• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
RecipeMagik logo
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Salads
  • Sheet Pan
  • Drinks
  • Christmas
  • Breakfast
  • Appetizers
  • Weeknight Dinners
  • vegetarian Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Contact Us
  • Copyright
  • Keto & Low Carb
  • Vegan
  • Desserts
  • Really Simple Recipes
  • Meal Planning
  • Sweet and Savory
  • French
    • About
  • Indian
  • Italian
  • Spanish
  • Mexican
  • Super Bowl Recipes
  • Valentine's Day
  • St Patrick's Day
  • Easter
  • 4th of July
  • Halloween
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • New Years
  • Dinner on the table
  • Crockpot
  • Soups
  • General
×
You are here: Home / Air Fryer / Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan

May 13, 2021 No Comments

Eggplant Parmesan - Sliced Eggplants coated in Panko breadcrumbs and (egg + milk) mixture, partially cooked in a skillet, and then layered in a baking dish (like you would layer a lasagna) with Marinara Sauce, and loads of Mozzarella Cheese.
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Eggplant Parmesan - Sliced Eggplants coated in Panko breadcrumbs and (egg + milk) mixture, partially cooked in a skillet, and then layered in a baking dish (like you would layer a lasagna) with Marinara Sauce, and loads of Mozzarella Cheese.

Generally, Eggplant Parmesan Recipe is just like Chicken Parm or Cauliflower Parm. It's just instead of Chicken or Cauli we are using Eggplant.

Eggplant Parmesan
Eggplant Parmesan with a cheese pull
Jump to:
  • 🍆 Baked Eggplant Parmesan Recipe
  • 💡Tips to Keep in Mind:
  • 🥘 Ingredients for Eggplant Parmesan
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 How to Make Eggplant Parmesan
  • STEP 1: Season Eggplant and let them release the liquid
  • STEP 2: Make Breading for Eggplant Parmesan
  • STEP 3: Coat Eggplant Slices
  • STEP 4: Partially Cook Eggplant in Skillet
  • STEP 5: Layer in a baking dish
  • 💪 Eggplant Parmesan Calories
  • 📖 Other Variations of this recipe:
  • Can I Make Eggplant Parmesan without Eggs?
  • 🥗 What to Serve with Eggplant Parmesan?
  • Other Eggplant Recipes
  • Eggplant Parmesan

When this comes out of the oven, you see the bubbly cheese on the edges, that looks so inviting that you'd want to take a slice right away.

In my home, Baked Eggplant Parmesan is a total game-changer. Whenever I have made this, I have got happy faces and heard sweet nothings!

Eggplant recipes are my favorite. Just like this Eggplant and Zucchini Lasagna (Crockpot).

🍆 Baked Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

Basically, Baked Eggplant Parmesan Recipe is just 4 steps:

  • Sear Eggplant Partially: Season Eggplant with Salt and Pepper. Sear them partially in the skillet.
  • Coat Eggplant: Coat Eggplant in Egg mixture and then in Panko Mixture.
  • Layer with Cheese and Marinara: Layer in a baking dish with Marinara Sauce and Cheese
  • Bake: Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes.

I know there are tons of Recipes out there for Baked Eggplant Parmigiana. But, if you want to learn how to make the BEST Eggplant Parmesan from scratch then you've come to the right place.

💡Tips to Keep in Mind:

Before we learn the steps involved in making Eggplant Parmesan. You need to have a look at these important tips. Most people skip these tips and what they end up with is soggy eggplant slices. I am sure you don't want that.

  1. Do not use Eggplant just after seasoning them. Allow them to sit for 1 hour so that they release all the liquid.
  2. Dap of excess salt and moisture with a paper towel. You don't want them to be salty.
  3. Use a good quality Marinara sauce for the best flavors.
  4. Spoon Marinara Sauce on top of each Eggplant slice. Do not spread with a spoon. Or else your eggplant will become soggy.
  5. Layer with loads of Mozzarella Cheese and top with grated Parmesan cheese for best flavors.
cheesy Eggplant Parmesan in a plate
cheesy Eggplant Parmesan in a plate

🥘 Ingredients for Eggplant Parmesan

  • Eggplant: Make sure you choose an eggplant with fewer seeds. Fewer seeds translate to less bitter.
  • Salt and Pepper: The basic seasoning for Eggplant slices so that they release their liquid.
  • Panko Breadcrumbs: One of the most popular breadcrumbs that are easily available in most supermarkets.
  • Dried Oregano: I love the flavors of oregano in an Italian Eggplant Parmesan recipe.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Just a bit of Red Pepper flakes ensure the dish doesn't fall flat.
  • Milk and Egg: Egg and Milk wash ensures an even crispy coating on the eggplant. It forms a protein matrix on the eggplant making it crispy on the outside.
  • Marinara Sauce
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Chopped Basil

👩🏻‍🍳 How to Make Eggplant Parmesan

I know you are asking yourself how to cook Eggplant Parmesan. These step-by-step photos are going to make your work so much easier.

Before we begin let me tell you that Baked Eggplant Parmesan is the same as Eggplant Parmesan Casserole.

STEP 1: Season Eggplant and let them release the liquid

Season the top of your Eggplant with Salt and Pepper. Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow them to sit for 1-hour so that they release all the liquid.

seasoning eggplant slices with salt and pepper
seasoning eggplant slices with salt and pepper

Once they have released all the liquid, wipe off the excess salt with a damp paper towel since you don't want them to be too salty.

dabbing off excess moisture from Eggplant
dabbing off excess moisture from Eggplant

The recipe for Eggplant Parmesan is so easy. But, most people make these mistakes. The major mistakes people make in this step are:

  1. Not allowing Eggplant to sit for 1 hour after seasoning it with salt and pepper.
  2. Not wiping excess salt and moisture from eggplant slices after they've released their liquid.

STEP 2: Make Breading for Eggplant Parmesan

Take two shallow plates. Make Panko Mixture on one plate and egg mixture on another plate.

Panko Mixture:

In a shallow plate, combine Panko Breadcrumbs, Dried Oregano, Red Pepper Flakes, some salt, and a pinch of ground black pepper.

You can use any other spices that you like. Want some smoky flavors - add some smoked paprika. Add a pinch of Italian Seasoning for a better taste.

Egg & Milk Mixture:

On another plate, combine milk and eggs. Stir well.

Egg and Milk Mixture
Egg and Milk Mixture

So, there you have it. Two basic things with which you are going to coat your eggplant slices.

The breading station set up for Eggplant Parmesan
The breading station set up for Eggplant Parmesan

STEP 3: Coat Eggplant Slices

First, dip both sides of Eggplant slices into Egg and Milk Mixture. Pick them up and place them in the Panko mixture. Shake off any excess. Place in a large baking sheet.

As you can see Eggplant Parmesan Recipe is so easy. All we are doing is coating eggplant in two mixtures. I really don't understand why people make a fuss about this.

To make the Best Eggplant Parmesan you must not forget the sequence in which we coated our eggplant.

  • First coat your Eggplant in Eggmixture.
dipping Eggplant slices in milk and egg mixture
dipping Eggplant slices in milk and egg mixture
  • Then coat it in Panko Breadcrumb mixture.
coating Eggplant slices with panko Mixture
coating Eggplant slices with panko Mixture

If you don't have Panko breadcrumbs just get it. Generally, the regular breadcrumb contains corn syrup, sodium, and potential allergens. And, therefore it isn't healthy. So, to make Healthy Eggplant Parmesan consider using Panko Breadcrumbs.

shaking off excess from the Eggplant slice
shaking off excess from the Eggplant slice

You can find Panko breadcrumbs just beside traditional breadcrumbs. And since it is so popular you can find it in most supermarkets. In case you don't find it in the baking aisle you should check it in the Asian section.

STEP 4: Partially Cook Eggplant in Skillet

Heat a pan with some Olive Oil. Once your skillet is hot, add eggplant slices. Just keep two eggplant slices at once. Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook both sides until they are golden brown.

frying Eggplant slices in olive oil
frying Eggplant slices in olive oil

Take them out on a plate lined with a paper towel.

soaking off excess oil from eggplant slices
soaking off excess oil from eggplant slices

Heads up, this is NOT a Fried Eggplant Parmesan recipe. The idea behind searing Eggplant is so that they get a crispy coating on the outside and do not get soggy when baked.

I learned this trick from "Table for Two Blog". And, trust me, this is the easiest way to make the Best Eggplant Parmesan at home.

STEP 5: Layer in a baking dish

  • In a large baking dish, pour Marinara Sauce. Spread it out with a spatula.
smearing marinara sauce in the baking dish
smearing marinara sauce in the baking dish
  • Add eggplant slices. Now Spoon Marinara sauce on top of each eggplant slice. DO NOT SPREAD
layering Eggplant in Casserole dish
layering Eggplant in Casserole dish
  • Sprinkle shredded Mozzarella Cheese. Repeat the layers.
topping Eggplants with Mozzarella Cheese
topping Eggplants with Mozzarella Cheese
  • Top the final layer with a generous amount of Mozzarella cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese.
topping eggplant parmesan with mozzarella and parmesan cheese
topping eggplant parmesan with mozzarella and parmesan cheese

Bake it in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is browned and bubbly on top. Serve with freshly chopped basil on top.

💪 Eggplant Parmesan Calories

Since there are so many layers of cheese, I am sure you are asking yourself, how many calories are there in Eggplant Parmigiana?

Well to simply put, Eggplant Parmesan is packed with calories.

Eggplant Parmesan baked
Eggplant Parmesan baked
  • One serving of Eggplant Parmesan contains 356 calories.
  • One serving of homemade Eggplant Parmigiana contains 21g of carbohydrates. According to food experts, a daily value of 300 grams of carbs per day is essential for your body. So, if you are counting the carbs in Eggplant Parmesan, I would say, it is not much.
  • This Easy Eggplant Parmesan recipe contains 25g of fat.

NOTE: This is just an approximate calculation of Nutritional value for Vegetarian Eggplant Parmesan. The actual result may vary depending upon the cooking procedure and the ingredients used.

📖 Other Variations of this recipe:

Baked Healthy Eggplant Parmesan is so popular that it is bound to have variations. It is made worldwide with so many different ingredients and techniques. Let's have a look at them.

cheesy homemade Eggplant Parmesan
cheesy homemade Eggplant Parmesan
  • Grilled Eggplant Parmesan: Instead of baking your Eggplant Parmesan you can grill it in an outdoor grill. It works the same and gets those gorgeous grill marks.
  • Eggplant Parmesan Chicken: If you love chicken, then add some cooked shredded chicken in between each layer of your eggplant slices.
  • Eggplant Parmesan Ricotta: Ricotta has a tarty taste and works really well while making Eggplant Parmesan. You can add a layer of ricotta between each slice of eggplant while you are layering it up in a baking dish.
  • Eggplant Parmesan no breading: If you want to make a lighter Eggplant Parmesan (No frying, No breading), you can simply skip the frying and breading part. Just season them with salt and pepper. Allow them to sit for 1 hour. And then layer in a baking tray as stated in the recipe. Bake as you would bake Eggplant Parmesan and then serve with fresh basil.
  • Eggplant Parmesan with Pasta: The recipe for Healthy Eggplant Parmigiana is so versatile that you can make it into so many things. Such as adding pasta. You can add Penne or Spaghetti to your Eggplant parmesan and then bake it in the oven. It would be so good. Try this Baked Spaghetti recipe.
  • Eggplant Parmesan Boats: You can go a totally different direction and make Eggplant Parmesan boats. Just slice them vertically. Season them with salt and pepper. Allow it to release liquid. And, finally add marinara sauce, Mozzarella cheese, and then bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.

Can I Make Eggplant Parmesan without Eggs?

If you don't like Eggs you can skip them. You can just coat it in Milk. But, Eggplant Parmesan without Egg won't be as delicious as it would be with eggs. The reason being, Egg creates a protein matrix around Eggplant making them crispy on the outside.

🥗 What to Serve with Eggplant Parmesan?

This classic Italian Eggplant Parmesan needs a proper side dish to complement it. Take a look at these Ideal Eggplant Parmesan sides.

  • Meatballs - Try these Chicken Parmesan Meatballs with Marinara Sauce. or try these Vegetarian Meatballs.
  • Garlic Bread - Try this Cheesy Garlic Bread as an easy side dish for Eggplant Parmesan.
  • Roasted Broccoli - Try this Crispy 2-ingredient Air fryer Broccoli.
  • Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette - So fresh and so healthy. Perfect side for Eggplant Parmesan.
  • Sauteed Green beans - Green beans make the best side. And, it is no news.

Other Eggplant Recipes

Eggplant Rollatini Recipe

Low Carb Eggplant Pizza Casserole

Eggplant Casserole

Baked Sri Lankan Eggplant Curry

Eggplant Lasagna | Vegetarian | Low Carb | Healthy Dinner Recipe

Pasta alla Norma 

If you are making this Eggplant Parmesan using this recipe, please leave a rating below. It will help me work on myself and my blog. Also, take a snap of your final Eggplant Parmesan once it is done and post it on Instagram with #recipemagik. Tag me @recipemagik and let me know how it turned out.

Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan - Sliced Eggplants coated in Panko breadcrumbs and (egg + milk) mixture, partially cooked in a skillet, and then layered in a baking dish (like you would layer a lasagna) with Marinara Sauce, and loads of Mozzarella Cheese.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
1 hours: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 723kcal
Author: Surup

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Large Eggplant cut into 1/2 inch slices
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • 4 tablespoon Olive Oil to fry the Eggplant
  • 3 cups Marinara Sauce
  • 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese shredded
  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • Chopped Basil Leaves for garnish

Panko Mixture

  • 1½ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano

Egg mixture

  • 2 Large Eggs
  • ½ cup Whole Milk
Prevent your screen from going dark

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Season the Eggplant Slices with salt and pepper and let them release their moisture. Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow them to stand for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the excess moisture by dabbing a clean paper towel over the Eggplant and also wiping off the excess salt.
  • In a shallow plate, combine Panko Breadcrumbs, dried Oregano, Red Pepper Flakes, Salt, and Ground Black Pepper.
  • On another plate, combine Milk and Eggs, Stir well to combine.
  • First, dip both sides of Eggplant slices into Egg and milk mixture. Pick them up and place them in the Panko Mixture. Shake off any excess.
  • Heat a pan with some olive oil. Once your skillet is hot, add Eggplant slices. Just 2-3 eggplant slices at once. Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook both sides of the Eggplant until golden brown. Take them out on a plate lined with a paper towel.
  • In a large baking dish, pour Marinara Sauce. Spread it out with a spatula. Add Eggplant slices and now spoon Marinara Sauce on top of each Eggplant Slice. (Do not spread the Marinara).
  • Add shredded Mozzarella Cheese over the Eggplant. Repeat the Layers. Top final layer with a generous amount of Mozzarella Cheese and shredded Parmesan Cheese. Bake it in a preheated oven @375F for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese on top gets brown and bubbly.
  • Garnish with freshly chopped basil and serve hot.

Video

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Eggplant Parmesan
Amount Per Serving
Calories 723
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @recipemagik or tag @recipemagik

About Surup

Hi, I'm Surup - Thank you for stopping by at Recipemagik.com. I hope you enjoyed your time reading through some of my contents. the voice and the thought behind this website.

Reader Interactions

Ask Me Anything Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

HI, I'M SURUP..

G'Day, Thanks for popping in! Thrilled to have you here. I am Surup. The one man show behind Recipe Magik.

I love to give healthy makeovers to classic recipes for everyday cooking, suiting every diet.

Here you will find HEALTHY recipes suiting every single diet served alongside of a happy memory and story!

I started this blog in July 2019 as a creative outlet.

Today it has grown to be one of the most read food blogs with over 1000s of recipes.

Look around, enjoy the ambiance and hopefully find a great recipe to make tonight.

read more..

OUR TRENDING RECIPES:

  • Easter Dinner Menu recipes
    Traditional Easter Dinner Menu recipes
  • sloppy joe with ground beef
    Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe
  • Pesto Shrimp Rice Bowl
    Pesto Shrimp Rice Bowl
  • Basil Pesto Chicken Bake with basil and parmesan on top
    Basil Pesto Chicken Bake

Fall Comfort Food Recipes

  • turkey shepherds pie with topped with dill and parsley
    Turkey Shepherd's Pie - Now that's a brilliant use of Leftovers!
  • leftover turkey and mushroom wild rice soup in a black dutch pot
    Leftover Turkey Mushroom and Wild rice soup (Deliciously Creamy!!)
  • thanksgiving turkey cheese ball appetizer on a white serving dish
    Thanksgiving turkey cheese ball recipe
  • closeup image of stuffed cornish hen
    Cornish hens stuffed with cornbread dressing

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Follow US

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Contact

  • Contact
  • About

Copyright © 2023 RecipeMagik