A method for controlling a heating cooking apparatus, in which an operation of a heating unit is appropriately controlled according to presence/absence or kinds of a load applied to a plate. When no load is applied to the plate, the duty cycle of a heat source is reduced, thereby preventing unnecessary operation of the heat source. Accordingly, power consumption is reduced. On the other hand, when a load is applied to the plate, the duty cycle of the heat source is increased. Speedy cooking may be possible with this control method.