Smoked portobello mushroom ready to eat.

Smoked Portobello Mushrooms on the Grill

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These smoked portobello mushrooms are an excellent whole-ingredient meatless alternative that take very little time to prepare. Serve them as a main dish or a side dish for any occasion.

Portobello mushrooms are already a favorite with vegetarians and vegans for their meaty texture and concentrated umami, and smoking deepens that flavor into something rich, smoky, and complex.

Smoked portobello mushroom on a serving board.

Menu Suggestion: Make It a Meal

Build a well-balanced and flavorful feast with Smoked Portobello Mushrooms on the Grill as the star of the meal.

A Few Things Worth Knowing

  • Meatless main: A great choice for vegetarians and vegans, with enough texture to carry the plate on its own.
  • Minimal prep: Just 5-10 minutes of active prep, done well in advance or as little as 2 hours before you grill.
  • Hands-off cooking: Let the grill do the work over smoking wood chips while you prep everything else.
  • Deep smoky flavor: The slow cook gives the smoke time to penetrate fully and draw out the mushrooms’ umami.

Grocery and Pantry List

  • Portobello mushrooms 
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
  • Chili pepper (Aleppo, or other choice of chili): I also like to add a small amount of Smoked Paprika to intensify the smoky flavor.
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Thyme: Dry or fresh thyme can be used.
  • Wood chips: I like using apple wood chips but you can use any type of wood such as hickory, mesquite, apple, cherry.

Time Required:

Grill on a preheated grill at 220°F (105°C).

  • 2 hours: To marinade
  • 30 minutes: To smoke

Special Tools to Use:

  • Outdoor Grill
  • Broiler pan –  this simple kitchen tool makes a perfect smoking basket.

Recipe Steps at a Glance

This grill smoked portobello mushroom recipe can be broken down into the following steps:

  • Washing and cleaning mushrooms
  • Marinating mushrooms
  • Smoking mushrooms 

Step-by-step: How to Make Smoked Portobello Mushrooms on the Grill

Step 1: Washing and cleaning mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms washed and ready to be seasoned.

When it comes to cleaning mushrooms, there are two camps: those who adhere to a no-wash rule and those who wash them.

While some experts suggest simply wiping mushrooms with a damp cloth, I believe a quick rinse under running water is more effective. This brief rinse ensures the caps and gills are free of debris, and mushrooms absorb only a negligible amount of water.

After rinsing, pat them dry with a towel and place them gills-side down to release excess moisture. Remove the thin membrane under the cap and give the stem a fresh cut, leaving it intact.

Step 2: Marinating mushrooms

Sprinkling mushrooms with salt.

Marinating the mushrooms is the best way to work extra flavor into that woody texture.

Mushrooms with thyme leaves.

Place the mushroom upside down, gills facing up, and season with salt and pepper, drizzle with balsamic vinegar or red wine. Sprinkle with thyme leaves, cover, and store them in the refrigerator until you are ready to grill.

Step 3: Smoking mushrooms 

Soak the wood chips ahead of time for at least an hour. 

I found that using a broiler pan for smoking is a good option. Most of the oven ranges in the USA come with one. It consists of two pieces: a slotted upper pan and a drip pan, made of an enameled porcelain finish that makes it impervious to high-heat cooking.

Preparing wood chips.

I am using the drip pan for wood chips and the upper pan will be the smoker basket for holding the mushrooms.

Smoked portobello mushroom s 3

Line the drip pan with foil, this will hold the wood chips and ensure easy cleaning afterward. 

Mushrooms on a broiling pan.

Evenly distribute the woodchips over the foil and put the slotted tray on top.

Preheat the outdoor grill to 220°F (105°C) and place the broiler pan on the grill. Brush the mushrooms with oil and place them on the broiling pan. 

After 20-30 minutes, check for doneness. Pierce the stem with a knife or a skewer. You shouldn’t feel any resistance. The skewer or knife should slide all the way through.

Once the mushrooms are done, transfer to a platter and serve. Leave them stem side up, so the juices stay inside the cap.

Best Way to Serve Smoked Portobello Mushrooms

For a complete and flavorful meal, serve Smoked Portobello Mushrooms alongside Hasselback Potatoes. The deep, smoky essence of grilled portobello mushrooms pairs wonderfully with the crispy, buttery layers of Hasselback potatoes. This combination offers a delightful contrast in texture and flavor, making it an excellent choice for a vegetarian-friendly feast or a side to complement grilled meats.

  • Smoked mushrooms can be served as a main dish with a side of other vegetables.
  • You can slice them or serve them whole.
  • Smoked portobello mushrooms go well on a sandwich.
  • Serve with a meat-lover’s option: Smoked Pork
  • Or pair it with either store-bought or homemade Smoked Salmon
  • Serve a jar of spicy mustard along with it.
Smoked portobello mushroom on a plate.

Tips and Wisdom from Cafe Osharak

  • Keep the mushrooms stem side up so the smoky juices pool in the cap instead of dripping away.
  • Let them rest (after cooking) and before slicing.
  • Marinate the mushrooms. The longer they stay in a marinade, the more flavor they absorb.
Smoked portobello mushroom ready to eat on a cutting board.

More Recipes to Try from Cafe Osharak

Enjoyed this recipe? Then you’ll love Potato Au Gratin, Oyster Mushroom Gratin, and Mushroom Pate! They’re just as flavorful and fun to make. Check them out and let me know which one you try next!

Smoked Portobello Mushrooms on the Grill

These smoked portobello mushrooms are an excellent whole-ingredient meatless alternative that take very little time to prepare. Serve them as a main dish or a side dish for any occasion.
Save Pin Recipe Print Recipe
Smoked portobello mushroom ready to eat.
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:40 minutes
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
Mediterranean

Ingredients

  • 2 Portobello mushrooms
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
  • ¼ 1 Chili pepper Aleppo, or other choices of chili
  • 1-2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
  • 3-4 sprigs Thyme
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 cup Wood chips

Instructions

  • Wash and clean the mushrooms. Turn the stem side up and sprinkle salt, pepper, and chili pepper.
  • Drizzle vinegar into the gills.
  • Sprinkle chopped thyme. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  • In the meantime, soak the wood chips and prepare the smoking pan. (see instructions in the post).
  • When ready to smoke, preheat the outdoor grill to 220° F (105° C) and place the broiler pan on the gill. Brush the mushrooms with oil and place them on the broiling pan.
  • Cook for 30-40 minutes. The mushrooms are ready when a skewer easily pierces through the mushroom.

Notes

Step-by-Step Photos: My blog post includes helpful step-by-step photos to help guide you through making this recipe.
  • Marinate mushrooms for maximum flavor absorption.
  • Keep mushrooms stem side up to retain juices.
  • Allow mushrooms to rest before slicing.
Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 591mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving and is not guaranteed for accuracy.

Servings: 2
Calories: 91kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @osharak.cafe or tag #osharak.cafe!

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