Microwave Bowl Pasta (Printable)

Prepare perfectly cooked pasta in minutes using just your microwave and a single bowl.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 3 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or elbow macaroni)

→ Liquids

02 - 1 ½ cups water
03 - ¼ tsp salt

→ Optional Add-Ins

04 - 1 tsp olive oil or butter
05 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
06 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
07 - 2 tbsp marinara sauce or pesto

# Directions:

01 - Place dried pasta in a large microwave-safe bowl, filling no more than half the volume.
02 - Pour in water and sprinkle salt, then stir gently to combine.
03 - Microwave uncovered on high power for 4 minutes.
04 - Stir pasta and microwave in additional 2-minute intervals, stirring after each, until pasta is al dente and most water is absorbed, totaling 8–10 minutes depending on pasta shape and microwave wattage.
05 - If necessary, carefully drain any remaining water.
06 - Incorporate olive oil or butter, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and marinara or pesto sauce if desired; stir well.
07 - Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It is ready in about ten minutes which means dinner happens before your patience runs out
  • You only dirty one bowl and that alone makes it worth keeping in your back pocket
  • The pasta actually cooks properly and I was skeptical too until I tried it
02 -
  • Do not walk away during the last few minutes because different microwaves cook at wildly different speeds
  • Gluten free pasta sometimes turns to mush or stays crunchy so check it a minute early
03 -
  • Break long pasta in half before cooking if that is all you have but short shapes really do work better
  • The bowl will be dangerously hot so use oven mitts or a thick towel when removing it
Go Back