Baked Tahong with Sweet Chili-Mayo Topping are the ultimate seafood appetizer! These stuffed mussels are easy to make, creamy, cheesy, and seriously addictive.

Looking for the ultimate seafood appetizer? These baked tahong with sweet chili-mayo topping will knock your socks off!
Juicy and tasty with a creamy, cheesy, perfectly sweet, and mildly spicy topping, they're seriously addictive! Trust me when I say DOUBLE the servings because these babies will disappear from the buffet table as fast as you make them.
I also have crispy tahong and mussels a la gamba on the blog if you're looking for more ways to cook this seafood. They're all delicious with their own set of flavors, but I have to say, these cheesy baked mussels recipe is my personal favorite!

It's budget-friendly and easy to prepare which makes it perfect for serving a large crowd. You can have a big batch ready in minutes and with hardly any effort unless you're using fresh mussels which do require a bit of prep.
How to Prepare Fresh Mussels
I use frozen mussels that already come in half-shells and are ready to use in the recipe after thawing. If using fresh, please check out the tips below on how to clean and open the tahong.
- Mussels that are open before cooking are not necessarily "dead." Gently tap the mussel with your finger and wait for it to close up; if the shell doesn't close after tapping, throw it away.
- Inspect shells for cracks or openings and discard.
- Soak the mussels in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes to rid of any dirt or sand. Drain well.
- Scrub the shells with a kitchen brush under cold, running water. Use a paring knife to scrape off any hard filaments.
- Remove the beard or byssus by pulling down toward the hinge of the shell and outward.
- Hold the mussel firmly, insert a blunt knife between the top and bottom shell, and gently twist to pop open. Remove the top shell.

Sweet Chili-Mayo Topping
This mayo-sweet chili topping is the stuff food dreams are made of and needs to be in your back pocket of kitchen tricks! Not only does it add tons of flavor, but it also acts as a protective coating that keeps seafood or meat from drying out during the cooking process.
And it's versatile, too! I use it on shrimp, salmon, and chicken breast, and always with great results. The best part is the topping mixture is quick and has only five ingredients!
- Mayonnaise- for that golden, creamy layer of goodness
- Shredded Cheese- use cheese that melts quickly and smoothly, such as Eden, American cheese, Cheddar, or Monterey Jack. I don't recommend Mozzarella as it's very stringy.
- Sweet Chili Sauce- a couple of tablespoons takes the topping over the top! Its sweet and mildly spicy taste balances out the creamy and salty cheese and mayo.
- Green Onions- for a pop of color
- Lime Juice- a drizzle or two helps brighten flavors

Helpful tips
- If using fresh mussels, clean them following the tips above. If using frozen half-shells, thaw completely.
- Stir the topping ingredients just until combined. Make it when you're ready to top and bake the mussels, as the mixture tends to get liquidy as it stands.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil to catch drips, as baked-on cheese can be pretty hard to scrub off.
- If the topping is browning too fast before the mussels are cooked through, loosely tent with foil.
- Do NOT overbake! As with most shellfish, mussels will shrink and toughen the longer they cook.

How to Serve
- Serve these cheesy baked mussels as an appetizer, with a cold beer, of course! They're the perfect tapas and are sure to be a party hit!
- But although I usually serve them as appetizers, they also make a great meal with steamed rice and your choice of green salad or vegetable side dish. Any way you enjoy them, they're delicious!
If you're in the mood for soup instead, you might want to try this sinabawang tahong. Bursting with ginger flavor and vibrant spinach leaves, it's the ultimate cold-weather comfort food! Prefer omelet? I've got that covered, too! My tortang tahong is so good with rice and a side of banana catsup for dipping!
More seafood recipes
Ingredients
- 24 pieces frozen half-shell mussels, thawed
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon green onions, chopped
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, cheese, sweet chili sauce, green onions, and lime juice. Gently stir until incorporated.
- Arrange in a single layer on an aluminum foil or parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of mayo-chili mixture on each shell and spread to fully cover the mussel.
- Bake in a 375 F oven for about 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Serve immediately.
Notes
- If using fresh mussels, prepare them following the instructions on the post. If using frozen half-shells, thaw completely.
- Stir the topping ingredients just until combined. Make it when you're ready to top and bake the mussels, as the mixture tends to get "liquidy" as it stands.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil to catch drips, as baked-on cheese can be pretty hard to scrub off.
- If the topping is browning too fast before the mussels are cooked through, loosely tent with foil.
- Do NOT overbake! As with most shellfish, mussels will shrink and toughen the longer they cook.
Video

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
yeah says
this was really good!!
Lalaine Manalo says
Thank you!
Krissy says
I was looking for good baked tahong recipes. I had 3 on the list but I chose yours kasi "subok na" lahat ng recipes mo 😉 this turned out really good! Two thumbs up for this recipe! Thank you so much
Lalaine Manalo says
Thank you so much, Krissy! You made my day 🙂 I am glad you enjoyed them!
Jake says
These were amazing! I wish I would have made more! They disappeared in 5 minutes!
Ruth says
These look so yummy! I just picked up a pound of fresh green lipped mussels from the grocery, looks like they will become this tonight.
Lalaine says
I hope you try this recipe, sooo good! 🙂