Synthesis of zinc oxide nanowires was carried out through the microwave-assisted thermal reduction process. The configuration of the developed methodology is very effective and fast to produce these materials. The times in which the internal reaction gives rise to the formation of the nanostructures occurs, varies between 30 and 150 s. The materials obtained were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and variable diameters from 20.00 nm to 133.33 nm are evidenced. The diffractograms obtained from the analysis by X-ray diffraction show the c/a parameter ratio, corresponding to 1.61 and the presence of the hexagonal wurtzite phase. The Uv-Vis analysis allows to determine a bandgap of 3.36 eV and the infrared spectrum presents a vibrational mode at 431 cm-1, due to the change in the morphology obtained during the process.