are completely edible and can be saved in the freezer to make your own veggie broth, added later to another dish, like this Mushroom Fried Rice, or composted!
In a lot of my recipes that contain portobello mushrooms, I like to keep the stems on to reduce waste. Although the stems are a little bit tougher in texture, they do soften as they cook if they are sliced.
However, in this mushroom steak recipe, it’s important to remove the stems so that the mushroom caps can easily lay flat on your grill or grill pan.
How to Mince Garlic
In order to effectively mince your garlic, you’ll have to peel it first! To peel the outer layer off easily, I like to crush the garlic clove first.
Lay the garlic cloves flat on your cutting board and use the flat end of your knife to press down on the garlic. You’ll hear a distinct crunch when it’s crushed.
This will crack open the outer layer and make it much easier for you to peel that layer back. Once you’ve completely peeled your garlic, it’s time to mince it!
Chop the garlic with a sharp knife until you’re left with tiny pieces.
How to Quickly Marinate Mushrooms
This recipe is deigned to quickly add deep flavor to the mushrooms, without having to marinate them for hours on end. I like to marinate my mushrooms in a sealed bag. Reduce your plastic waste by investing in easy-to-clean reusable storage bags!
Pro tip: Using a bag to marinate your mushrooms allows you to evenly distribute the marinade around the mushrooms, sealing the mushrooms and the marinade inside.
Plus it’s easy and requires little clean-up. Just drop your prepped mushrooms into the bag followed by all of the marinade ingredients.
Seal the bag and shake it vigorously. Every so often, give the bag a shake, to ensure the whole mushroom is coated. Leave the mushrooms to marinate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to seep in.
How to Use a Grill Pan for Mushrooms
A grill pan is a great way to get a smoky flavor and those coveted grill marks, without having to fire up your grill.
Start by getting the grill pan hot. Place the pan over medium-high heat and allow it to sit for 3-5 minutes to get hot before adding your mushrooms.
Once your grill pan is hot, carefully place your marinated portobello mushroom steaks directly on the hot grill pan, with the smooth part of the mushroom cap facing up first. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. There should be some steam!
After 5 minutes, flip the mushroom and cook with the smooth side of the cap down for another 5 minutes. Every couple minutes, push down on the mushroom with your spatula or tongs, to help sear it and get those grill marks.
After 5 minutes, check if the mushroom is ready to flip one last time. You’ll know it’s ready to flip again because it will easily peel away from the grill pan. If it’s stuck, give it another 2-3 minutes. When it’s ready to flip, it will release from the pan.
Once flipped for the second time, cook for a final 2 or 3 minutes, just to allow any excess liquid to release, produce some smoke, and add some additional smokey flavor to the mushrooms.
How to Grill Portobello Mushrooms on an Outdoor Grill
Grilling portobello mushrooms on an outdoor grill is identical in method to using a grill pan. Make sure to preheat the grill to high. It should be nice and hot by the time you place your mushrooms on the grate.
Place the mushrooms with the smooth side of the cap up first, grilling for about 5 minutes. Then, flip the mushroom cap, so that the smooth side is directly on the grill. Cook for about 5 more minutes, before flipping one last time to remove excess liquid.
How to Serve Your Portobello Mushroom Steak
You can serve these Portobello Mushroom Steaks just as you would a steak dinner! Here are some of my favorite sides to serve up with these grilled portobellos:
And if you’re looking for a delicious sauce to serve overtop, consider one of these:
How to Properly Store and Reheat Portobello Mushroom Steak
Leftover Portobello Mushroom Steak last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
My favorite way to reheat leftover grilled portobello mushrooms is in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F and heat them on the top rack for 10-15 minutes until heated all the way through.
Why You Should Make this Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steak
- The texture! Super meaty, hearty, and filling.
- They’re simple to make. Just 6 ingredients and about 15 minutes of active cooking time.
- The quick marinade! No need to marinade for hours on end, this recipe gives you tons of flavor with just 30 minutes of marinading.
5-Ingredient Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steak
Ingredients
- 2 large portobello mushrooms
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon steak seasoning
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
Instructions
- Clean your mushrooms and remove the stems, and peel and mince your garlic cloves.2 large portobello mushrooms, 2 cloves garlic
- Add the mushroom caps to a large storage bag (use a reusable storage bag for a more sustainable option!) with the minced garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, steak seasoning, and liquid smoke (optional).¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon steak seasoning, 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- Seal the bag and shake to coat the mushroom in all the marinade ingredients and set aside at room temperature to marinate for 30 minutes. Move it around every 10 minutes or so if you can, just to ensure the flavors are evenly distributed.
- Preheat your grill to high or get a grill pan hot over medium-high heat. Carefully place your mushroom on the grill grate or grill pan with the smooth side facing up. Grill for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, flip the mushroom so that the smooth side is directly on the grill. Grill for another 5 minutes. Then, flip one more time to release excess liquid. If the mushroom is stuck to the grill or the grill pan, give it another 2-3 minutes before flipping. Do not force it. The mushroom will release from the grill or pan when it's ready to flip.
- Serve hot! I love to enjoy my Mushroom Steaks with these Truffle Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus and Carrots.
Pro Tips
- Best practice for cleaning your portobello mushrooms is using clean hands or a kitchen towel to wipe them clean. Rinsing them with water can lead to slimy or soggy mushrooms.
9 thoughts on “5-Ingredient Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steak”
Finaly got round to trying this dish out on the BBQ – why did I wait so long – it was delicious – a great way to do mushrooms. This is going to be a regular on our BBQ from now on!
(Review provided by a family/friend of marleysmenu.com)
That makes me SO happy to hear, Keith! Thank you so much for trying it and leaving your feedback!
We really enjoyed these – very moist. I didn’t have steak seasoning so used some Old Bay which worked well. Will certainly do this recipe again.
Old Bay is always a good idea! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
Making these tonight for super bowl!
What a great idea for a game day dish! Hope you enjoyed!!
We’ve just had this for lunch – really good choice for a light summery meal – we had a salad with it including home grown freshly picked lettuce leaves. The mushrooms were delicious and it was so quick and easy to prepare and cook. Certainly will do it again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed! Homegrown salad sounds like the PERFECT accompaniment!
I’m really looking forward to trying this out – I’m glad you said that it works just as well on the outdoor grill – we’ve just ordered a new BBQ and needed some fresh inspiration for veggie BBQ recipes, so thanks for that!
(Review provided by a family/friend of marleysmenu.com)