Sometimes our cooking options are LIMITED, so we have to become creative with cooking methods. Whether you’re at work or on a college campus, if you only have a microwave, no worries! There’s plenty you can do with limited kitchen appliances, especially when you’re in a pinch.
Curious about what healthy meals you can make in the microwave? Today, I’m sharing a roundup of some healthy microwave recipes you can make in a jiffy. These are all single-serving meals and snacks.
10 Healthy Microwavable Meals
There are tons of recipes you can alter to microwave – swap out scrambled eggs for microwave frittatas, swap out a regular cake for a mug cake, spaghetti squash for zucchini noodles that can be heated in a microwave, etc.
Here are some microwave recipes that are quick, easy, and delicious. These are done in less than 15 minutes, so they’re perfect for a quick and easy meal.
Also, as a heads up, make sure to use a microwavable-safe bowl or plate when you’re making a microwave meal!
Baked Apple “Crisp”
Need a treat but don’t want something that’s going to ruin your health goals? Try this one.
Ingredients
1 medium apple
Dash cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
Chop apple
Bake in microwave for 1 minute (or more depending on how crispy you want it)
Add cinnamon
Parmesan Crusted Green Beans
This was one of my favorites when I needed to stay up late to study. Healthy, and just salty enough to be delicious!
Ingredients
1 cup frozen green beans
1/4 cup parmesan cheese (I like the “shaves” from Trader Joe’s)
Everything Bagel seasoning
DIRECTIONS
Microwave green beans for 3-4 minutes, until hot & not frozen. You may need to stir around
Top with cheese, microwave for another 30 seconds
Top with Everything Bagel seasoning
Canned Soup
Canned soup is good for so many reasons. You guys know I generally follow a low carbohydrate diet, and I also find the research to show that when you chew foods, you’re more full than when you drink or slurp.
Therefore, the soups I’m recommending are fairly low-carb, and will either 1) keep your full for hours, or 2) are just a little snack to tide you over or to eat when you’re working late at night and just need something to munch (slurp?) on.
Some of my faves are…!
French onion
Vegetable soup (clear broth)
Chicken vegetable (not chicken noodle)
Broccoli cheddar
Chili with ground meat (turkey or beef is fine!)
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is so good to keep in the pantry – lasts (nearly) forever! Here’s an easy recipe:
Add 1/2 cup uncooked oats & cover with a bit of water in a bowl
Microwave for 1-2 minutes (based on the strength of the microwave)
Top with cinnamon and 1/4 cup of nuts to make a complete breakfast!
Poached Egg
When it comes to poaching eggs in the microwave, a trusty method is to cook the egg in a microwave safe mug with a lid in a ½ cup of water for 1 minute. Now, of course you may have to experiment with the time depending on the temperature of your microwave, but the process should be just the same.
To end up with a well poached egg in the microwave (with minimal mess), you’ll want to:
- Make sure the egg is completely submerged in the water
- Microwave the egg on high for 1 minute (with the lid on)
- When ready, the egg should be firm and the yolk runny
- I drain out the water by straining it through the fork with the mug tilted just enough.
- There’s no need to pierce the yolk, just gently lift the egg with the fork and slide it sunny side up onto the plate
Loaded Baked Sweet Potato
This can be a full meal not just a side!
Cut a deep cut into 1 medium sweet potato and open wide; poke holes in the potato as well with a fork
Cook in a bowl for 10 minutes in the microwave
Top with 1/2 can chili and 1/3 cup shredded cheese
Cook for 30 seconds – cover with a paper towel
Single-Serving Frittata
Ingredients
2 eggs
1/2 cup spinach leaves
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt & pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Crack eggs & beat with a fork in a bowl; add in spinach leaves and cheddar cheese
Microwave in a bowl or other microwaveable safe container for 3 minutes
Mug cake
Mug cakes are great microwave meals! They’re easy to make, and so delicious. Here are a few mug cake recipes you can do in a microwave!
Chocolate Walnut Mug Cake
Ingredients
2 Tbsp Cacao powder – 40 calories
1.3 Tbsp Almond flour/Almond meal – 52 calories
3 tsp Brown sugar – 51 calories
1 Tbsp Butter (Tbsp) – 103 calories
1 tsp Water (tsp) – 0 calories
2 Tbsp Yogurt, flavored (<15 gm sugar/ serving), 2% Greek (Tbsp) – 24 calories
⅛ cup Walnuts – 96 calories
1 Tbsp Chocolate chips – 70 calories
1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together until batter’s smooth
Microwave for 60 seconds, then in 30 seconds intervals until no longer watery
I’m using vanilla yogurt here, but use whatever you have (greek yogurt for example)
Chocolate Walnut Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Cacao powder – 40 calories
- 1.3 Tbsp Almond flour/Almond meal – 52 calories
- 3 tsp Brown sugar – 51 calories
- 1 Tbsp Butter (Tbsp) – 103 calories
- 1 tsp Water (tsp) – 0 calories
- 2 Tbsp Yogurt, flavored (<15 gm sugar/ serving), 2% Greek (Tbsp) – 24 calories
- ⅛ cup Walnuts – 96 calories
- 1 Tbsp Chocolate chips – 70 calories
- 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
DIRECTIONS
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together until batter’s smooth
- Microwave for 60 seconds, then in 30 seconds intervals until no longer watery
- I’m using vanilla yogurt here, but use whatever you have (greek yogurt for example)
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ingredients
4 oz Rotisserie chicken – 200 calories
1 oz Yogurt, plain, Greek, 2%, from tub – 21 calories
1 Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped (Tbsp) – 33 calories
3 Tbsp Cheese, shredded, cheddar (Tbsp) – 90 calories
1 tsp Buffalo sauce – 5 calories
⅛ tsp Ranch seasoning – 0 calories
½ cup Celery stalks, chopped in half – 8 calories
Directions
- Dice chicken.
- Mix all ingredients (aside from celery) together.
- When you’re ready to eat, microwave for 60-120 seconds.
- Dip celery into your dip.
- Note: Hot sauce instead of buffalo sauce is fine.
- No meat & dairy? Swap this meal out for another.
Black Bean Salad
Ingredients
½ Bell pepper, red, medium – 19 calories
½ Cucumber, medium – 21 calories
¼ Onion, red – 11 calories
1 cup Beans & legumes, black beans, cooked – 228 calories
½ cup Corn, canned – 63 calories
½ Avocado, small – 117 calories
⅛ tsp Salt – 0 calories
⅛ tsp Red pepper flakes – 0 calories
1 tsp Hot sauce (tsp) – 0 calories
Directions
- Dice bell peppers, cucumber, and red onion
- Drain beans and corn if using canned. Microwave for 3 minutes to heat and eat, if preferred.
- Mix all ingredients together, enjoy!
- No avocado? Use oil instead.
