Baby bella mushrooms stuffed with spinach, bacon, goat cheese and lightly baked to warm perfection!
What’s shakin’, my people?
How has the week been treating you?
Are you in the holiday spirit and baking up a storm?
Is your house decked out with all things twinkly and bright?
Up until this weekend our house had one Christmas decoration, a Santa hat gracing the head of our fat chef man on our kitchen island. But, my mother in law, being the fabulous woman that she is, brought us over the cutest little lady reindeer in a festive-Christmasy tutu.
So now we have two decorations. And that is it. Womp-womp, I know. But, we have had a lot going on.
And today I am flying to Orlando to attend my grandmother’s funeral. My entire family is flying in for the occasion, so while it will be wonderful to see everyone, the reason for us all gathering together isn’t a cheery one.
Also, today happens to be the 3 year anniversary of my father’s death. So I just can’t seem to get into the holiday spirt. I’d rather say, “Bah humbug” than sing any Christmas tune.
But, I’m hoping when I get back home on Sunday night, I can find a way to turn my Scrooge outlook into something more festive and cheery.
Since I have a bag to pack and a plane to catch I am going to stop rambling and get down to today’s delicious business. Goat Cheese, Spinach & Bacon Stuffed ‘Shrooms.
First of all, I want you to know that these stuffed mushrooms are legit and seriously scrumptious. How do I know? Well, I devoured them… and I happen not to be a huge lover of mushrooms. So, if I ate two-thirds of these bad boys, then you know they are divine.
These stuffed ‘shrooms are meaty, cheesy, creamy, earthy and salty. They have the perfect amount of popeye-spinachy-scrumptiousness and oink-oink-bacony-lovin’.
Aside from them tasting down right delicious, they couldn’t be any easier to prepare. Simply sauté the mushrooms, mix together the filling, stuff and bake until warmed throughout. Done and done. The ease of these preparing these bite sized stuffed ‘shrooms, along with their delicious taste, make them a perfect appetizer for all your holiday shindigs… or just for appetizer night at your house.
Add these easy, cheesy mini stuffed ‘shrooms to your (holiday) table, I promise you will love them as much as we did! Until Monday, friends, Cheers- to a beautiful weekend!
-xoxo-
Cheyanne
Spinach, Bacon & Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients
- ½ Pound Bacon – small dice
- 1 Cup Yellow Onion – finely diced (about 1 small onion)
- ¾ tsp Kosher Salt , divided
- ½ tsp Pepper , divided
- 8 oz Goat Cheese – room temperature
- 2 TBS Heavy Cream
- ¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 1 (9 oz.) Package Frozen Chopped Spinach – thawed
- 18 Baby Bella or Cremini Mushrooms* - stems removed and cleaned with a damp paper towel
- Parmesan Cheese – shredded, to taste
- Panko Bread Crumbs , to taste
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: Add bacon to a COLD cast iron skillet (or nonstick skillet) and place skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon until crispy and fat has rendered, about 11-15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove bacon to paper towel lined plate and set aside. Pour all but one tablespoon of bacon fat into a small container and set aside.
- Add onion to bacon drippings in the pan season with ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5-8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon (reserving bacon grease) to transfer the onion to a medium sized mixing bowl. Add in the drained bacon. Allow to cool.
- Meanwhile: Remove moisture from spinach by placing it in a large tea towel, kitchen towel, or paper towels and squeeze until spinach is mostly dry. Add to the bowl of onion and bacon along with the goat cheese, cream, nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper. Stir to combine. Set aside in the refrigerator.
- Cook the Mushrooms: Heat the cast iron skillet, with reserved bacon grease, over medium heat. (You want about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet. If the skillet looks dry, add extra virgin olive oil). Add half of the mushrooms and season with ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook, flipping once, until tender and golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate, cavity side facing down. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and repeat with remaining mushrooms, salt and pepper.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Assemble and Bake Mushrooms: Transfer drained mushrooms, cavity side up, to the prepared baking sheet. Place 1 heaping teaspoon of the spinach/bacon filling in the cavity of each mushroom. Top with parmesan cheese and panko. Bake until stuffed mushrooms are warmed, 5-7 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
*Look for Mushrooms that are uniform in size and slightly larger than bite size, as they will shrink when cooked.
*Spinach and bacon filling can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator. Prepare stuffed mushrooms as directed.
*Recipe adapted from “Cocktail Food” by Barber, Whiteford and Narlock.
Nutrition
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Hi,
Thanks for the recipe !
Question: Do I throw away the mushroom stems? Or can I chop them up and cook in with the onions and bacon?
Thanks!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
Hi Margie! I discarded the stems, because the caps have plenty of flavor and I wanted more room for the goat cheese, bacon and spinach (aka the good stuff!). Let me know if you have any other questions! Hope you love these stuffed mushrooms as much as we did! Cheers and Happy Holidays! 😉
These mushrooms look amazinggg! I love all the ingredients you chose…that piece of bacon just perched on top…it’s calling out my name!! I’m so sorry you’ve had too deal with so many difficult, unhappy events in your life right now. I hope the Christmas holiday will bring some cheer and warmth into your life and make you feel just a tad bit better <3
Hope you are doing okay in the situation Cheyanne, this must be such a difficult time of year for you – I can hardly imagine. Hope you can make lots more happy memories amongst the sadness, and remember all those happy times from previous years too! These mushrooms look insanely good too – goats cheese is my FAVE at the moment, and with mushrooms? Such an awesome appetiser, will definitely be giving them a try! Lots of love and enjoy your time with family xx
I will be thinking about you this weekend and wishing that in between the sadness there will also be an abundance of hugs and laughter with your loved ones. xoxo
I don’t eat stuffed mushrooms nearly enough—there are way too many haters in my life. These are irresistible! I love spinach and bacon with mushrooms….and goat cheese definitely doesn’t hurt. I want to pop them in my mouth one by one!
It’s totally understandable hun to not be in the spirits yet but you will get there. Seeing family will be great and I wish it was under better circumstances. Also it is so normal to not feel in the spirit when loss is looming in the air. I lost my dad december 23rd 5 years ago in a week and I always get down during that week.
Our house is pretty much Christmas decoration free, so yo have us beat by two!
I am with you in that I am not a big ‘shroom fan at all, but I must say these could make me a convert. No lie. Scrumptious and that close up with that lovely piece of bacon popping’ out the top? Crazy… drool worthy.
Sorry for the reason you are off to Florida, but enjoy time with the family nonetheless.
Pinned these bad boys.
I wish we live closer to one another so I could come over and give you a big hug…and to eat all your stuffed mushrooms! Seriously, sorry for all the BS you are having to deal with right now, especially around the holiday. #reallifesuckssometimes I’ll be thinking positive and healing thoughts for you and your family today and all weekend. Love you lots Bestie! xoxoxo P.S. this recipe kicks ass and I’ll be making them for our holiday apps on Xmas eve 🙂
Hey friend, thinking about you at the funeral for your Gram this weekend. Hope you can give yourself the time to grieve. Christmas is such a hard time of year for so many for various reasons. Can be hard to jingle the bells and ho ho ho. Gorgeous little app here, I am such a goat cheese fan, I am ALL OVER THESE!!! I may have to trick my boys and my Jon about the goat cheese. They think they don’t like it. Humph. We’ll see about that with this yummy appetizer. Hope you can muster some Christmas spirit, I am struggling to do that also. XOXO
Oh Cheyanne – this is a rough time for you. I sure hope you take comfort in that your dad and grandma are having a lovely time up there!
These little mushrooms are EPIC indeed – and they have BACON!!! I’ve never made stuffed mushrooms but maybe this year that needs to change!
Safe travels to Orlando and back, my dear.
You know that I know exactly how you feel, my dear! Hold your loved ones tight – they are so lucky to have a bright light like you in their lives! xoxo
I hope your weekend turns out well, because you’ll see your family! So sorry for the reason that brings you together. I totally understand not being able to get into the holiday spirit. Hope you feel better soon girl! Love these mushrooms! Pinned!
Take time to cherish your family! That what the holidays are really all about. Hugs to you!
Oh Cheyanne – I am definitely thinking of you this weekend. That’s exactly how I felt last fall – for both my grandpa and uncle’s funerals – it’s like it’s so nice to see everyone but for such a terrible terrible reason. Hugs!
And PS these mushrooms look amazingggg.
A lot of sadness, Cheyanne – but you’ll be surrounded by your loved ones to honor and remember your grandmother. Sending you a big hug and I hope you get your christmas mojo back once you’re home. As for these mushrooms – just perfect! I’m a huge mushroom fan and I love the combo of flavors that you got going on. What a great holiday appetizer – I bet they just disappear in a snap!
Hugs xoxoxo
Cheyanne, my thoughts are with you, sometimes 3 years ago can feel like yesterday when the time comes, take the time you need. These mushrooms look like little cups of heaven! I can never get enough bacon. Pinned. Take care.
You’re taking up lots of room in my heart today. I know it won’t be easy…please take good care of your self and those you love… Thinking of you, doll. And the mushrooms – divine. xoxo
Will be thinking of you and sending a big hug your way. It will be a sad day but hope you and your family can bring each other some comfort. *hugs*
Cheyanne, I’m so sorry this has been such a rough time for you! It just sucks, no other way to put it. It is totally OK if you aren’t feeling the holiday spirit right now.
However, I do have to congratulate you on these mushrooms! Wow! As you may remember, I used to be not much of a mushroom fan either, but I am starting to get on board. And stuffed with two of my favorite things, goat cheese and bacon! Wow, like seriously, I want to eat them all the time forever. Pinning!
With so much going on in your life, Cheyanne, it’s no wonder it’s just not feeling like Christmas. And that’s okay. Seasons change and life’s ups and downs shape how we spend our days… you have all the time you need to grieve. There is no rush. xo
About these mushrooms… what a FABULOUS idea!! OMGee I totally forget about how much I love mushrooms – stuffed! With goat cheese, spinach and panko, what’s not to love!? I know these are just fabulous and I can’t wait to whip them up! Have a smooth trip my dear. My heart is with you. xo
Oh my w-o-r-d I can´t tell you how much I love these! They look amazing and I can just imagine the taste… YES PLEASE!!
It must be hard to get into the holiday spirit when everything is sucky right now. I hope things start to get better soon so that you can enjoy the holidays more and have more than two decorations. Or not. Hey, you can just throw candy canes all over the house. That works too!
These look absolutely incredible. I want them for every party I’m throwing! They’d rock my New Year’s!
Cheyanne I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother, this sounds like a difficult time of year for you. My thoughts are with you, and I hope you have as pleasant of a flight as is possible.
Thank you for sharing such a scrumptious appetizer, I hope these gorgeous stuffed mushrooms helped to boost your spirits at least a little bit <3
Hugs, friend! I’ll be thinking about you and your family this weekend. It sure is unfortunate that you lost your grams at the same time of year as your dad. I hope you feel better when you get back home. We have zero decorations up and haven’t done a tree in a few years because my male dog seems to think we brought the bathroom inside, two of the others bark at it, and the fourth one will jump on it and knock it over. I compensated by baking up a storm. I LOVE mushrooms! Especially when they are stuffed with delicious goat cheese and bacon! P.S. I love that wooden tray and think I have the same one or something similar! 🙂
I’ll be thinking about you this weekend Cheyanne, and wish I was there to give you a big hug! It will be nice to see your family and be surrounded by their love. These mushrooms today will absolutely be on my holiday appetizer list! Tom is a HUGE fan of stuffed mushrooms, so I know he is going to LOVE them! Me too, of course!
Sending you lots of happy and warm thoughts! And stuffed mushrooms are one of the loves of my life!
Sending you lots of love and support today! And I’m drooling over these mushrooms!
I know this is a sad occasion but at least you will get to see your family, I send you lots of virtual hugs! Believe me if you are capable of putting together these beauties, the holiday spirit is somewhere in there, cause this mushrooms are screaming holiday entertaining! Hugs my dear! have a safe trip!.
Cheyanne, hang in there today. . it will be a sad day but you will be surrounded by loved ones! sending you a hug and dang, these stuffed mushrooms are everything!!!!!
Stuffed mushroom are my favourite!!! It looks so so delicious!
Amy
I hope your weekend goes well, Cheyanne. I know it’s definitely not a good way to bring you all together, but hopefully seeing family will bring you some comfort. Thinking of you! And now onto these mushrooms, wow! Stuffed mushrooms are my weakness, so I’m loving this creamy filling. I would for sure devour every last one! Pinned!
Hope you have some good down time this weekend with your family to remember and celebrate your grandmother. What a tough time of year this must be though… sending you big hugs.
And thanking you big time for this delicious recipe! I love stuffed mushrooms and this stuffing sounds particularly tasty! Great holiday party food or just weekend game day eats – YUM!
Thank you so much, Kathryn! It has been really tough this year… but I am a trooper, dang it. 😉 …or at least I keep telling myself that! Anyways, these stuffed ‘shrooms are perfect for all the holidays, game days, new year, whatever. Thanks for the love doll! XO
Sending you a big hug, it sounds like you need it. If it is any consolation, I don’t feel in the Christmas spirit this year either.
But, you know how much I love party food, so I love things like this. Especially anything that combines spinach and cheese.
Thank you so much for the hug, Dannii!! I do need it! And I know you love party food and you do it well, so thank you for loving these stuffed ‘shrooms!! I am sending Christmas vibes to you and me! But, you have a Book coming out!! You should be in the celebratory spirit!!! So proud of you, girlfriend! Cheers and congrats! xo
Seeing your loved ones will be nice, but yes, the occasion isn’t cheery — and I’m so sorry about your father, Cheyanne. 🙁 I hope you’re able to get into the Christmas spirit…so far I haven’t either. I’ve tried almost everything except baking sugar cookies. Maybe that’s it or maybe I’m just too old. haha Stuffed mushrooms are my all time favorite, and the filling here is incredible! Best app ever. 🙂
Thank you so much, Marcie! Yes, it will be nice to see my family, but mehhh to the whole “Christmas spirit”. I am so sorry you aren’t feeling it either!! I wish we lived near each other… we could bake a billion sugar cookies, stuff a few dozen mushrooms, and eat until we convinced ourselves we were in the holiday mood! I hope you get in the spirit, but if not.. there is always next year. Right? At least that is what I’m trying to tell myself. So thankful to have you as a friend who understands. Cheers, doll. <3