Perovskite LaMnO3 powders with an average crystallite size of 12.5 nm were rapidly synthesized via a microwave-induced autocombustion reaction using glycine as a fuel and nitrate as an oxidant. After self-propagating combustion, the desired nanocrystalline perovskite LaMnO3 was obtained and no further calcination was carried out. The possible processes of combustion reaction were discussed according to the principle of propellant chemistry. The autocombustion and thermal decomposition of the precursor were investigated using the TG-DTA and FT-IR techniques. The influences of glycine-nitrate molar ratio and heat-treatment temperature on the perovskite phase formation and crystallite size of as-burnt powder were studied by XRD. The morphology and size of the as-burnt powder before and after milling were characterized and compared by TEM.