Healthy Microwave Sides

No need to turn on the oven or stovetop — these speedy, good-for-you sides are designed to come out perfectly in the microwave.

By: Food Network Kitchen

Related To:

Microwave Miracles

These 7 bright and fresh veggie side dishes prove you don't have to slave over a hot stove (or even heat up your kitchen) to produce some seriously gorgeous healthy creations. Just a few minutes in the microwave is all the cook time required to get these dishes on the table. Keep them in your back pocket for busy weeknights or no-stress dinner parties.

Buttery Radishes with Honey and Chives

Radishes are often overlooked, but we give them the star treatment in this recipe. A bit spicy raw, radishes that are cooked take on a much mellower flavor. A touch of butter and a drizzle of honey make these downright decadent. Serve them alongside pan-roasted chicken for a quick and healthy meal.

Get the Recipe: Buttery Radishes with Honey and Chives

Microwave Baby Bok Choy with Miso Sauce

This quick and flavorful vegetable side dish comes together in less than fifteen minutes. Vitamin-rich baby bok choy is steamed with garlic and ginger in the microwave and is drizzled with a quick miso sauce. Serve a piece of steamed or pan-roasted flaky white cod or salmon with the bok choy for a healthful and complete dinner.

Get the Recipe: Microwave Baby Bok Choy with Miso Sauce

Microwave Beets with Greens and Goat Cheese

This impressive side dish cooks in a fraction of the time it would take to roast beets in the oven. We use the beet greens, but if you purchase beets without tops, you can substitute 2 cups of other greens such as Swiss chard or kale. To make this a meal, serve alongside juicy slices of grilled flank or skirt steak.

Get the Recipe: Microwave Beets with Greens and Goat Cheese

Microwave Sweet and Spicy Carrots with Scallions

This simple carrot side dish gets a dose of sweetness from a dash of brown sugar and unrefined coconut oil (unrefined is key, as it has not been whitened or deodorized, so it keeps its mellow coconut flavor in recipes). Top the potassium-rich carrots with grilled shrimp for a quick dinner with Caribbean flair.

Get the Recipe: Microwave Sweet and Spicy Carrots with Scallions

Microwave Spiced Cauliflower "Couscous" with Raisins and Coconut

Vitamin-rich cauliflower is the star of this easy and healthful side dish. No need to turn on the oven or stovetop because everything for this recipe is done in the microwave-including toasting the coconut! A mix of spices turns this everyday vegetable into an exotic "couscous" that pairs perfectly with beef and vegetable kebabs.

Get the Recipe: Microwave Spiced Cauliflower "Couscous" with Raisins and Coconut

Microwave Red Cabbage with Bacon and Caraway Seeds

Braised cabbage is a common German side dish, but can often be overly rich. This lightened-up version could not be simpler, since everything from the bacon to the cabbage is cooked in the microwave. Caraway seeds lend an earthy note to the dish while apple cider vinegar keeps it from becoming too heavy. Pair the cabbage with an oven-roasted pork tenderloin for a hint of Germany at your dinner table.

Get the Recipe: Microwave Red Cabbage with Bacon and Caraway Seeds

Spaghetti Squash with Fresh Tomatoes and Ricotta

This quick, flavorful and healthy side is done from fridge to table in under 30 minutes. We trim off the top and bottom of the squash, poke it all over and cook it in the microwave in a fraction of the time it would take to roast it. If you wanted to make this a complete meal, juicy turkey meatballs would be a delightful accompaniment to this pasta alternative.

Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Squash with Fresh Tomatoes and Ricotta