Creamy mushroom sauce

ByAlida Ryder PublishedJanuary 24, 2023April 11, 2024 UpdatedApril 11, 2024

This creamy mushroom sauce recipe is simply delicious served with everything from steak to chicken and it’s a great stir-through pasta sauce. Flavored with garlic and herbs, this thick and creamy sauce will elevate any weeknight dinner you serve it with.

If you love this easy mushroom sauce recipe, try our Creamy Lemon Butter Sauce.

Ingredients

Butter + Olive oil. I used salted butter and extra-virgin olive oil.
Mushrooms. I used portabellini/chestnut mushrooms/cremini mushrooms but use any mushrooms you like.
Fresh garlic cloves.
Fresh thyme. Other herbs like oregano, rosemary and parsley can be substituted.
Cream. Heavy cream/whipping cream.
Milk mixed with cornstarch.
Fresh lemon juice.
Salt and black pepper.
Fresh parsley.

How to make creamy mushroom sauce?

Melt butter and olive oil together in a large frying pan or skillet set over high heat. Add the mushrooms then fry until golden brown. For intense flavor, it’s important to let the mushrooms brown well. The mushrooms might release a bit of liquid, simply let that evaporate and cook until golden brown. Add garlic and allow to cook for another 30 seconds.

Reduce to medium-high heat then pour the cream into the pan and bring to a simmer. Stir in the milk and cornstarch mix. Allow to simmer until the sauce has thickened and any flouriness has cooked off. (If you prefer, you can omit the cornstarch mix and reduce the sauce down to thicken. You might need to start with more cream though as this will result in less sauce, overall.) Season with lemon, salt and pepper and serve.

Can I make mushroom sauce ahead?

Yes, you can. Make the sauce as instructed then allow to cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Leftovers can be stored this way too. Reheat over medium heat in a saucepan until hot and bubbling. You could microwave the sauce but stir it every 30 seconds to prevent it from splitting. I wouldn’t advise freezing this sauce as it is likely to split once thawed.

Why did my sauce split?

With the use of cornflour in this recipe, your mushroom sauce shouldn’t split as there is starch keeping the water and fat molecules together. A sauce splits when too much water has evaporated and there is nothing for the fat to emulsify with. To save a split sauce, simply whisk in a few tablespoons of water to restore the balance between water and fat.

Why is my sauce lumpy?

It could be that you didn’t whisk the corn flour and milk well enough before adding it to the sauce. Whisk with a wire whisk until smooth and add a little more stock/water.

Why is my sauce pale in color?

If you didn’t allow the mushrooms to brown well, the end result will be a paler sauce. There’s nothing wrong with this but if you prefer a more golden sauce, make sure to allow the mushrooms to brown properly before adding the liquid. Also take care not to over-crowd the pan, rather frying the mushrooms in batches. Some mushroom varieties are also more pigmented. Button mushrooms are very pale in comparison to portabellini/chestnut mushrooms so it could also be the type of mushroom you used.

What to serve with mushroom sauce

This is an incredibly versatile sauce and makes a great easy dinner stirred through al dente pasta (it also makes a mean pasta bake) but is equally delicious on pork chops, chicken or steak. We also love this on thick slices of sourdough toast for a simple breakfast or brunch.