Healthy Recipes for Your Microwave

Your microwave isn't just for making popcorn or reheating leftovers anymore. From melting chocolate to cooking vegetables, your microwave is a value and time-saving tool in the kitchen. These healthy recipes for dinner, desserts, snacks and side dishes can be made strictly in your microwave. Try making a healthy recipe in your microwave today!

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1 of 21

Southwestern Layered Bean Dip

Start to finish: 20 mins

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Plenty of black beans, salsa and chopped fresh vegetables mean a healthy amount of dietary fiber in this Tex-Mex layered dip. We use reduced-fat sour cream along with full-fat (and full-flavored) cheese to make the dip lighter without compromising great taste. Be sure to have lots of baked tortilla chips on hand when you serve it.

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2 of 21

Sweet Potatoes with Warm Black Bean Salad

Start to finish: 25 mins

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For a satisfying last-minute supper, it's hard to beat a sweet potato zapped in the microwave. The fragrant filling of beans and tomatoes adds protein. Be sure to eat the skin, which is full of fiber, as well.

3 of 21

Mexi-Melt

Start to finish: 10 mins

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Spread leftover refried beans on whole-wheat toast and top with salsa and cheese for an easy breakfast that has plenty of staying power.

4 of 21

Microwave Potato Chips

Start to finish: 30 mins

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You don't need a deep fryer to make crispy potato chips. We toss thinly sliced potatoes with just a touch of olive oil, pop them in the microwave and voilà! Crispy, crunchy homemade potato chips with 8 grams less fat per serving than regular chips.

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5 of 21

Chocolate Bark with Pistachios & Dried Cherries

Start to finish: 1 hr

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With the news that dark chocolate contains some healthful properties, there is a better excuse than ever to indulge during the holiday season. Specks of green pistachios and red dried cherries in this chocolate confection make for a festive holiday gift.

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Strawberries Dipped in Chocolate

Start to finish: 10 mins

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This healthy dessert recipe is a quick and healthy way to satisfy your chocolate craving.

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Quick Applesauce

Start to finish: 15 mins

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This quick homemade applesauce recipe makes a healthy snack or fruit dessert for kids. Applesauce is also a fabulous complement to potato pancakes or latkes.

8 of 21

Chocolate & Banana

Start to finish: 5 mins

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Satisfy that chocolate craving with a drizzle of melted chocolate chips over banana slices for an easy treat.

9 of 21

Tuna, Artichoke & Basil Stuffed Potatoes

Start to finish: 40 mins

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These baked potatoes topped with canned tuna, artichoke hearts, provolone cheese and basil may seem unconventional, but the flavor combination is awesome. Serve with a mixed green salad.

10 of 21

Irene's Winter Salad

Start to finish: 35 mins

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Steamed broccoli and cauliflower florets tossed with a tangy lemon dressing is a great alternative to a green salad or steamed vegetable side dish.

11 of 21

Cherries with Ricotta & Toasted Almonds

Start to finish: 10 mins

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Warm cherries topped with luscious ricotta cheese and toasted almonds makes for a rich-tasting--yet calorie-conscious--treat.

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Chocolate Fondue

Start to finish: 15 mins

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The chocolate will stiffen if it gets cold, so enjoy it while it's still warm. Skewer and dip anything you like--pear slices, dried apricots, even marshmallows.

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Quick Mixed Berry Topping

Start to finish: 5 mins

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Frozen mixed berries become an almost instant fruit topping in the microwave. Serve over angel food cake or Greek-style yogurt.

14 of 21

Pizza Roll-Up

Start to finish: 15 mins

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This easy pizza-inspired roll-up is a kid-pleaser.

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Cool Fresh Corn Relish

Start to finish: 25 mins

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Serve this fresh summertime treat as a vegetable side dish or as a condiment to accompany your favorite grilled fish, chicken or steak.

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Strawberry-Chardonnay Gelee

Start to finish: 6 hrs 35 mins

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This elegant dessert is the perfect make-ahead finale for a summer dinner party. The strawberries look like ruby-red jewels floating on the rosy wine gelée.

17 of 21

Mango Pudding

Start to finish: 2 hrs 40 mins

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Very ripe mangoes make this simple Chinese pudding sublime. Traditionally, agar-agar--a derivative of seaweed--is used as the thickener. We use more commonly available gelatin and add sweetened condensed milk for a touch of creaminess. Use a very fine sieve for the smoothest texture. The recipe can be cut in half to make 4 puddings instead of 8.

18 of 21

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Coconut Milk

Start to finish: 35 mins

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This three-ingredient dish, known as piele in Hawaii, is fabulously simple. Coconut milk--an occasional indulgence because of the saturated fat--contributes rich flavor.

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Black Bean-Smothered Sweet Potatoes

Start to finish: 20 mins

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For a quick and satisfying last-minute supper, it's hard to beat a sweet potato zapped in the microwave. The fragrant filling of beans and tomato adds protein, making it a nutritionally complete entree. Be sure to eat the potato skin; it's full of fiber.

20 of 21

Bourbon Cherries

Start to finish: 15 mins

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A boozy fire emanates from these drunken cherries that get better with age. Serve them with cheese or combine the cherry-infused bourbon with seltzer or other soda to make a special cocktail. Fill a 12-ounce rocks glass with ice, add 1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) of the cherry-infused bourbon (or rum), top with seltzer and garnish with the bourbon cherries.

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Healthy Recipes for Your Microwave

1 of 21

Southwestern Layered Bean Dip

2 of 21

Sweet Potatoes with Warm Black Bean Salad

3 of 21

Mexi-Melt

4 of 21

Microwave Potato Chips

5 of 21

Chocolate Bark with Pistachios & Dried Cherries

6 of 21

Strawberries Dipped in Chocolate

7 of 21

Quick Applesauce

8 of 21

Chocolate & Banana

9 of 21

Tuna, Artichoke & Basil Stuffed Potatoes

10 of 21

Irene's Winter Salad

11 of 21

Cherries with Ricotta & Toasted Almonds

12 of 21

Chocolate Fondue

13 of 21

Quick Mixed Berry Topping

14 of 21

Pizza Roll-Up

15 of 21

Cool Fresh Corn Relish

16 of 21

Strawberry-Chardonnay Gelee

17 of 21

Mango Pudding

18 of 21

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Coconut Milk

19 of 21

Black Bean-Smothered Sweet Potatoes

20 of 21

Bourbon Cherries

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