Sauteed Mushrooms Can Be Bland — Amplify Their Flavor With This Seasoning Packet

Topping with sauteed mushrooms is an easy way to level up a protein, but sometimes they can be bland. On their own, mushrooms have a subtle, umami-forward flavor that becomes more pronounced when they're exposed to heat. But for a more prominent garlicky flavor that doesn't break the bank, add a packet of garlic Parmesan seasoning. The garlic, herbs, and Parmesan will make the mushrooms' natural flavor shine with a bit of added zest.

Start by sauteing the correct way, so your mushrooms will actually brown. Once they're almost done, add in the garlic Parmesan seasoning packet. Mushrooms are great for enhancing because they act as a flavor sponge; they are extremely good at absorbing the aromas and tastes of whatever you add to them. But first, they have to sweat out their water, making room to absorb fats and flavors. This is why you add your seasoning packet near the end of the cooking process, instead of at the beginning.

Each component in the packet will enhance the mushrooms in some way: the garlic's aromatic taste pairs well with the woodsy flavor of the mushrooms, the Parmesan's umami flavor enhances the mushroom's natural savory quality, and the breadcrumbs add a bit of texture to the finished dish, crisping up in the pan. Think of the seasoning packet as a way to bring out the beauty of the mushrooms, rather than covering it up. Your humble mushrooms will come out packed with flavor and ready for whatever plate you're putting them on.

For sauteing, you'll want to pick a mushroom with deep umami flavor that's easy to find in the grocery store. We recommend baby Bellas (crimini mushrooms), but portabella or shiitake work well too. These fungi have a deep, woodsy flavor, and saute well. They also have a firm texture, so they hold up nicely when exposed to heat in the pan. 

Fresh mushrooms are ideal for combining with the seasoning packet, but canned mushrooms work surprisingly well, too. You can turn them into a flavorful side dish with a quick saute, then amp up the flavor even more with the seasoning packet. This method is a great way to zhuzh up a quick dinner with ingredients you already have in your pantry.

To take the mushrooms up another notch, consider bringing steakhouse vibes to dinner and tossing them in bourbon. The smoky, sweet flavor of the bourbon contrasts with the salty, umami Parmesan mushrooms well, and the garlic bridges the flavor gap. Make sure to cook off all the alcohol though — getting drunk off delicious mushrooms sounds fun in theory, but it won't taste very good. No matter how you do it, taking bland mushrooms up a notch with Parmesan garlic seasoning is easy.