You can use mussels in savory and sweet recipes alike, and they pair well with other ingredients from all over the world. Whether you’re looking for an addition to your regular dinner rotation or something to try on a date, this list has something for every palate. Try all 25 recipes and get ready to impress your friends with your mussel-making skills!
Mussels Recipes That Are Easy and Fancy
1. Mussels with Apples
When you’re staring down a busy weeknight and you still want to serve something fancy, try this mussel recipe. It’s a simple dish that hits all the right notes: it’s quick, it’s light, it’s flavorful, and it’s packed with all the good stuff. The mussels are steamed in a light cream sauce with apples and apple brandy—a flavor combination that’s sure to please. The mussels are tender, and the sauce is rich but not heavy. And this recipe? It comes together in just 20 minutes. You can’t beat that!
2. Summer Seafood Stew
If you’re looking for a light, delicious, and easy dinner that’ll surely be a hit with your family, look no further than summer seafood stew. This fancy dish combines the tenderness of seafood with a warm, comforting sauce. The fennel-tomato broth adds a pop of color, sweetness, and tanginess that brings everything together.
3. Thai Coconut Mussels
Thai coconut mussels are fast-cooking, flavorful, and easy to make—everything you could want from a weeknight dinner. This recipe is super easy because mussels are one of the easiest kinds of seafood to cook. All you’ll need is a big pot, some Thai spices, coconut milk as a base, and fresh mussels. If you’re craving a tasty seafood dish that takes hardly any effort to put together, give this one a shot!
4. Kerala Style Mussels Fry (Kallumakkaya Varattiyathu)
This spicy Indian dish pairs the strong spicy flavors with the tender texture of mussels. The mussels are sauteed with ginger-garlic, and spices make up the spicy and delicious flavor profile. If you’re adventurous and willing to try something new, this recipe will make your tastebuds jump.
5. Cioppino Seafood Stew
Are you craving something warm, tasty, and comforting? This cioppino recipe is one of the quickest and healthiest ways to get dinner on the table, even when life gets busy. You’re going to love this authentic cioppino recipe from Ina Garten, aka The Barefoot Contessa. It’s a tomato-based seafood stew loaded with shrimp, cod, mussels, and clams for a healthy soup that’ll surely be a staple in your family dinners.
6. Baked Mussels with Crisped Bread Crumbs
You don’t have to be a chef to make this crispy, crunchy, scrumptious baked mussel dish. Mix the bread crumbs, parsley, and garlic, put it on top of mussels, bake, and you’re good to go! You can prepare this mussel dish in under an hour, but it’s a recipe that will wow your guests at the dinner table.
7. Mussels Saganaki Recipe (Greek Midia Saganaki)
This traditional Greek appetizer recipe captures the authentic flavors of Greek cuisine. You’ll be surprised by how easy you can make this fancy appetizer without missing out on the fancy, tasty flavor profile. Mussels saganaki is a great recipe for any meal: even a quick dinner or an appetizer before meals.
8. Potato Mussel Chowder
Indulge yourself in this creamy, delightful mussel chowder recipe for days that call for comfort food. The tender and slightly chewy texture of mussels perfectly matches the creaminess of the chowder. The secret is a lot of butter, cream, and pancetta, which makes the broth thick and decadent without taking much effort at all.
9. Cheese-Mayo Baked Mussels
Nothing beats the perfect combination of cheese, mayonnaise, and seafood—this mussel recipe has all the good things altogether! Delight your tastebuds with the combination of cheesy flavor and light tarty taste of mayo with the rich taste of mussels. This recipe makes for an amazing appetizer that’ll make your family raving for more!
10. Thai Red Curry Mussels
Spice up your regular dinner rotation with this Thai red curry mussel recipe. Thai red curry paste and mussels star this recipe, a match made in heaven. This dish can be made in under 30 minutes and will leave your kitchen with a flavorful aroma.
11. Creamy Avgolemono Mussels with Pasta
A restaurant-quality lemony white wine sauce made with garlic, shallots, cream, and avgolemono can turn any meal into a special occasion. This dish is fresh and bright, with garlicky shallots and lemony avgolemono sauce. The combination of mussels and pasta is a perfect match for a light but filling meal. This recipe is simple to make and full of vibrant flavor that’ll have your guests coming back for more.
12. Mussel and Leek Party Tarts (Musselburgh Tarts)
If you have guests coming over and you want to impress with some delightful party treats, this recipe is just it! The sweet, onion flavor of leek blends perfectly with the umami taste of mussels. A bite of this savory party treat will surely delight your guests and keep them coming back for more.
13. Caribbean Coconut Mussel Curry
This creamy, savory, and perfectly-spiced Caribbean coconut mussel curry is the perfect comfort food on cold days. This dish has bursting flavors and silky textures in every bite. The rich sauce with layers of creamy coconut milk and spices coats each mussel in an explosion of flavor.
14. Mussels in Tomato Sauce
Mussels in tomato sauce is a delicious, classy recipe that you can make for special occasions or even on regular days that calls for some fancy dish. This recipe is a beautiful way to serve mussels, with all the layers of flavor in a bowl of pasta! Mussels in tomato sauce is a classic dish that can be served over pasta or as an appetizer with crusty bread and your favorite wine.
15. Portuguese Mussels (Moules à la Portugaise)
Who said that you could only experience the delight of wining and dining from restaurants? This Portuguese mussels recipe is a tasty, date-night-worthy dish that is easy to make at home and classy enough to serve during the holidays.
16. French Mussels
There are many ways to prepare mussels, but none quite compare to this simple French recipe. This dish has a variety of uses, from a delicious appetizer to an easy weeknight meal with your favorite crusty bread to soak up all the creamy broth.
17. Mussels in Lemon Garlic-Butter Sauce
These mussels are a treat in a bowl, infused with lemon, garlic, and butter for a heavenly flavor combination! The combination of the tender but still firm seafood meat paired with the creamy, lemon flavors is simply divine.
18. Steamed Mussels with Garlic and Parsley
Serve a delicious mussel dish using only eight ingredients without slaving away in the kitchen. This recipe is so versatile, you can eat it as an appetizer or as a main course, and it will taste different each time. It will always be good!
19. Steamed Mussels with White Wine and Garlic
Steamed mussels infused with white wine and garlic will surely be a crowd-pleaser that you can make in 20 minutes. The delicate flavors of this dish will surely amp up your regular dinner rotation, serve it alongside pasta for a hearty meal, or eat it as an appetizer.
20. Seafood Paella
When you’ve had a busy work week and you’re looking for something easy, satisfying, and delicious, this seafood paella is what you’ll need. This easy one-pot seafood recipe is made with simple ingredients, including saffron rice, Spanish chorizo, shrimp, clams, and mussels.
21. Mussels Marinara
Marinara is one of those recipes that I love because it’s so versatile. You can make it as spicy or as mild as you like, and there are also endless flavor combinations that you can try out. The rich seafood flavor blends perfectly with the regular marinara sauce, which is quick enough to make on a busy weeknight yet elegant enough to serve to company.
22. The Best Moules Marinières (Sailor-Style Mussels)
Experience France in this classic mussel dish made with fresh, inexpensive ingredients. This dish wonderfully blends the rich, creamy flavors with the tender seafood texture. What’s not to love in this fancy yet easy-to-make French mussel dish?
23. Clams and Mussels in Garlic Butter Wine Sauce
One of our favorite ways to enjoy fresh clams and mussels is in a garlic-and-butter wine sauce. Steaming keeps the seafood’s delicate flavor intact, and the broth has just enough garlic and butter to give it incredible depth.
24. Spanish Mussels
Smoked paprika, saffron, garlic, and white wine come together to create one of the best mussel recipes ever! This recipe for Spanish mussels is simple and fast, but it is so full of flavor that it can be served as a main course or as an appetizer.
25. Drunken Mussels
If you think you’ve run out of easy recipes for mussel dishes, this classy drunken mussels recipe is a must-try! It’s infused with rich flavors of white wine, garlic, and anchovies for an elegant, flavorful taste. This dish only takes under 20 minutes to make, and you’ll have a restaurant-quality dish. Click on a star to rate it!
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