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Can you air fry breaded eggplant? You bet you can! My air fryer eggplant parm recipe is a no oil version of classic eggplant parmesan. You’ll love how you can get your air fryer eggplant cutlets as crispy as you’d like, with no sogginess. And if you don’t have an air fryer? No worries! I’m also going to tell you how to make this air fryer eggplant parmesan in the oven.
Great recipe for small bites!
– Brian
Air fryer eggplant parmesan? Um, yes please.
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but eggplant parm is pretty much one of my favorite things. Making eggplant parm in the air fryer takes this delicious dish up another notch in my book.
Aside from being tasty, this recipe has a very practical use. Have you ever had a small leftover eggplant from your CSA box or leftovers from another dish? This recipe is the perfect way to use a baby eggplant!
These healthy eggplant parmesan bites can be worked into a full meal or use them as an appetizer. However you choose to serve them, I really think you’re going to like this healthy baked recipe.
This recipe is special because we’re air frying the breaded eggplant before topping with the sauce and cheese and air frying again. This helps to stop the breading from getting soggy, leaving you with eggplant parm perfection!
Don’t you hate it when the edges of the eggplant get mushy with sauce? If so, you’re going to like this recipe. That’s not going to happen here!
🍆 Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Ingredients
What do you need to make my eggplant parmesan air fryer recipe? Here’s what to gather:
- A small eggplant (about 8 ounces; a baby eggplant may be perfect for this)
- Egg
- Wheat germ
- Ground flax seeds
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Dried oregano
- Dried basil
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Marinara sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (fresh mozzarella slices work too)
- Cooking oil spray
- Fresh basil for garnish
I am using a combination of wheat germ and flax seed for the breading. It’s true that wheat germ does count as a refined grain. However, it is essentially some of the “good stuff” that is removed from white flour.
I talked more about wheat germ in my popcorn chicken salad bowl recipe. If you want to stick to whole grains only, whole grain breadcrumbs should work well here. I’d try a whole grain panko for an extra crisp coating!
One more thing! If you have a bigger eggplant, you could make a more traditional eggplant parm versus these smaller bites. You may have to split the recipe up into batches if you can’t fit many large eggplant slices in your air fryer.
For a heartier meal, you’ll also want to add your favorite pasta to this meal, along with some more marinara sauce.
As always, feel free to experiment with ingredients you have on hand! Sometimes a small recipe substitution ends up becoming a new family favorite. You’ll never know unless you try!
🔪 Air Fryer Eggplant Parm Equipment
There are two great ways to make this recipe, in the oven or in the air fryer. If you’re baking eggplant in the oven, you’ll need a large dark baking sheet.
To make this healthy eggplant recipe in the air fryer, you’ll need an air fryer (of course). Make this eggplant air fry in your Breville air fryer, a Ninja Foodi, or whatever air fryer you happen to have. You may need to adjust the recipe cooking times slightly if you use a different air fryer than I do.
➕ How to Air Fry Eggplant Parmesan
Begin by rinsing your eggplant, slicing off the stem and blossom ends, and cutting it into ¼ – ½ inch slices. If you have a long eggplant that is a little over 8 ounces, cutting it into 16 slices should be perfect. Try to get the slices all about the same thickness for more even cooking.
If you normally salt and rinse your eggplant slices before cooking to remove bitterness, feel free to do so. I always skip this extra step, and I have no regrets about it.
Beat the egg in a small bowl. In a second bowl, stir together the wheat germ, ground flax, Parmesan cheese, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Dip each slice of eggplant in the egg and then in the wheat germ mixture. Aim to coat each piece of eggplant on all sides. After the eggplant has all been breaded, it’s time to bake or air fry!
🔥 To Air Fry Breaded Eggplant
Spritz your air fryer baking trays or air fryer basket with cooking oil spray. Place the breaded eggplant in a single layer on the trays. I needed to use two trays for this recipe.
Mist the eggplant slices with more cooking spray. Put the trays in the air fryer oven and cook for 8 minutes at 375F.
Next, flip the eggplant pieces over and switch the position of the trays in the air fryer oven. Air fry for an additional 8 minutes at 375F.
Now, spoon a little marinara sauce on each piece of eggplant and top with a sprinkle of mozzarella and Parmesan. Air fry for 3 minutes at 350F to melt the cheese. Garnish with fresh basil.
🧑🍳 To Oven Bake Eggplant Parmesan
Preheat the oven to 400F. Spritz a large dark baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the breaded eggplant in a single layer on the sheet.
Mist the eggplant slices with cooking oil spray. Bake the slices in the top third of the oven for 10 minutes. Flip the slices, and bake an additional 10 minutes in the top third of the oven.
Next, remove the eggplant pieces from the oven and spoon on a little marinara sauce. Sprinkle some Parmesan and mozzarella on each breaded eggplant slice. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, giving the cheese time to melt. Garnish with fresh basil.
🌡️ How to Reheat Eggplant Parm
The air fryer is a great way to reheat this eggplant parmesan recipe and keep the edges crispy. Try air frying leftover breaded eggplant for 2-3 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively, reheat the eggplant in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until hot.
🧊 Is it better to freeze eggplant parm before or after cooking?
I’ve always frozen baked eggplant parm in individual servings that can be reheated when needed. However, Martha Stewart recommends freezing eggplant parmesan before baking. The main concern with either method is preventing the eggplant from getting too watery when it is thawed and heated.
🍝 What are some good sides for eggplant parmesan?
I could eat these eggplant parm bites all by themselves! If you need more to your meal, consider adding some pasta. We used a legume-based pasta made from green lentils that is packed with protein!
For a lower carb and much lower calorie option, consider serving the eggplant over Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash. You could also try spiralized zucchini or shirataki noodles.
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Eggplant Parm Recipe (Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan)
Ingredients
- 1 small eggplant, cut into ¼-½ inch (0.64-1.27 cm) slices (8-9 ounce/227-255 gram eggplant, cut it into 16 slices)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup wheat germ
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- cooking oil spray of choice
Breaded eggplant toppings:
- ¾ cup marinara sauce (choose one with no added sugar and no added oil, if possible)
- 2 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (57 grams; approximately ½ cup)
- 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese (for topping)
- fresh basil (for garnish)
Instructions
- Note: Some people salt and rinse their eggplant slices before cooking to help remove the bitterness. I have never done this with the eggplants I purchase, but feel free to salt and rinse if you usually do.
- Rinse your eggplant and cut off the blossom and stem ends. Slice the eggplant into ¼-½ inch (0.64-1.27 cm) slices. I generally just cut the eggplant into 16 even slices, rather than worrying about precise measurements.
- After slicing your eggplant, beat the egg in a small bowl. Mix the wheat germ, flax, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and onion powder in another bowl.
- Dip each slice of eggplant in the egg and then in the wheat germ mixture. Try to coat the eggplant on all sides.
To Air Fry Eggplant Parm:
- Mist your air fryer baking trays or air fryer basket with cooking oil spray. Place the breaded eggplant in a single layer on the trays. I needed to use two trays for this recipe.
- Mist the eggplant slices with more cooking spray. Put the trays in the air fryer oven and cook for 8 minutes at 375°F (190°C).
- Next, flip the eggplant pieces over and switch the position of the trays in the air fryer oven. Air fry for an additional 8 minutes at 375°F (190°C).
- Now, spoon ½-1 tablespoon of marinara sauce on each piece of eggplant and top with a sprinkle of mozzarella and Parmesan. Air fry for 3 minutes at 350°F (175°C) to melt the cheese. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.
To Oven Bake Eggplant Parm:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Mist a large dark baking sheet with the oil.
- After breading all of the eggplant slices, mist them with the oil spray. Bake the slices in the top third of the heated oven for 10 minutes. Then flip them and bake an additional 10 minutes in the top third of the oven.
- Remove the eggplant slices from the oven and top each with ½-1 tablespoon of the marinara sauce. Distribute the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly between each slice, then add a pinch of the remaining Parmesan to each.
- Bake the slices for an additional 5-10 minutes, giving the cheese time to melt. Garnish with fresh torn basil.
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). These eggplant parmesan bites can make a light veggie-packed lunch or dinner by themselves. The cheeses add an adequate amount of protein to the meal. To add more volume without packing on the calories, consider serving the bites over some lightly wilted spinach or other greens. You could also serve this parmesan eggplant over spiralized squash noodles. If higher protein and energy is what you’re after, add a legume-based pasta and additional tomato sauce. These additions will add over 350 calories to the meal. Nutrition information is for one serving of the eggplant bites.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
FAQs
Is eggplant parmesan healthy?
Classic eggplant Parmesan isn’t the healthiest choice because it is fried and eggplant becomes a veritable oil sponge when you fry it! Baking or air frying eggplant parm is a great way to reduce the amount of added oil. These cooking techniques lighten the recipe and help to make it a healthier choice.
How do you make air fryer eggplant parm keto?
To make keto air fryer eggplant parm, try substituting the wheat germ in this recipe for pork panko. I haven’t tried it yet, but I bet it would be delicious!
How do you make air fryer eggplant parm vegan?
You would need to replace the egg and cheeses in this recipe to make it vegan. I would try experimenting with this flax egg, this vegan Parmesan cheese and this vegan mozzarella cheese.
Can you make air fryer eggplant parm with no breading?
You could make this recipe into a gluten-free air fryer eggplant parm with no breading. The eggplant should cook in a shorter time than the breaded eggplant. That said, it doesn’t feel like true eggplant parmesan to me unless it has been breaded. I think of plain eggplant slices topped with sauce and cheese as more of an eggplant-based pizza.
How do you make eggplant parm not soggy?
Breading can become soggy in eggplant parm recipes when the eggplant is baked in the sauce. To make not soggy eggplant parm, let your breaded eggplant crisp up in the oven or air fryer first. Then top it with a measured amount of sauce and cheese, and bake just long enough to melt the cheese. Perfect!
Do you peel eggplant before cooking?
No, don’t peel your eggplant unless it is extremely blemished and unsightly! You’ll save yourself some extra work and help reduce food waste in your kitchen by leaving the eggplant unpeeled.
👨🍳 Other Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
Are you looking for other ways to cook vegetables in the air fryer? Your search is over! Check these out:
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
Good to know that works too! It was perfect the first time. I learn so much from you as well! Wow great post.
Thank you for visiting! 🙂
Great recipe for small bites! You’re right about eggplants being oil sponges and baking them is a fantastic alternative! Those bites would be great for a tapas style party or a buffet. Thanks for posting!
I would love to see something like this at a buffet! Btw, I think your site is still blocking my comments. 🙁 I left you one on your most recent post but it does not appear to be showing up. Things are getting a little odd over there, huh? haha
Wow. I don’t understand why your comments are getting blocked. I’ll look into it. I still greatly appreciate your effort in making the comment. Thanks!????
You are welcome. I’ll keep trying! 🙂