This is part one of my boujee appetizers for $12 or less series! Hosting can be expensive, so I want to provide you with some fun ideas to still give your guests a tasty, special experience without breaking the bank!
Stuffed mushrooms are so decadent! The one I make the most often is full of a cheesy, garlic and herby blend, but anything that involves cheese can get expensive quickly. So substituting it for caramelized onions and opting to keep the stems of the mushrooms gives you an equally flavorful and indulgent bite, just more budget friendly.
Even though it is a bit of a time commitment in total, it’s not all active, and it’s still very easy to do! And you can make it ahead, store it in the fridge, and pop it in the oven 20 minutes before your guests arrive!
Fresh Ingredients & Price Breakdown
- Baby Bella Mushrooms: The perfect bit-size mushroom for an appetizer with an edible stem needed for the filling (2 x 10 ounce packs for $2.49/pc)
- Jumbo Yellow Onions: (2 x $1.99) These onions I used are big – you may need 3, will want to get to at least 3 cups worth
- Fresh Garlic: Costs about $0.49 for a whole bulb, which is included in the total, but you’ll only need 2 cloves!
- Shredded Cheese: You’ll need 4 oz, or about half a block. This would be great with almost any cheese you have around! If you are buying cheese specifically for this dish, monterey jack, fontina, gruyere, or white cheddar would be great, just depends on your budget. You could get away with using about $2 worth of cheese, but could get up to $6. It also works well with pecorino romano or parmigiana reggiano, or an Italian blend of pre-shredded cheese if you have it.
- Breadcrumbs: If you don’t have cheese or want to opt for a dairy-free, less expensive preparation
Total: $9.73 – $11.23 depending on topping
Pantry Items:
- Balsamic Vinegar (could use a splash of red wine instead if you have a bottle open)
- Olive Oil (Could also use butter to caramelize the onions if you have it)
- Dried Thyme
- Salt and Pepper
Caramelized Onion Stuffed Mushroom
Ingredients
- 20 oz baby bella mushrooms
- 2-3 large yellow onions
- 2 shallots
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 oz shredded cheese of choice
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Dice onions and shallots
- In a pan over medium-high heat, add 2 tbsp olive oil, diced onions and shallots, a splash of water (about 3 oz), and a sprinkle of salt. Stir occasionally
- Once water evaporates, turn heat to low. Stir occasionally to ensure it does not burn.
- While onions are caramelizing, prep mushrooms, occasionally tending to mushrooms to stir. Wash mushrooms well, then, using a spoon, scoop out the stems and gills. Place hollowed mushrooms into a baking dish and chop up stems and gills.
- After about 1.5 hours of cooking down the onions, add in the chopped mushrooms, minced garlic, thyme, another sprinkle of salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Continue to stir occasionally and allow to cook down for about 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 425
- Add balsamic vinegar to pan and, using a wooden spoon, scrape up anything on the bottom of the pan.
- Stuff mixture into mushrooms and top with shredded cheese of choice or seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Bake at 425 for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and top is golden brown
One thought on “Caramelized Onion Stuffed Mushroom”