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20+ Healthy Mug Recipes You Can Make in 5 Minutes (or Less!)

The microwave is about to become your new best friend.
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Sorry coffee, but breakfast, lunch, dinner, and (most importantly) dessert are all taking over your favorite mugs. Despite its reputation for just heating up leftovers, the microwave can be a quick way to whip up your next meal. Simple instructions, minimal equipment, and blink-and-it's-done cooking time add up for an effortless way to cook up something special, as there really is nothing like a solid mug recipe.

Here's a round-up of some of the best dishes you can make in a mug, ready in minutes. (Plus, don't miss 50 Healthy Recipes to Make in 10-Minutes (or Less)

Breakfast

Egg Omelet

egg omelet
Courtesy of Joyful Healthy Eats

Bold in color and in flavor, this recipe is a simple way to get in a hearty dose of protein without all the added wait time. Egg yolks provide a nutrient called choline that helps fight hunger and is an egg-cellent way to aid weight loss by keeping you satisfied. This is a two-minute breakfast that won't disappoint!

Get the recipe from Joyful Healthy Eats.

Pumpkin Oatmeal

pumpkin oatmeal
Courtesy of Kath Eats

Did you wake up in the mood for something savory and sweet? Here's the perfect fix. This recipe combines fiber-packed oats with protein-rich eggs and the comforting tastes of pumpkin and cinnamon. It's a next-level way to get your nutrients and keep you on track to getting that summer bod!

Get the recipe from Kath Eats.

 21 Cozy Oatmeal Recipes Perfect for Weight Loss

Quinoa and egg breakfast

quinoa egg breakfast
Courtesy of Slender Kitchen

A single serving of this quinoa and egg breakfast has almost 20 grams of protein for the recommended daily amount of 46 grams for women and 56 for men. You can add any veggies you have leftover in your fridge, or keep it simple with just some added spices. The best part about this mug meal is the endless array of options!

Get the recipe from Slender Kitchen.

Blueberry muffin

blueberry muffin
Courtesy of The Big Man's World

Skip the coffee shop muffin that's loaded with sugar and go for this one-minute blueberry muffin. The burst of blueberries leaves a tangy flavor that will have your tastebuds cheering. Plus, blueberries are filled with antioxidant properties and belly-blasting nutrients.

Get the recipe from The Big Man's World.

 16 Cozy Muffin Recipes That Are Perfect for Weight Loss

Spinach and cheddar quiche

spinach cheddar quiche
Courtesy of Bowl of Delicious

With that same fluffy consistency of quiche that you're looking for, this mug meal is the ideal savory breakfast that's good for you, too! The healthy amount of spinach in this quiche will amp up your vitamin intake, help build muscle, and aid weight loss.

Get the recipe from Bowl of Delicious.

Egg White Omelet

egg white omelette in a mug
Courtesy of Tone and Tighten

Here's a light, super-low calorie breakfast that still has tons of protein to keep you energized. Go for the center cut pork bacon to assure you're getting the highest quality bacon. For more breakfasts that'll help you shed the pounds, check out 50 Best Breakfast Foods for Weight Loss—Ranked.

Get the recipe from Tone and Tighten.

Lunch/Dinner

Spinach Ricotta Lasagna

spinach ricotta lasagna
Courtesy of Oh My Veggies

This spinach ricotta lasagna is a much simpler way to make the Italian classic. The gooey cheesy filling combined with the fresh spinach, peppers and basil create an irresistible dish that won't have you overindulging. With less than 300 calories, you can't beat it!

Get the recipe from Healthy Nibbles and Bits.

 23+ Best Healthy Lasagna Recipes

Spicy Pumpkin Meatloaf

pumpkin meatloaf
Courtesy of Low Carb, So Simple

Spicy, pumpkin, and meatloaf may be three words you never thought you'd see next to each other. After you give this recipe a try, though, you'll never think twice about it again. The flavors combine to make a cozy, comforting mug meal that takes less than 10 minutes! Along with being loaded with taste, pumpkin is packed with fiber and is low in calories.

Get the recipe from Low Carb, So Simple!

Lentils with yogurt, almonds, and mint

spiced lentils
Courtesy of Power Hungry

Lentils are one of the best foods on the planet and so easy to add flavor to. This vegetarian mug meal is raving with protein and fiber. Since they're a resistant starch it makes you feel fuller, longer. Lentils are also on our list of fiber-rich foods for a healthy diet!

Get the recipe from Power Hungry.

 31+ Healthy Recipes To Make With The Dried Lentils In Your Pantry

Pizza

microwave mug pizza
Courtesy of Bigger Bolder Baking

If you're a pizza fan (and most likely you are) then you know it's hard to resist a slice of that cheesy, saucy goodness—especially when there's a pizza place on every corner. But cut the starchy carbs and go for this easy-to-make, good-for-you version. It still combines all the best parts of the pizza, minus all the napkin blotting.

Get the recipe from Bigger Bolder Baking.

Mac and cheese

skinny easy mac
Courtesy of Dashing Dish

Childhood memories are always associated with mac and cheese because of how exciting it was to come home to a bowl of cheesy noodles. Here's a skinny way to get that same great flavor while cutting out the processed stuff.

Get the recipe from Dashing Dish.

 18 Amazingly Healthy Mac-and-Cheese Recipes

Desserts

S'mores Cake

smores mug cake
Courtesy of How Sweet Eats

All you need is five minutes and soon enough, you'll be treated to a chocolate fudge s'mores cake. You don't need a campfire to indulge in this treat!

Get the recipe from How Sweet Eats.

Cinnamon Roll Mug Cake

cinnamon roll mug cake
Courtesy of Kim's Cravings

The best part about this treat is that the eight ingredients needed you most likely already have in your pantry. The secret to this oh-so-light cinnamon roll? The fact that there are no eggs in it!

Get the recipe from Kim's Cravings.

 The Best and Worst Frozen Desserts in America in 2021—Ranked!

Oatmeal Cookie Dough

oatmeal cookie dough mug cake
Courtesy of Running with Spoons

Buying the carton of cookie dough usually has the intention of baking a dozen cookies for the family when in reality it gets eaten with a spoon. So why not just indulge? Here, you still get the creamy texture but don't have to worry about the ill feelings later on. Use cacao nibs to increase the vitamins and bring a richer, chocolatey taste to this mug dessert. Speaking of vitamins, don't miss these 21 Things You Don't Know About Vitamins!

Get the recipe from Running with Spoons.

Chocolate Cake

chocolate protein mug cake
Courtesy of Run On Veg

Sink your spoon into this dessert that takes just about two minutes. The ingredients are simple and the directions are even simpler. Cocoa powder gives you a rich flavor that has virtually no sugar and very little fat. A win-win all around!

Get the recipe from Run on Veg.

Strawberry Vanilla Mug Cake with Vanilla Buttercream Glaze

strawberry vanilla mug cake
Courtesy of Averie Cooks

This dessert not only has strawberries but a vanilla buttercream glaze for a truly decadent take on a standard vanilla cake. You're really about to become a top-notch baker, all thanks to your microwave!

Get the recipe from Averie Cooks.

 The Best Cake In Every State

Cake Batter

Cake batter mug cake
Courtesy of Running to the Kitchen

It's a birthday party in your mouth when you get a bite of this! It tastes just like the local bakery favorite without all the excess sugar.

Get the recipe from Running to the Kitchen.

Jelly Donut

microwave jelly donut
Courtesy of Bigger Bolder Baking

A homemade donut you can whip up, right in a mug? It truly doesn't get any sweeter than that.

Get the recipe from Bigger Bolder Baking

RELATED; The Best & Worst Menu Items at Dunkin' Donuts

Chocolate Chip Cookie

paleo chocolate chip cookie
Courtesy of The Iron You

Your tastebuds won't even know the difference, as this is a Paleo chocolate chip cookie. It's just as sweet and so rich and chewy in texture. Pair it with a glass of almond milk to really feel like a kid again!

Get the recipe from The Iron You.

Microwave Mug Sponge Cake

sponge cake mug
Courtesy of Bigger Bolder Baking

There really is nothing like a sponge cake—each bite is simply pillowy goodness. And now, you can make this treat right in your microwave for a dessert that looks like something you would get in a restaurant.

Get the recipe from Bigger Bolder Baking.

 The Most Popular Cake Flavor in Every State

Caramel Apple Mug Cake

caramel apple mug cake
Courtesy of I Breathe I'm Hungry

The key to taking this caramel apple mug cake up a notch is adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce on top once it's baked. Utter bliss.

Get the recipe from I Breathe I'm Hungry.

Red Velvet Mug Cake

red velvet mug cake
Courtesy of The Big Man's World

This mug cake is a light treat and if you happen to have some beet powder on hand, go ahead and add it to the mix—although it's not a necessity! This cake happens to be naturally gluten and dairy-free, vegan, and works for those who are following a Paleo diet, too.

Get the recipe from The Big Man's World.

 The Best Cupcake in Every State

Peach Cobbler Mug Cake

peach cobbler mug cake
Courtesy of Cooking Classy

A white cake mix and diced peaches come together to make a peach cobbler ready to eat in five minutes. It's so simple to make, we have a feeling you're going to want to whip up this refreshing dessert a few nights a week. And there's nothing wrong with that, as the mug provides the perfect portion size.

Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake

snickerdoodle mug cake
Courtesy of Five Heart Home

Oh, the snickerdoodle. The cinnamon-sugary goodness that you most likely often find in a cookie form gets a mug cake makeover. One bite and you'll exactly why this cookie-inspired cake is a true delight.

Get the recipe from Five Heart Home.

Now that you know a healthy meal is just a quick zap away, you can enjoy a hot snack or lunch in minutes. The microwave is truly one of the best, untapped appliances in the kitchen. If you are using it just to warm up soup or coffee, you're missing out.

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