The 24 Microwave Recipes You'll Use Again and Again

Bet you didn't know you could microwave caramel corn.

By
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published June 04, 2023
Robin Shreeves
Microwave Oyakodon and Rice in a Small Plate Surrounded by a Table Setting with a Spoon, a Table Napkin, and a Small Plate with Kimchi

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

To save space, I tried going without a microwave for a few years. My kitchen isn't very big, and it's not designed for a microwave over the range. But as my kids got older, I expected them to make snacks and meals on their own when I wasn't home. It became clear to me: a microwave oven made it much easier for them to reheat leftovers, make popcorn, and most importantly to them, whip up a quick mug cake. I made room for a microwave.

For many, microwave ovens are an essential piece of kitchen equipment. They make reheating leftovers quick and easy, but they can do so much more—like bake a layer cake or poach salmon—that you'll be saying, "I didn't know my microwave could do that!" These 24 recipes show you just versatile the oft-overlooked microwave can be.

  • Microwave Caramel Corn

    microwaved caramel corn in a brown paper bag with colorful bowls for serving

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    You don't need any candy making skills to create fresh, hot caramel corn in the microwave. But you do need a big, brown paper bag. Make a quick, 2-minute microwave caramel sauce and pour it over popped corn—1/3 at a time—in a paper bag. Microwave the whole bag for 45 seconds, dump the caramel corn, and let cool. So simple. So good.

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  • How To Microwave Corn on the Cob

    A plate of microwave corn on the cob set on a cutting board and topped with butter.
    Eliezer Martinez

    Leave the husks on for the easiest microwaved corn on the cob ever. When it's cooked, cut the bottom off and the husk slips right off.

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  • 3-Layer Cake In the Microwave

    Cross-Section of a 3-Layer Microwave Cake

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Yes, you can make an entire 3-layer cake in the microwave, one layer at a time. This recipe won't work for all cake recipes. The ingredients for this white cake are chosen specifically for cooking in the microwave. But, instead of a half hour or more baking time, your cake will cook in 10 minutes.

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  • Microwave Rice

    Microwave Rice in a Bowl on a Kitchen Towel with a Wooden Spoon

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    If you need perfectly cooked rice on the table quickly, this is the way to do it. This method works with jasmine, basmati, or plain old “long-grain white rice” as well as sushi rice. Place rinsed rice and water in a microwave safe bowl. Cook uncovered, and then covered, and then let it rest till it gets fluffy. If you're looking for flavorful microwaved rice, try our microwave Mexican arroz verde recipe.

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    Continue to 5 of 24 below.

  • Microwave Bacon

    Plate of Microwave Bacon with Sunny Side Eggs and Slices of Buttered Toast

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Yes, you can cook CRISPY bacon in the microwave. The trick is placing the slices between paper towels to soak up the grease as they cook. You'll have bacon in no time for a BLT, to top a salad, or as a side for your favorite egg dish.

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  • 2-Minute Microwave French Salad Dressing

    salad dressing in a jar next to microwave

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    In just 2 minutes, you'll have a salad dressing worthy enough to be on a French bistro's menu. Traditionally, this dressing takes a lot of time and some dirty dishes, but you don't have to use a pan to sauté shallots in our version. Rather, you microwave them in oil to extract their flavor. The addition of Dijon, vinegar, salt, and pepper finishes off this hard-to-resist salad dressing.

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  • Microwave Red Curry Poached Salmon

    Microwave Red Curry Poached Salmon Topped with Cilantro and Lime Wedges in a Microwavable Glass Bowl

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar

    Salmon gently poached in a Thai-inspired curry is on the table in under 30 when you do it all in the microwave. First, cook an aromatic oil mixture in the microwave. Add it to a pie plate with coconut milk, curry paste, and a few other ingredients to make the poaching liquid. Top with salmon, cover with plastic wrap, and cook.

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  • Brownie in a Mug

    Overhead view of a brownie in a white mug topped with ice cream.
    Annika Panikker

    Satisfy your chocolate craving in minutes with this microwave brownie in a mug that takes 10 minutes from start to first bite. The hardest part about making this brownie for me is waiting a few minutes for it to cool so you don't burn your tongue. A cold scoop of vanilla ice cream on top can speed up that process.

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    Continue to 9 of 24 below.

  • Microwave BBQ Chicken Wings

    Platter of Microwave BBQ Chicken Wings

    Simply Recipes / Mike Lang

    Really? Wings in the microwave? Yes. I'll be honest here. They won't be as crispy as they would be if they were fried. But they will be fast and deliciously sweet, with much less cleaning up when you're done.

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  • Microwave Garlicky Creamed Spinach

    microwave creamed spinach in a white bowl

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Much simpler and quicker than making it on the stovetop, this garlicky creamed spinach recipe contains coconut cream, Parm, garlic, and plenty of seasoning. In 10 minutes, this side dish will be ready for your steak, pork chops, or vegetarian meatloaf dinner.

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  • Microwave Sweet Potato

    Plate with Microwave Sweet Potatoes Split in Half and Topped with a Slab of Butter and Salt

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Make a perfectly cooked sweet potato in your microwave in about 5 minutes, with an optional blast in an air fryer to crisp up the skin. Serve it as a side, or use it as the base for chorizo stuffed sweet potatoes.

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  • Microwave Broccoli with Sesame Dressing

    Bowl of Microwave Broccoli with Sesame Dressing with Utensils, Next to a Table Napkin, a Glass of Water, and a Bowl with More Sesame Seeds

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    This microwave broccoli with sesame dressing takes steamed broccoli up a notch. It takes just 15 minutes to make, and it's a good accompaniment for bulgogi, braised short ribs, and gochujang chicken thighs served with a big bowl of rice. 

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    Continue to 13 of 24 below.

  • Microwave Baked Potato

    Microwave Baked Potato Topped with Sour Cream, Cheddar, and Chives on a Plate with a Fork

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    Just as delicious as an oven-baked potato, this microwave baked potato takes a fraction of the time. Top it with cheese, sour cream, and chives. Or, cook it in the evening, refrigerate it, and slice it up to quickly cook home fries in the morning.

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  • Gyeran Jjim (Korean Steamed Eggs)

    Korean steamed eggs in blue bowl.

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Microwave adaptations of traditional Korean steamed eggs have become common for their speed and ease—not to mention their power to comfort. Serve them with rice and kimchi for a meal you can pull together on the fly.

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  • Blueberry Jam in the Microwave

    microwave blueberry jam in a jar with blueberries and lemons scattered around
    Alison Conklin

    This recipe is perfect for when blueberries are in abundance because it makes one jar of jam at a time that you store in the refrigerator. This simple, teeny batch of jam takes just 10 minutes to cook from start to finish. If you have an abundance of strawberries to use, try our microwave strawberry jam.

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  • Easy Chocolate Pudding in the Microwave

    microwave chocolate pudding in a mug with whipped cream and chocolate shavings
    Sally Vargas

    A combination of cocoa powder and 60-percent dark chocolate chips yields a deep chocolate flavor and a dreamy texture in this microwave chocolate pudding. When it's hot, pour it into four bowls, let it cool, and devour, topped with homemade whipped cream on top for added decadence.

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    Continue to 17 of 24 below.

  • How to Steam Broccoli in the Microwave

    Microwave Broccoli with Sesame Dressing

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Need a quick, healthy, simple side dish for dinner? Steamed broccoli is the answer. This easy method takes just 10 minutes, including cutting up the fresh broccoli.

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  • Omlette in a Mug

    microwave omelette with easy omelette recipe
    Elise Bauer and Guy Michelier

    You can make an amazingly light and fluffy omlette in a mug in just 4 minutes. Add grated cheese and finely chopped red pepper and chives for extra flavor.

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  • The Best Microwave Oatmeal Ever

    overnight oats heated in the microwave topped with nuts and berries
    Emma Christensen

    With a little forethought, you can have hot, perfectly cooked, steel-cut or old-fashioned rolled oatmeal in just minutes. The trick is to let the oats and water soak in the fridge overnight. In the morning, heat the softened oats in the microwave and top them with your favorite toppings.

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  • Microwave Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)

    Microwave Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl) in a Microwavable Dish, and in the Background, a Small Plate With Cooked Rice and a Small Plate of Kimchi

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    The rice in question here is not actually cooked in the bowl. It's served alongside the oyakodon, a filling and simple Japanese dish of chicken and eggs. You scoop the soft, custardy, savory eggs over the rice and dig in.

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    Continue to 21 of 24 below.

  • Microwave Baked Apple Slices

    Mom's Baked Apple Slices
    Elise Bauer

    Get your apple pie fix (without the crust) in a jiffy with these microwave baked apple slices. Cut up apples, and sprinkle them with sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup. Then microwave. Eat as is, or top with cinnamon ice cream.

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  • How To Melt Chocolate Chips

    Bowl of Melted Chocolate for Candy Bar Dates

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Chocolate chips don't always melt as smoothly as chocolate bars. The microwave method cooks them for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between every 30-second interval, until they're smooth and ready to use for chocolate covered strawberries or pretzels.

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  • Homemade Tortilla Chips

    A platter of homemade chips and salsa.
    Sally Vargas

    Seriously, you can make super fast homemade tortilla chips in the microwave with way less of a mess (and less calories) than frying them.

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  • Banana Bread Chocolate Chunk Mug Cake

    Mug of Banana Bread Chocolate Chunk Mug Cake Topped with a Dollop of Ice Cream and Spoonful of Cake Resting on a Saucer (Mug on the Saucer Next to the Spoon)

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    Mug cakes had their moment as a trend, but don't forget their potential to sweeten your day (or night) on an impulse to satisfy a sweet tooth emergency. This one offers moistness from bananas and pockets of melted chocolate.

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