Delicious Microwave Dinners (Recipes)||Delicious Microwave Dinners (Recipes)||Delicious Microwave Dinners (Recipes)||Delicious Microwave Dinners (Recipes)||Delicious Microwave Dinners (Recipes)||Delicious Microwave Dinners (Recipes)

Ingredients

At the end of a long day, it can be darn near impossible to put forth any effort at all into making dinner. 

Sauteing something on the stove can seem daunting when picking up your phone to order delivery is just so convenient, and firing up your oven during hot summer evenings is just out of the question some nights.

But don't worry, if you want to save money AND be healthier, there's a gadget that you might not have thought of: the microwave.

Yes, seriously! You can make some awesome (EASY) dinners inside of that thing, and it's so easy to adjust the portions as needed, whether you're making a single serving mug dinner or a small feast for the whole family. Enjoy!

P.S. If you need an easy side for any of these dishes, consider nuking your rice. It's beyond easy and tastes just as good as any other method. Here's how to do it.

1. Microwave Salmon

It might sound weird, but if you do exactly as the directions say by patting the fish dry, seasoning it properly and checking for doneness so it doesn't overcook, you'll have a surprisingly moist, pleasant slab of fish that's ready to eat in no time. Really!

2. Quick Quiche

This quiche is impossibly easy! You can even skip the crust entirely and make more of a frittata for an even faster approach. Feel free to add and subtract whatever ingredients you want: Just about any leftover or frozen (defrosted) veggies and/or meat are delicious, like diced ham, bacon, asparagus, spinach or roasted peppers.

3. Five-Minute Burrito Bowls

You can put just about anything you want in these bowls. They are great for leftover night and would be awesome with any of the following, especially if they are from last night's dinner: meat, tofu, sweet potato, mushrooms or peppers. Sprinkle some pepitas or crushed tortilla chips on top at the end if you want some extra crunch.

4. Ropa Vieja

Seriously, you can make this top-notch classic stewed beef dish without turning on your oven or stove. LOOK AT HOW GOOD THAT IS. You could make this fancy dish for company, and they'd probably think you toiled over for hours. Hours!

5. Grilled Chicken Penne al Fresco

Usually when you're in a pinch, you can use just about any type of noodle for these pasta recipes and come off ok, despite what purists might say. But I do recommend sticking to the penne or something similarly shaped, since the short, just thick enough noodles will do best in the microwave. Don't have leftover chicken? You can microwave it like so.

6. Single Serve Microwave Macaroni and Cheese in a Mug

Of course, if you're making this for a larger crowd, it's easy enough to double, triple or quadruple the recipe, but it's also kind of nice to have as your little secret when you need a midnight snack or quick cheat meal. Right?

7. Ten Minute Enchiladas (Gluten Free Option)

No joke, you can nuke a whole tray of enchiladas, and they come out great! If you're in a rush, you can layer the tortillas and fillings like a casserole, with two layers of tortillas (depending on the size of your pan) sandwiching the filling.

Instructions

Print This Recipe

At the end of a long day, it can be darn near impossible to put forth any effort at all into making dinner. 

Sauteing something on the stove can seem daunting when picking up your phone to order delivery is just so convenient, and firing up your oven during hot summer evenings is just out of the question some nights.

But don't worry, if you want to save money AND be healthier, there's a gadget that you might not have thought of: the microwave.

Yes, seriously! You can make some awesome (EASY) dinners inside of that thing, and it's so easy to adjust the portions as needed, whether you're making a single serving mug dinner or a small feast for the whole family. Enjoy!

P.S. If you need an easy side for any of these dishes, consider nuking your rice. It's beyond easy and tastes just as good as any other method. Here's how to do it.

1. Microwave Salmon

It might sound weird, but if you do exactly as the directions say by patting the fish dry, seasoning it properly and checking for doneness so it doesn't overcook, you'll have a surprisingly moist, pleasant slab of fish that's ready to eat in no time. Really!

2. Quick Quiche

This quiche is impossibly easy! You can even skip the crust entirely and make more of a frittata for an even faster approach. Feel free to add and subtract whatever ingredients you want: Just about any leftover or frozen (defrosted) veggies and/or meat are delicious, like diced ham, bacon, asparagus, spinach or roasted peppers.

3. Five-Minute Burrito Bowls

You can put just about anything you want in these bowls. They are great for leftover night and would be awesome with any of the following, especially if they are from last night's dinner: meat, tofu, sweet potato, mushrooms or peppers. Sprinkle some pepitas or crushed tortilla chips on top at the end if you want some extra crunch.

4. Ropa Vieja

Seriously, you can make this top-notch classic stewed beef dish without turning on your oven or stove. LOOK AT HOW GOOD THAT IS. You could make this fancy dish for company, and they'd probably think you toiled over for hours. Hours!

5. Grilled Chicken Penne al Fresco

Usually when you're in a pinch, you can use just about any type of noodle for these pasta recipes and come off ok, despite what purists might say. But I do recommend sticking to the penne or something similarly shaped, since the short, just thick enough noodles will do best in the microwave. Don't have leftover chicken? You can microwave it like so.

6. Single Serve Microwave Macaroni and Cheese in a Mug

Of course, if you're making this for a larger crowd, it's easy enough to double, triple or quadruple the recipe, but it's also kind of nice to have as your little secret when you need a midnight snack or quick cheat meal. Right?

7. Ten Minute Enchiladas (Gluten Free Option)

No joke, you can nuke a whole tray of enchiladas, and they come out great! If you're in a rush, you can layer the tortillas and fillings like a casserole, with two layers of tortillas (depending on the size of your pan) sandwiching the filling.

7 Surprisingly Delicious Microwave Dinners (Recipes)

At the end of a long day, it can be darn near impossible to put forth any effort at all into making dinner. 

Sauteing something on the stove can seem daunting when picking up your phone to order delivery is just so convenient, and firing up your oven during hot summer evenings is just out of the question some nights.

But don't worry, if you want to save money AND be healthier, there's a gadget that you might not have thought of: the microwave.

Yes, seriously! You can make some awesome (EASY) dinners inside of that thing, and it's so easy to adjust the portions as needed, whether you're making a single serving mug dinner or a small feast for the whole family. Enjoy!

P.S. If you need an easy side for any of these dishes, consider nuking your rice. It's beyond easy and tastes just as good as any other method. Here's how to do it.

1. Microwave Salmon

It might sound weird, but if you do exactly as the directions say by patting the fish dry, seasoning it properly and checking for doneness so it doesn't overcook, you'll have a surprisingly moist, pleasant slab of fish that's ready to eat in no time. Really!

2. Quick Quiche

This quiche is impossibly easy! You can even skip the crust entirely and make more of a frittata for an even faster approach. Feel free to add and subtract whatever ingredients you want: Just about any leftover or frozen (defrosted) veggies and/or meat are delicious, like diced ham, bacon, asparagus, spinach or roasted peppers.

3. Five-Minute Burrito Bowls

You can put just about anything you want in these bowls. They are great for leftover night and would be awesome with any of the following, especially if they are from last night's dinner: meat, tofu, sweet potato, mushrooms or peppers. Sprinkle some pepitas or crushed tortilla chips on top at the end if you want some extra crunch.

4. Ropa Vieja

Seriously, you can make this top-notch classic stewed beef dish without turning on your oven or stove. LOOK AT HOW GOOD THAT IS. You could make this fancy dish for company, and they'd probably think you toiled over for hours. Hours!

5. Grilled Chicken Penne al Fresco

Usually when you're in a pinch, you can use just about any type of noodle for these pasta recipes and come off ok, despite what purists might say. But I do recommend sticking to the penne or something similarly shaped, since the short, just thick enough noodles will do best in the microwave. Don't have leftover chicken? You can microwave it like so.

6. Single Serve Microwave Macaroni and Cheese in a Mug

Of course, if you're making this for a larger crowd, it's easy enough to double, triple or quadruple the recipe, but it's also kind of nice to have as your little secret when you need a midnight snack or quick cheat meal. Right?

7. Ten Minute Enchiladas (Gluten Free Option)

No joke, you can nuke a whole tray of enchiladas, and they come out great! If you're in a rush, you can layer the tortillas and fillings like a casserole, with two layers of tortillas (depending on the size of your pan) sandwiching the filling.