(Almost) Homemade Dinners You Can Make in the Microwave

Meatloaf Worthy of a Sunday Dinner, but on a Monday Night

This beloved comfort food can take more than an hour to bake in the oven, but the microwave does the job in just 15 minutes. Here's the basic recipe: With wet hands, gently mix 1 pound of lean ground beef, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1 egg, 1/4 cup milk, and 2 tablespoons each of onion soup mix, ketchup and soy sauce in a bowl. Transfer to a microwave-safe bowl and pat into a round loaf. Brush with a bit more ketchup and cover with waxed paper; then cook for 15 minutes, turning halfway through. Test with a meat thermometer; it should register 160°. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. You can tweak this recipe to incorporate whatever seasonings you'd like, such as Worcestershire sauce, minced onion and/or garlic, dried mustard, dried thyme or paprika.