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Steamed Mussels in a white wine and garlic cream broth bring a touch of French elegance to your table in under 20 minutes. Known as Moules Marinières, this simple steamed mussels recipe is buttery, garlicky, and full of fresh flavor.
If you’ve ever wondered how to cook mussels at home, this is one of the best mussels recipes to try. Serve them with crusty bread as an appetizer, or pair with pasta and a salad for a complete meal. Simple, quick, and absolutely delicious.
What Makes These Steamed Mussels Work
What makes these steamed mussels shine is the rich, garlicky white wine broth that feels fancy but comes together fast. The cream adds just enough richness without overpowering the delicate seafood.
It’s a simple steamed mussels recipe that delivers bold flavor in under 20 minutes; perfect for date night, dinner parties, or a quick cozy meal. It’s easily one of the best mussels recipes to keep on repeat.
What Goes Into These Steamed Mussels
Cooking steamed mussels at home is surprisingly easy with just a few fresh ingredients and a good bottle of wine. Here’s what brings this dish to life:
- Mussels: Fresh, cleaned mussels are the star of the show—briny, tender, and perfect for soaking up all that flavorful broth.
- White Wine: Use a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to add depth and brightness to the creamy sauce.
- Garlic and Onion: A classic flavor base that infuses the broth with savory warmth and subtle sweetness.
- Butter and Cream: A mix of unsalted butter and heavy cream creates a velvety, rich broth that makes this feel like a true French bistro dish.
Note: Please see recipe card for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make These Steamed Mussels
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat olive oil and a tablespoon of butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and sauté for about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Add the Mussels and Liquids: Pour in the cleaned mussels along with white wine, heavy cream, the remaining butter, and chopped parsley. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Steam Until Cooked: Give everything a good stir, then cover the pot with a lid. Let the mussels steam for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they’ve opened and are cooked through.
- Serve and Enjoy: Spoon the mussels into bowls and ladle over plenty of that garlicky, creamy broth. Serve immediately with crusty bread or garlic bread to soak it all up.
Serve your steamed mussels with a serving of my Paella or Hearty Creole Jambalaya. The paella’s saffron rice and seafood pair naturally with mussels, while the jambalaya adds a bold, spicy contrast.
For something simpler, try Homemade Truffle Fries. They’re crispy, flavorful, and perfect for soaking up that rich garlic-wine broth.
Recipe FAQ’s
Mussels are ready when their shells open wide. This usually happens around 8 to 10 minutes into cooking, but start checking at the 5-minute mark. Stir once halfway through to distribute heat evenly, then cover again until done.
Discard any mussels that don’t open during cooking. These may not be safe to eat, so it’s best to remove them before serving.
Yes—overcooked mussels become rubbery and tough. Remove them from heat as soon as they open to keep them tender and juicy.
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French Mussels
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 2 pounds mussels cleaned
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter cut into pieces
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1 pinch salt to season
- 1 pinch pepper to season
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh squeezed
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until softened, (about 5 minutes).
- Add the mussels, wine, cream, butter, and parsley. Season well with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Mix well, cover pot with a lid and cook until mussels are cooked through and opened, about 12-15 minutes.
- Serve mussels along with the juices in the pan with crusty or garlic bread.
Notes
- Unopened shells can be removed before serving.
- Check your steamed mussels about 5-6 minutes into cooking, stirring to distribute the ingredients and then cover again to cook for a few more minutes. Once the mussels open they are ready to eat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
DELICIOUS!!
I have been wanting to make this live mussels in years and today, FINALLY, they had it at our local store.
The mussels are so soft and the juices are just so good, I could just drink it. LOL
Hi Cherry, that’s wonderful to hear! Freshly cooked mussels with flavorful juices can be such a delightful and indulgent treat. I’m glad you had the opportunity to make and enjoy them!
This recipe is phenomenal!
My friend made these with steamer clams & it was also amazing!! Loved this recipe very much with both. Thank you!