Most people spend their whole lives thinking the only things they can do with a microwave is heat up leftovers and make popcorn. But it just isn’t so. Your microwave can do so much more than reheat your food – you can make fast and healthy meals without even touching a stove. Here are some of the best and easiest microwave meals you can start making today.
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1. Easy Cheesy Eggs
Eggs are the easiest thing to microwave. All you need to do is beat a couple of eggs and your favorite toppings. Microwave the mixture for 60 seconds, remove to stir, add cheese, and then microwave for an additional 30 seconds.
You can easily customize microwaved eggs to your taste preferences, including adding pre-cooked sausage or chopped vegetables. Eggs can be dressed up any way you like them, including with only egg whites. If you’d prefer an omelet over a scrambled bowl, use a ceramic plate to microwave on instead.
2. Anytime Quick Oats
Oatmeal is usually relegated as a breakfast food, but it’s really an anytime meal. Like eggs, you can do pretty much anything you want with oats, including adding maple syrup, cinnamon, and honey, as well as apples, blueberries, peaches, or bananas.
To make microwave oatmeal, combine 1 cup of water with 1/2 cup of instant oats, along with your preferred seasonings, then stir well. Microwave in a microwave-safe bowl for about 90 seconds, and you’re done.
3. Chicken Fajitas
Fajitas are traditionally a stovetop meal, but with the right preparation, you can also make fajitas in your microwave. Combine leftover or canned chicken breast with chopped onions, bell peppers, and your favorite fajita seasoning into a bowl. Place a tortilla on a plate, spread the fajita mixture on top, add cheese, and top with another tortilla. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, then slice and serve.
4. Classic Tuna Melt
Tuna is sometimes regarded as the step-child of the sandwich world, but there’s a reason why tuna melts are classics. You can use canned tuna and season it to your taste, or you can use ready-made tuna packets that are already flavored. Take two slices of bread, add your favorite sandwich spread to each slice, then layer with your favorite cheese and tuna. Close the sandwich and microwave for 60 to 90 seconds, or until the cheese is as melty as you like it.
5. Chicken Soup
You don’t need a stove to make chicken soup or an instant pot – all you really need is a glass bowl. Combine chicken chunks, raw pasta or rice, fresh or frozen vegetables of your choice, and chicken broth into a bowl.
Microwave the bowl on high for about 7 minutes, or until all vegetables are soft. You can tailor this recipe however you like, such as leaving out the chicken and opting for vegetable soup instead. You can also use pre-prepared dry soup mixes.
6. Simple Indian or Thai Curry
Both Indian and Thai food has a reputation for being difficult to make, but the next curry craving you have doesn’t need to be satisfied by take-out. Making curry is simple when you have a ready-made sauce packet, some of which also have vegetables, and microwaveable rice.
Simply follow the directions on both the sauce and rice packets, add to a bowl, and stir to combine. You can also serve Indian or Thai food on naan or pita bread instead of rice, or add your preferred meat to the dish to customize the flavor.
Re-Think What Microwaveable Meals Means
It’s time to redefine how we think about microwaveable food. First things first, a microwaveable meal does not necessarily have to be a frozen meal; second, a microwaveable meal doesn’t have to be processed or “instant”, which means you can make these meals healthy. All it takes to make quick and good-for-you microwave meals is a little creativity and microwave-safe dishware, preferably glass or ceramic, although paper plates and bowls are also good options if you want to cut down on dishes.
Microwaving your meals doesn’t mean you’re a bad cook and it doesn’t mean you’re going to be living off TV dinners for the foreseeable future. Plenty of people rely on microwave cooking to save time, especially those who don’t want to dirty pots and pans for a quick meal. Microwavable meals can be as easy as eggs or oatmeal, or as elaborate as chicken soup or authentic curry. The only limit is your imagination.
