Spaghetti In The Microwave - Pasta Dinner Recipes

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Spaghetti in the Microwave By Linda Larsen Linda Larsen Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes. Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process Updated on 08/20/21 (64) Save Write a Review Print Close

Prep: 10 mins Cook: 28 mins Total: 38 mins Servings: 6 servings 64 ratings Write a Review Add a comment SaveRecipe

This recipe not only cooks in the microwave oven, but you can reheat it the same way. Everything—the pasta, sauce, and meat—cooks together in one dish, making for flavorful pasta and super easy clean-up. Try it the next time you're in a hurry for pasta.

It's surprising that you can cook pasta in the microwave, but it makes sense if you think about it. You can find products on late-night television now that promise you can cook pasta in a container with hot water. Pasta doesn't technically need to be cooked in rolling boiling water; it just needs to rehydrate in hot water. That's why this recipe works.

To successfully cook pasta in the microwave oven, make sure the spaghetti is covered with liquid and that it's not sticking together. You do need to stir the casserole a few times while it's cooking so the spaghetti absorbs the liquid properly. And standing time is important; the food will finish heating and the pasta will absorb more flavor.

Serve this dish with a green salad tossed with mushrooms, grape tomatoes, and a tangy Italian vinaigrette.

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• 1 pound lean ground beef

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 (28-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

• 2 cups water

• 8 ounces spaghetti, broken into pieces

• 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. In a 3-quart microwave-safe casserole, place the beef, onions, and garlic, crumbling the beef to break into small pieces.

3. Microwave on high for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring once to break up meat.

4. Microwave on high for 2 more minutes until the beef is browned and thoroughly cooked. Drain off any excess fat, if necessary.

5. Add spaghetti sauce, water, uncooked spaghetti, and basil to the casserole dish.

6. Mix gently to combine.

7. Cover with microwave-safe plastic wrap, venting one corner, and microwave on high for 5 minutes.

8. Stir well. Cover casserole again and microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes longer. Stir well.

9. Sprinkle with cheese, cover again, and microwave on high for 7 to 8 minutes longer until spaghetti is tender.

10. Let stand 4 minutes before serving; don't skip this step! The food has to stand so the heat distributes evenly and there are no super hot spots you could burn yourself on.

11. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

• A classic tomato sauce works best for this recipe since it has enough water in it to help cook the pasta.
• You can use your favorite store-bought sauce or a quick and easy homemade marinara sauce.

Recipe Variations

• Swap the ground beef for lean ground pork, sausage, or ground turkey.
• Leave off the cheese if you're dairy free, or top with dairy-free Parmesan cheese after cooking.

• Pasta Dinner Recipes
• American Mains
• Ground Beef Recipes
• Vegetable Recipes
• Cheese Recipes

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
352	Calories
14g	Fat
26g	Carbs
28g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label ×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	352
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g	18%
Saturated Fat 5g	26%
Cholesterol 78mg	26%
Sodium 897mg	39%
Total Carbohydrate 26g	10%
Dietary Fiber 4g	13%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 28g
Vitamin C 4mg	20%
Calcium 138mg	11%
Iron 4mg	23%
Potassium 905mg	19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

• spaghetti
• dinner
• american
• back to school

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