Microwave Bowl Pasta (Printable)

Pasta cooked directly in water using a microwave, finished with your preferred sauce and toppings.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 2.5 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or elbow macaroni)
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Sauce & Toppings

04 - 1/3 cup marinara, pesto, or Alfredo sauce
05 - 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
06 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional)
07 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Place dried pasta in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add water and salt, ensuring the pasta is fully submerged. Add additional water if necessary.
02 - Microwave uncovered on high for 4 minutes. Stir thoroughly.
03 - Microwave in 2 to 3 minute intervals, stirring after each, until pasta is al dente, approximately 8 to 12 minutes total.
04 - Carefully remove the bowl and check the pasta’s doneness. Microwave an additional 1 to 2 minutes if needed.
05 - Drain excess water using a fine-mesh sieve or carefully tilt the bowl while holding back the pasta with a spoon or fork.
06 - Immediately combine hot pasta with your chosen sauce, stirring to coat evenly. Top with Parmesan and herbs if desired. Season with additional salt and pepper.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It requires literally one dish and works perfectly in a dorm room or office kitchen.
  • From craving to eating takes about fifteen minutes—faster than delivery, way more satisfying.
  • You can make it five different ways depending on whatever sauce you have on hand.
02 -
  • Don't skip the stirring—pasta that sits still in the microwave will stick together into clumps, and one stir every few minutes completely prevents that.
  • Your microwave's power matters more than the recipe's timing, so the first time you make this, stay close and check around the 8-minute mark rather than just setting it and walking away.
03 -
  • Keep your microwave-safe bowl slightly oversized—pasta foams and bubbles while cooking, and you want room for that to happen safely.
  • Taste the pasta before draining; it's much easier to cook it a little longer than to fix overcooked pasta, and every microwave is different.
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