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
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1 medium apple
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Dash cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
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Chop apple
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Bake in microwave for 1 minute (or more depending on how crispy you want it)
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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
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1 cup frozen green beans
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1/4 cup parmesan cheese (I like the “shaves” from Trader Joe’s)
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Everything Bagel seasoning
DIRECTIONS
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Microwave green beans for 3-4 minutes, until hot & not frozen. You may need to stir around
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Top with cheese, microwave for another 30 seconds
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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…!
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French onion
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Vegetable soup (clear broth)
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Chicken vegetable (not chicken noodle)
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Broccoli cheddar
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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:
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Add 1/2 cup uncooked oats & cover with a bit of water in a bowl
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Microwave for 1-2 minutes (based on the strength of the microwave)
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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!
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Cut a deep cut into 1 medium sweet potato and open wide; poke holes in the potato as well with a fork
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Cook in a bowl for 10 minutes in the microwave
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Top with 1/2 can chili and 1/3 cup shredded cheese
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Cook for 30 seconds – cover with a paper towel
Single-Serving Frittata
Ingredients
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2 eggs
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1/2 cup spinach leaves
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1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
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Salt & pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
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Crack eggs & beat with a fork in a bowl; add in spinach leaves and cheddar cheese
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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
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2 Tbsp Cacao powder – 40 calories
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1.3 Tbsp Almond flour/Almond meal – 52 calories
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3 tsp Brown sugar – 51 calories
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1 Tbsp Butter (Tbsp) – 103 calories
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1 tsp Water (tsp) – 0 calories
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2 Tbsp Yogurt, flavored (<15 gm sugar/ serving), 2% Greek (Tbsp) – 24 calories
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⅛ cup Walnuts – 96 calories
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1 Tbsp Chocolate chips – 70 calories
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1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
DIRECTIONS
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together until batter’s smooth
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Microwave for 60 seconds, then in 30 seconds intervals until no longer watery
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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.
