Production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural from lignocellulosic biomass was studied in ionic liquid in the presence of CrCl3 under microwave irradiation. Corn stalk, rice straw and pine wood treated under typical reaction conditions produced HMF and furfural in yields of 45–52% and 23–31%, respectively, within 3 min. This method should be valuable to facilitate energy-efficient and cost-effective conversion of biomass into biofuels and platform chemicals.