Microwave Bowl Pasta (Printable)

A fast, convenient way to cook pasta in a microwave-safe bowl with your favorite sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Sauce & Toppings

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

# How To Make It:

01 - Place dried pasta in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add water and salt, ensuring pasta is fully submerged. Add more water if necessary.
02 - Microwave uncovered on high for 4 minutes. Stir thoroughly.
03 - Microwave in 2–3 minute increments, stirring after each interval, until pasta is al dente, total cooking time between 8 and 12 minutes depending on microwave power.
04 - Carefully remove bowl, check pasta texture, and microwave an additional 1–2 minutes if needed.
05 - Drain the pasta by pouring through a fine-mesh sieve or tilting the bowl carefully while holding pasta back with a fork or spoon.
06 - Immediately add chosen sauce to hot pasta and stir to combine evenly.
07 - Top with Parmesan cheese and herbs if desired. Season with additional salt and pepper. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Single bowl means almost no cleanup, which matters more than you'd think on tired evenings.
  • Ready in under 15 minutes from pantry to plate, no excuses needed.
  • Works anywhere there's a microwave—dorm rooms, offices, tiny apartments, or even a friend's kitchen.
02 -
  • If your pasta is turning mushy, your microwave is either more powerful than you realized or you're cooking it too long—start checking at the 8-minute mark rather than waiting the full 12.
  • Stirring matters; don't skip those mid-cook stirs or you'll end up with some pieces overcooked and others still crunchy, which I learned the hard way when I tried to set it and forget it.
03 -
  • Use a bowl that's actually large enough—crowding the pasta means uneven cooking, so go bigger than you think you need.
  • The moment you drain the pasta is the moment to add sauce while everything is still steaming; hot pasta accepts sauce differently than cooled pasta does, and the difference is noticeable.
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