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    Creamy Mushroom Sauce

    Updated March 10, 2026 / By Natalie Mortimer

    This creamy mushroom sauce is simple to make and takes everything from steak, pork, and chicken, to pasta and veggies from ordinary to over-the-top delicious.

    creamy mushroom sauce in a skillet, the perfect sauce for pork, chicken, steak and potatoes

    Good-On-Everything Creamy Mushroom Sauce

    Everything tastes better topped with a drizzle of creamy sauce, right? From chicken dinners to pork loin to seared steak, a rich, creamy mushroom sauce transforms simple meals into swoon-worthy dinners. 

    Though steak is maybe the most classic, try it over pork chops! I have been known to put this sauce on EVERYTHING from homemade noodles, to mashed potatoes and even over a roast chicken. If you love this sauce, try mushroom gravy, too.

    chopped cremini mushrooms in a bowl next to salt to make creamy mushroom sauce perfect on chicken, steak, pork and potatoes

    Key Ingredients + Swaps

    • Mushrooms: Cremini or white button mushrooms both work well. This recipe also works with wild mushrooms! Chanterelles, shiitake, oyster or any mix of wild mushrooms.  
    • Butter: I like to use unsalted butter, and add salt to taste. 
    • Cream: No trick for making it creamy other than to just use heavy cream! It’s the best. 
    • Soy sauce: I use low-sodium (again, I like to control the salt level of the finished dish myself) or you can also use tamari. 
    • Fresh thyme leaves: Don’t skip this! It makes the sauce so good. 
    chopped cremini mushrooms being cooked in a dry skillet
    cremini mushroom being browned in a dry skillet and sprinkled with salt

    How To Make Creamy Mushroom Sauce

    Ultra-flavorful, creamy mushroom sauce is deceptively easy to make. Here's how:

    1. Quarter mushrooms. White button mushrooms or cremini work great.
    2. Add mushrooms to a dry skillet over medium heat until they’re browned.
    3. Salt the mushrooms and cook 2 more minutes to let the mushrooms sweat out a little moisture. Then add a bit of butter.
    4. Make it creamy! Add thyme, heavy cream, and soy sauce or tamari. Turn the heat down to low and stir for a few minutes until the mushroom sauce is nice and thick. 
    5. Pour the mushroom sauce on pasta, steak, or chicken. It is delicious on anything! 
    butter being added to a skillet with browned cremini mushrooms to make mushroom cream sauce, the perfect addition to any meal
    sautéed mushrooms in a skillet with cream, thyme, soy sauce, and butter creating a rich and creamy mushroom sauce

    Tips For The BEST Mushroom Sauce:

    This savory creamy mushroom sauce is hard to mess up, there are a few things to keep in mind as you cook. 

    • Pay attention to your heat. Medium heat is your friend when you're browning the mushrooms! Too high and they'll brown too fast, too low and the mushrooms will be pale. And once you add the cream, drop that heat down to low so the cream doesn't break.
    • Don’t overcrowd the pan. Especially if you double this recipe (good call!) you'll need to brown the mushrooms in batches so as not to overcrowd the pan.
    • Soy sauce or tamari? You can use either with very similar results! Tamari is the gluten-free alternative to soy sauce. A dash of soy sauce or tamari ups the umami of this creamy sauce, and pairs perfectly with savory mushrooms.
    • Add your own twist! This versatile sauce could easily benefit from the addition of a few cloves of fresh garlic, a pour of white wine, or additional herbs that you love.
    creamy mushroom sauce in a skillet, the perfect sauce for pork, chicken, steak and potatoes

    What To Serve With Perfect Mushroom Sauce 

    Simple and flavorful, this sauce is one that you'll be making again and again. The pairing possibilities are almost endless, but here are a few ways that I love to use this creamy mushroom sauce: 

    • Over pasta. Creamy mushroom sauce paired with your favorite pasta makes for a dinner that is luxurious and simple. Easy enough for a weeknight but definitely good enough for company, too.
    • Following a ketogenic diet? This mushroom sauce is absolutely keto-friendly! Serve atop pork chops or chicken breasts cooked simply with salt and pepper.
    • Serve it as a side dish over potatoes! Roasted, baked or mashed, potatoes and mushroom sauce are a match made in heaven.
    • Creamy mushroom sauce is great on steak. The two flavors together are a classic old-school steakhouse combo that we just love. From ribeye steak to bunless burgers, there's no wrong way to pair them.
    creamy mushroom sauce in a skillet, the perfect sauce for pork, chicken, steak and potatoes

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    creamy mushroom sauce in a skillet, the perfect sauce for pork, chicken, steak and potatoes

    Creamy Mushroom Sauce Recipe

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  5 min
    • Cook Time:  10 min
    • Calories:  289

    Description

    Creamy Mushroom Sauce is rich, savory, and ready in minutes. Made with soy sauce, butter, fresh mushrooms, and cream, this easy sauce is delicious on just about anything. Try it on steak, chicken, pork chops, pasta, or mashed potatoes.

    Print Recipe

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      Ingredients

      • 1 pound cremini mushrooms, quartered
      • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
      • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
      • 1 cup heavy cream
      • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
      • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

      Method

      1. In a dry skillet over medium heat, add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and cook stirring until beginning to “sweat”, about 2 more minutes. 

        chopped cremini mushrooms being cooked in a dry skillet
      2. Stir in the butter. Once the butter begins to bubble, add the cream, soy sauce, and thyme. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook, stirring often, until the sauce is thickened slightly, 6 to 7 minutes. Season with salt to taste. 

        sautéed mushrooms in a skillet with cream, thyme, soy sauce, and butter creating a rich and creamy mushroom sauce
      3. Serve with roast chicken, pork, steak or over cooked pasta. 

        creamy mushroom sauce in a skillet, the perfect sauce for pork, chicken, steak and potatoes

      Nutrition Info

      • Per Serving
      • Amount
      • Calories 289
      • Protein 8 g
      • Carbohydrates 5 g
      • Total Fat 24 g
      • Dietary Fiber 3 g
      • Cholesterol 95 mg
      • Sodium 1085 mg
      • Total Sugars 5 g

      Creamy Mushroom Sauce

      Questions & Reviews

      Rated 5 stars by 5 readers

      or
      • Sharu

        Could you possibly suggest any vegan alternatives to the cream? would cashew cream or coconut milk work?

        Either should be ok, hope you enjoy!

      • Jill

        If I don't have heavy cream can I use milk?

        This recipe will not turn out creamy without the cream.

      • Mickenzie

        Can I add all ingredients to an insta pot over pork chops?

        We haven't tried this in an instant pot.

      • Amy

        Can this sauce be frozen?

        Hi Amy, we haven't tried it but we probably wouldn't recommend it, the mushrooms might not hold up so well.

      • Nan

        How does this reheat? I'm trying to do much of my cooking on the weekend for stress free weeknight meals.

        I think it reheats beautifully!

      • Laura

        Can I make this sauce and then pour it on top of chicken thighs in a dutch oven and cook them in it?

        Um, YES! That sounds amazing. Let us know how it turns out!

      • Rachel

        5-star rating

        This is our go-to sauce to top chicken, pork, meatballs… you get the idea. It goes on almost anything. I could eat it with a spool (and have).

        YAY! Glad you love it so much Rachel!

      • Hello

        5-star rating

        Excellent! I was lucky enough to have fresh king boletes on hand, but this would be good for ANY mushroom. I added a splash of apple cider vinegar just before adding the butter to get a wee bit of acid in for balance. Would also recommend using half the salt first and the adjusting to taste. I will be using this recipe again and again. Thank you!

        Thank you, we are so happy to hear it's a keeper!

      • Julia

        5-star rating

        Fantastic! I kept reading when the instructions started with a dry skillet. Mushrooms should be treated like meat; they do not need butter until they are cooked. Really great and easy recipe that should go in your personal file.

        Thank you Julia, so glad you loved it!

      • Doug

        5-star rating

        Easy and delicious! A little saltier than I like, so I halved the tamari 2nd time I made it.
        Leftovers reheat easy and taste just as good.

        Thanks Doug! So glad you like it and have made it multiple times, yay!