Microwave Bowl Pasta (Print Version)

Cook tender pasta in a microwave-safe bowl in just 10 minutes. Perfect for quick meals and small kitchens.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ 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

# How To Make:

01 - Place the dried pasta in a large, microwave-safe bowl (the pasta should not fill more than half the bowl).
02 - Add water and salt. Stir to combine.
03 - Microwave uncovered on high for 4 minutes.
04 - Stir the pasta, then microwave in 2-minute increments, stirring after each, until pasta is al dente and most of the water is absorbed (total 8–10 minutes depending on pasta shape and microwave wattage).
05 - If needed, drain any excess water.
06 - Stir in olive oil or butter, Parmesan, black pepper, and sauce if using.
07 - Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It saves you from heating up a giant pot of water and watching it boil forever.
  • You only dirty one bowl, which means cleanup happens in seconds.
  • Its foolproof even if youve never cooked pasta before.
  • You can make it in a dorm room, office break room, or hotel with a microwave.
02 -
  • Use a bowl thats way bigger than you think you need, because the water bubbles up fast and can spill over the edge if theres not enough headroom.
  • Stir after every 2-minute interval or the pasta on the bottom will stick together and cook unevenly.
  • Microwave wattages vary wildly, so check your pasta a minute early the first time you try this to avoid mush.
03 -
  • If youre using gluten-free pasta, start checking for doneness a minute or two earlier because it can go from perfect to mushy fast.
  • A tiny drizzle of the starchy cooking water left in the bowl helps sauce cling to the pasta better than if you drain it bone dry.
  • If your microwave is weak, add an extra minute or two and just keep tasting until the texture feels right.
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