Smoked Mussels Crostini with Garlic Butter & Chili Crisp

A while back, in my no-knead 00 flour bread post, I promised you a “mussel toast” recipe. Slices of good bread, mussels, lemon, chili oil, garlic, parsley. Well, here it is, and it grew up a little on the way. These smoked mussels crostini take about 15 to 20 minutes start to finish, and about as much effort as making a sandwich.

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok, you’ve probably seen the trend: a tin of Trader Joe’s Lightly Smoked Mussels, a spoonful of TJ’s Chili Onion Crunch, and some bread or crackers. It went viral for a reason. It’s cheap, it’s fast, and it tastes way fancier than it has any right to.

I first saw this on TikTok. My daughter and I are serious foodies, and I knew right away she would love it.

But you know me. I can’t leave a good thing alone. So I did it my way.

Why This Version Works

The viral version is great. We just made a few changes:

• Oil-toasted crostini first, garlic butter after. The bread gets brushed with olive oil and toasted until golden and crispy. The garlic-herb butter goes on the second it comes out, so it melts right into the hot bread instead of burning in the oven.
• Fresh garlic, not roasted. Roasted garlic is sweet and mellow. That’s nice, but smoked mussels and chili crisp need something with a little bite. Fresh, finely chopped garlic in soft butter gives you that.
• Herbs from the raised beds. Thai basil and parsley, picked fresh from our raised beds out here at Brandowdale South. The Thai basil brings a little anise-y, peppery kick that plays really well with the smoke.
• Lao Gan Ma instead of the TJ’s crunch. Lao Gan Ma is a Chinese chili crisp brand that’s been a pantry staple for a lot of folks for a long time. It’s crunchy, savory and garlicky, which is exactly what smoked mussels want.

And since Mimi and I try to eat clean, I like that the star of the show is basically a tin of seafood. Smoked mussels are shelf-stable, so you can keep a can in the pantry for whenever company shows up, and they’re a good source of protein. Not bad for an appetizer.

My daughter and I loved it so much it made the cut for our Seven Fishes Christmas Eve dinner! (That’s going to be a future post, I promise.)

What You’ll Need

The short version: a can of TJ’s Lightly Smoked Mussels, a baguette or crusty loaf, olive oil, butter, fresh garlic, Lao Gan Ma chili crisp, parsley, Thai basil, a pinch of salt, and a squeeze of lemon if you like. Full amounts are in the recipe card below.

How to Make Smoked Mussels Crostini

1. Toast the crostini

Slice your bread, then brush or drizzle the slices lightly with olive oil. Toast them in a 400°F oven or a 375°F air fryer, and watch them closely until golden and crispy. Keep an eye on them, they can burn pretty quickly!

2. Make the garlic-herb butter

While the bread toasts, mix the softened butter with the finely chopped garlic, a pinch of salt, and a good handful of chopped parsley and Thai basil. Save a little of the herbs for later.

3. Dress the mussels

Drain most of the oil from the can, but keep a little in there. It’s good stuff. Toss the mussels with 1 to 2 generous spoonfuls of Lao Gan Ma, a little extra parsley and basil, and a squeeze of lemon if you want it.

4. Butter hot, then top

As soon as the crostini come out, spread the garlic-herb butter on the hot bread. This is the whole trick, so don’t wander off. Top each one with mussels and finish with more parsley and basil. Serve right away.

Pap Steve’s Tips

• The Thai basil swap. The Thai basil was my swap to begin with, and it was such a hit at our Seven Fishes dinner that it’s now a permanent part of my version of this trend. Don’t skip it if you can get it. If you don’t have Thai basil, regular basil or chives will do in a pinch.
• Keep the toast crisp. Go light on the oil, toast all the way to golden, and don’t assemble until you’re ready to eat. Draining most of the can oil helps too. Soggy crostini is just sad bread.
• How much chili crisp? Start with one spoonful, taste a mussel, then decide if you want the second. You can always add more on top. You can’t take it back out.
• Make more than you think. One can makes 6 to 10 crostini, depending on how high you pile them. We never make just one tin. These are super popular when all the kids come home for the holidays, so double or triple the recipe for a crowd.
• Prefer the TJ’s crunch? Go for it. Swap the Lao Gan Ma for Trader Joe’s Chili Onion Crunch one-for-one and you’re back to the original TikTok combo, just with better toast.
• Use the Saturday loaf. Every Saturday we bake a no-knead Polselli 00 loaf, and slices of that make great crostini. If you want the classic little rounds, my Same-Day Baguettes are perfect for this.

FAQ

Can I use a different brand of smoked mussels?

Sure. The TJ’s ones are what started the trend, but any tinned smoked mussels in olive oil will work. Just drain them the same way.

Can I make these ahead of time?

You can toast the crostini and mix the garlic-herb butter ahead. Assemble right before serving, though. The butter needs to hit hot bread, and the mussels will soften the toast if they sit too long.

Is Lao Gan Ma really spicy?

Everybody’s heat meter is different. It’s more crunchy and savory than face-melting for a lot of people, but start with one spoonful and work up from there.

Are smoked mussels healthy?

They’re a good source of protein and they keep in the pantry, which makes them an easy fit for clean eating. Check the label on your can for the details.

That’s a Wrap

So there you go. Mussel toast, finally delivered, and only a little late. Toast the bread, butter it hot, pile on the mussels, and don’t be shy with the herbs. If you try it, let me know in the comments whether you went Lao Gan Ma or stuck with the TJ’s crunch.

And keep an eye out for my Seven Fishes Christmas Eve post. These crostini earned their spot on that menu, and I promise I’ll tell you all about it.

Eat good, keep it simple.
— Pap Steve