How to microwave pasta to make it tender and suitable for making butter noodles Yes, you can now perfectly cook pasta in a microwave and use it as a side dish or quick snack. Then make macaroni and cheese when done. Just one of many microwave recipes on our site.
You can absolutely cook pasta in a microwave, which may be helpful if you don’t have access to an oven or a stove. You can quickly prepare macaroni noodles or any other type to be tender or al dente. (affiliate links present).
- Place pasta in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover with 1L (4 cups) water.
- Microwave on High for the cook time stated in the packet directions (about 11 minutes), plus 3 mins (14 minutes total), stirring halfway through, or until al dente.
- Drain and serve.
How to Make Pasta in the Microwave
Why would you need this? Well, if you’re looking for something you can prepare in a hotel room or an easy RV meal, it might be really helpful. Add some butter and/or shredded cheddar cheese to it to make it extra delicious if it’s plain.
Yes, I frequently prepare pasta in a pressure cooker, but you might not have access to one or even have one at all. You only need a bowl, some plastic wrap, some water, butter, and/or salt, if you like.
Oh, and keep some pot holders close by too; it can get quite hot in there, and nobody wants to get burned.
Even if you have already tried our angel food cake in a mug, you are only beginning. You learned from that experience that you can prepare delicious food without using your oven.
Any type of pasta you choose to cook no longer needs to be boiled. You should try this with egg noodles, penne, macaroni, or spaghetti noodles.
How to Cook Egg Noodles in the Microwave
The same is true for this method of microwave penne pasta preparation. The only difference is timing. The only adjustment would be to add a few more minutes if you didn’t like it as al dente. The instructions remain the same, but a smaller egg will take slightly less time than a larger one.
As you might anticipate, you’ll need a method for heating water in the microwave. You accomplish this by retaining heat inside that bowl until it is hot enough to function.
You could use a sealed bowl if you had one, but most of them are made of plastic, and I prefer not to cook with plastic directly in contact with my food.
Instead, a piece of saran wrap will work great when you want to microwave noodles. Keep in mind that if you stir and replace it in the middle, you might need a new piece. If you’ve used it, you know that when heated, it kind of shrinks, so it might not fit on the second three-minute round.
- Stir and cover again (may need new piece of wrap).
- This is how to change power level on microwave instructions
You can drain the liquid that is left over after it cooks in the microwave and is as soft as you prefer, then top it with whatever you like. Butter would be necessary for the noodles, and we also enjoy parmesan cheese and a little garlic salt.
Butter Noodles in Microwave
You can eat butter noodles, a really affordable and simple pasta dish, as a quick snack in between meals or as a side dish with some protein.
If it’s just an add-on, there would be enough here for 2 to 3 people. This would be useful if you’re an empty-nester for a smaller meal.
This one-pot spaghetti is another recipe we like that is very simple for a small number of people. Yes, a stove is required, but only one pot is needed to prepare it. Much simpler cleanup and up to four people can be fed for about $5.
Want to know more about this handy dandy appliance. We share how to clean your microwave here. A regular requirement, especially if you have children
Try it out, then let us know what you think. If you add anything else that works well as a snack or a meal, let us know so we can give it a try.
Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!
Looking for more easy family recipes and tips? LIKE The Typical Mom Facebook page?
Then subscribe to my newsletter for free and follow me on Pinterest!
***** Please rate this recipe with 5 stars if you enjoyed it and let everyone know what you thought. .
How to Cook Pasta in the Microwave
VideoNutrition FactsHow to Cook Pasta in the MicrowaveAmount Per Serving (1 oz)
FAQ
Can you microwave noodles instead of boiling?
It’s incredibly quick and simple to cook noodles in the microwave, and you can use almost any type of pasta noodle. When you’re ready to eat a bowl of noodles, waiting for the water to boil can seem like an eternity.
How long should you microwave pasta for?
To keep the pasta moist and separate while it cooks, put a single serving of the pasta in a round or oval microwave-safe dish. Drizzle a little extra sauce or water on top. After that, for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, microwave the pasta at medium heat with the dish covered.
How many minutes do you boil noodles for?
Depending on the type of pasta, allow your dry noodles to cook for anywhere between 8 and 10 minutes. To be safe, start checking it after four minutes because the length of the noodle can affect how long it takes. If you have freshly made pasta noodles, you might only need to boil them for one or two, or even three, minutes.
How long do you boil 2 cups of noodles?
It will take around 4-5 minutes to boil the noodles until they are tender. Stir occasionally in between. To drain the extra water, extinguish the flame and move it to a colander. To remove extra stickiness, add 1-2 cups of cold water to the boiled noodles before draining them once more.