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    Home » Food

    Air Fryer Eggplant

    Published: Jul 5, 2023 · Modified: Oct 6, 2024 by Jennifer · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    92 shares

    This super simple recipe for our Air Fryer Eggplant is just so good! Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan has all of that traditional crispy eggplant parmesan flavor, but it is just so much easier to make. 

    Our Air Fried Eggplant recipe is a delicious and healthy vegetarian recipe that you can even make vegan by replacing the cheese and eggs with plant based substitutes!

    Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

    Air Fryer Eggplant

    While growing up, my mom loved Eggplant Parmesan, but it never seemed appetizing to me. I think that I was just one of those kids who didn't have a very well developed palate. Once I got a little older and began experimenting with different vegetables - like HELLO!!! Brussels Sprouts! YUM! - I realized that Eggplant was actually completely delicious!

    I love using an air fryer to make easy dinners - as well as appetizers! Air frying is such a simple way to cook the most delicious of meals! Even if you do not want to make Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan, you can still makes a bunch of eggplant recipes in air fryer. Even a plain fried eggplant in air fryer will be easier than heating up oil in a skillet - and the clean up is a breeze!

    If you love our Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe, you should try our recipe for Grilled Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches!

    Eggplant fried in the air fryer with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese on top

    Are you looking for more Recipes like our Air Fryer Eggplant?

    With summer temperatures rising every day, let's skip the BBQ this weekend and cook up these tasty Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings as an appetizer!

    I mean, really! Who doesn't love air fryer chicken wings?! You can even make an entire air fryer dinner with air fryer zucchini and air fryer cauliflower as sides. 

    If you love easy Air Fryer recipes like this Air Fryer Eggplant, you might also want to check out our Air Fryer Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe and our Air Fryer Teriyaki Pork Skewers Recipe. We love making air fryer appetizers and I am slowly becoming somewhat of an air fryer cook in my home!

    If you love this Fried Eggplant in Air Fryer, then you should totally check out these crock pot, slow cooker and instant pot recipes that I have shared over the years. Like our Slow Cooker Beef with Broccoli recipe!

    I think you will love all of our recipes like this fried eggplant air fryer idea, especially our Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Chicken Recipe!

    Eggplant fried in the air fryer with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese on top

    Of course, this is just a small selection of quick and easy dinner recipes like our easy air fry eggplant. But we have LOTS and lots of recipes on the blog that are perfect for those nights when you don't want to spend a lot of time cooking.

    Just click the Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi tab in our FOOD INDEX and they will pop up for you!

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    Eggplant fried in the air fryer with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese on top

    Here are the ingredients that you will need to make our recipe for Air Fryer Eggplant

    This Air Fryer Eggplant recipe is quite simple to make, but requires a few different seasonings. Make sure that you have all of the spices you will need in order to make our eggplant air fryer recipe ahead of time so that you are not tempted to leave anything out!

    Even omitting one of the spices we used in our eggplant in the air fryer will totally change the flavor of your dinner!

    • Italian style bread crumbs - Savory herb, medium ground bread crumbs with an authentic Italian taste
    • Grated parmesan cheese - Mondo Vecchio parmesan cheese provides gourmet Italian flavor. Tastes great as a topping for soup, salad, pizza, pasta dishes, meatball subs, and more!
    • Italian seasoning - Classic blend of basil, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, sage and oregano
    • Dried basil - Simply Organic Sweet Basil Leaf is naturally grown and processed in Egypt. It is 100% organic, kosher certified, and non-irradiated from start to finish.
    • Garlic powder - A Rich, Sharp And Aromatic Flavor. Garlic Powder is made from 100% dehydrated and crushed raw materials.
    • Onion powder - Works in most recipes that calls for dried or fresh onions
    • Salt
    • Ground black pepper
    • All purpose flour - We like this Gold Medal all purpose flour in a resealable 3 lb bag!
    • Eggs
    • Eggplant - cut into slices
    • Marinara sauce - Italian pasta sauce, tomato sauce, red sauce, cream sauces, dressings, and classic Italian condiments from Rao's are made from the finest natural ingredients, like pure olive oil and fresh basil.
    • Shredded cheddar cheese
    • chopped fresh parsley, optional for serving

    Keep in mind that all of the specific amounts for each ingredient needed for air frying eggplant are listed in the printable recipe card at the end of this post! You can print the recipe card for our crispy eggplant air fryer recipe before doing your grocery shopping, or even email it to yourself. 

    collection of spices in a dish

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    Here are the directions for how to make our Air Fryer Eggplant

    Gather your ingredients to make this healthy eggplant recipe air fryer and then set out your dishes for the breading process. Go ahead and begin slicing your eggplant into 1 inch slices now.

    slied eggplant on a cutting board

    You are going to begin making our air fryer eggplant recipes by taking a shallow dish and adding together your Italian style bread crumbs, the grated parmesan cheese, the dried Italian seasoning, basil, half of a teaspoon garlic powder and onion powder, the salt and freshly ground black pepper and mixing them all together really well.

    In a separate dish, add your all purpose flour. In a third and separate dish, add your eggs and whisk them. 

    Dredge your large globe eggplant into the all purpose flour, followed by dregding them into the egg and then directly into the Italian bread crumb mixture.

    flour mixture in a shallow dish

    Make sure that you are fully coating the eggplant slices on both sides.

    slice of eggplant dredged in egg mixture

    Place them on a clean plate and allow them to rest for five minutes. 

    slices of breaded eggplant resting on a plate

    While the breaded eggplant slices are resting, preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 370 degrees.

    Place the breaded eggplant air fryer slices into the air fryer basket, in a single layer and making sure the eggplant does not touch.

    slices of breaded eggplant in an air fryer

    Heat for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Spread a spoonful of marinara sauce on the eggplant and spread evenly.

    marinara sauce being spooned onto breaded slices of eggplant

    Top with shredded cheese. Return to the air fryer for 2 minutes at 370 degrees. 

    breaded slices of eggplant topped with shredded mozzarella cheese

    When our eggplant air fryer recipes cooking is complete, remove from air fryer and serve topped with chopped fresh parsley. 

    Air Fryer Eggplant topped with melted mozzarella cheese and parsley

    Please note that this eggplant recipes air fryer serves 4 to 6 people. If you are feeding a crowd, or people with larger appetites, make sure to double the recipe!

    Share this Air Fryer Eggplant with your friends and family on social media!

    If you love this Air Fryer Eggplant recipe as much as we do, please leave me a 5-star recipe rating review below and then help me share this air fryer eggplant recipe on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

    If you do make the eggplant air fryer recipe, I hope that you will share that you tried it on Pinterest! I love it SO MUCH when readers share their feedback!

    Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

    What are you making for Dessert to go with this Air Fryer Eggplant?

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    To print, simply click the recipe card below!

    I know that many people still like to print out recipes and keep them in a recipe binder, or simply have the printed recipe sitting in front of them when it comes time to cook! You can also email this recipe!

    Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

    Air Fryer Eggplant

    Jennifer
    This super simple recipe for our Air Fryer Eggplant is just so good! It has all of the traditional eggplant parmesan flavor, but easier. 
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 410 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup Italian style bread crumbs
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon dried basil
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ¼ cup all purpose flour
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 eggplant sliced into ½" slices
    • marinara sauce
    • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • chopped fresh parsley optional for serving

    Instructions
     

    • Add bread crumbs, cheese, Italian seasoning, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper to a shallow dish and mix well. In a separate dish, add flour. In a third and separate dish, add eggs and whisk.
    • Dredge eggplant into the flour, followed by the egg and bread crumb mixture, coating on both sides. Place on plate and let rest for five minutes.
    • While eggplant is resting, preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 370 degrees. Place the eggplant into the air fryer basket, in a single layer and making sure the eggplant does not touch. Heat for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Spread a spoonful of marinara sauce on the eggplant and spread evenly. Top with shredded cheese. Return to the air fryer for 2 minutes at 370 degrees.
    • When cooking is complete, remove from air fryer and serve topped with chopped fresh parsley.

    Video

    Notes

    This Air Fryer Eggplant recipes serves 4-6

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 410kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 22gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 155mgSodium: 903mgPotassium: 403mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 787IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 517mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword air fryer, eggplant
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Air Fryer Eggplant

    Variations and Substitutions for this Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe

    Now, while our Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe is vegetarian, I realize that a lot of people are now moving towards a plant based diet for a variety of reasons.

    How to make this Eggplant in the Air Fryer Vegan

    You can easily turn this into a vegan recipe by using a plant based cheese alternative to mozzarella cheese. 

    You can also omit the cheese portion of this fried eggplant in air fryer altogether. 

    How to make this Eggplant in the Air Fryer Gluten Free

    You can switch the all purpose flour for a gluten free flour mix - like this King Arthur Certified Gluten-Free flour that we found on Amazon! 

    King Arthur Measure for Measure Flour is gluten-free but also 1:1 substitute for wheat flour; an essential gluten-free pantry staple for bakers. This gluten-free flour is fortified with iron, calcium and Vitamin B and comes in a re-sealable bag. Not ideal for yeasted recipes (breads, pizza, and buns). 

    You can replace the Italian Style Bread Crumbs with this 4C Premium Gluten Free Bread Crumbs that is also seasoned! 

    Ingredients: Gluten Free Crumbs (Rice Flour, Raisin Juice Concentrate, Honey, Salt), Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese [Pasteurized Sheep's Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes (Rennet)], Salt, Dehydrated Parsley Flakes, Spices, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder.

    How to make this Air Fryer Eggplant Low Carb and KETO

    Eggplant, cooked (0.5 cup) contains 4.3g total carbs, 3g net carbs, 0.1g fat, 0.4g protein, and 17 calories. So while it is a relatively low carb vegetable on its own, the flour, the bread crumbs and the marinara sauce tend to pack in the carbohydrates.

    You can make this a lower carb version by replacing the all purpose flour with almond flour, and the bread crumbs with KETO bread crumbs or even by substituting crushed pork rinds in place of the bread crumbs.

    Air Fryer Eggplant

    This Appel Foods Nut Crumbs is only about 1 net carb.

    • HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO BREAD CRUMBS: And you may just never look back from this tasty gluten-free, Paleo, and Keto-friendly bread crumb Alternative.
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    • FLAVOR YOU CAN LOVE WITHOUT GUILT: With zero sugar, 4g of fat, low sodium (3% DV), no saturated fat, and 2g of carbs per serving, dieting never tasted better!
    • 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: If for any reason you’re unsatisfied and these nut crumbs leave you wanting the bad-for-you alternative, please contact us for a refund.

    This Almond Flour is great in recipes and baking, it supports low carb, Keto and Paleo Lifestyles. It is finely sifted and made with high quality blanched almonds.

    Walden Farms Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce is actually ZERO net carbs!

    • Classic Basil Marinara Sauce – Crafted with sun-ripened tomatoes, minced garlic, chopped onion, natural sea salt, and freshly ground herbs and spices our sauce makes every meal more delicious.
    • Expand Italian Recipes – This basil pasta sauce can be paired with all your favorite meals including traditional spaghetti or ravioli, as a dipping sauce for bread and cheese sticks, and so many other great ideas.
    • Dairy Free, Low Carb, Keto Friendly Option – Especially great for those sticking to strict diet goals our marinara sauce is fat free, sugar free, and super low in carbs, so you can maintain your health and wellness goals.
    • Naturally Sweet Flavor – Unlike heavier pasta sauces our basil offers a lighter, sweeter flavor that goes well with food and doesn’t overpower your tastebuds, which makes it great for those with sensitive palates.
    • Convenient 2-Pack Bundle – Our marinara sauce comes in two 12 oz. jars perfect for serving up small meals for yourself or larger meals for family and friends. They’re also sealed and shipped fresh so they’re ready to eat.

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    92 shares

    About Jennifer

    Jennifer, AKA "The Rebel Chick," is a 40-something Gen Xer who strives to help her readers live their best lives possible with easy recipes, travel inspiration and lifestyle tips!

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    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I'm a Miami native and I love sharing easy dinner recipes, baking recipes, travel ideas and general Miami Lifestyle fun! Follow along for inspiration on how to make the most of your life!

    More about me →

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