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GET IT NOWIf you’re looking for the perfect air fryer eggplant, you’ve found it! Those of you that have been here before know that my air fryer is my favorite appliance and eggplant is one of my favorite summer veggies. So a few years ago, I combined them! I added a cheesy, crispy parmesan coating, and it was the best decision. My air fried eggplant is faster than most other methods, but can I just say, that coating is everything. Make it with me and see what I mean!
Why You Need My Air Fryer Eggplant
- Perfectly tender texture – The inside is nice and soft, and the edges are a little caramelized. The texture is most similar to my roasted eggplant, but with browning like my sauteed eggplant.
- Healthier, but still crispy coating – I use the same trick here that I do for zucchini fries, air fryer zucchini, and tuna patties: Use grated parmesan instead of breadcrumbs! It’s naturally gluten-free, and has way more flavor. No, it’s not quite as crisp as actual breadcrumbs, but it’s still absolutely delicious — and healthier.
- Simple, speedy side dish – My air fryer eggplant needs just 4 pantry staples, plus salt and pepper. You don’t need any bowls or pans, and it cooks really fast. It’s an easy, delicious way to eat your vegetables!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fried eggplant, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Eggplant – I recommend small to medium ones, because they are less bitter and not as seedy. If you’ve got larger ones, you’d need to salt them to remove the bitterness — and who wants that? The whole point of an air fryer eggplant recipe is to make it quickly!
- Olive Oil – I use this one. Avocado oil also works great.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese – My secret to that perfect crispy coating without breadcrumbs! You can buy it pre-grated or grate it yourself. Just make sure it’s finely grated, not shredded, because shredded won’t get you that crispy crumb exterior. If you still prefer actual breadcrumbs, you can replace half the parm with them (like my fried eggplant recipe). Once I even made this recipe using almond flour instead.
- Seasoning – You can use my 5-minute homemade Italian seasoning, or just grab store-bought. Make sure it’s unsalted, or your eggplant will be too salty. You can also choose individual dried herbs instead, like basil, thyme, rosemary, or oregano. Feel free to add spices, too, like garlic powder (the extra spice I add most often) or paprika.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
How To Cook Eggplant In The Air Fryer
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Slice the eggplant. Cut it crosswise to make circles, about 1/2 inch thick. Pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Season both sides. Brush the eggplant with the olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese, in that order.
- Air fry eggplant. Arrange the slices in a single layer in the basket. Cook in batches. The air fryer eggplant is done when it’s soft and the cheese is golden brown. Garnish with fresh parsley if you like.
My Recipe Tips
- Start slicing your eggplant opposite the side of the leafy top. This way, you’ve got more to hold onto while you’re slicing. I always cut off the leafy part at the end.
- Keep the slices uniform. My recipe is based on 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick rounds. This gets you a good balance of coating and tender inside. Slice them all to the same thickness, so that they cook evenly. You can cut them thinner if you like, but keep in mind they’ll cook faster.
- Brush on the oil, or spray for a shortcut. If you drizzle it, I find that it tends to soak into the spongy eggplant very quickly, so it’s not even. When I want a shortcut, I use my olive oil sprayer instead of brushing.
- Add the parmesan cheese last. The salt and pepper stick better when they are first, and the parmesan is a thicker layer, so anything on top of it doesn’t stick much. That’s why I add the parm last.
- For extra browning, spray the parmesan with a little more oil. This is not required, but improves the texture of the “breading”.
- Don’t crowd the basket. Keep your eggplant pieces in a single layer. I usually need a few batches to air fry eggplant that’s average sized.
- I don’t recommend flipping. You can try, but I find that I lose some of the cheese after flipping, so I usually don’t.
- Adjust the time as needed. Different air fryers cook differently, and the time can vary with just slightly thicker or thinner slices. So, poke the eggplant to confirm that it’s very soft. If it’s still firm but the outside is already golden, you can lower the temperature to 320 degrees F and continue to air fry until it’s soft. Trust me, your air fryer eggplant won’t taste very good if it’s firm!
- Prefer to skip the parmesan coating? I think it’s amazing, but you definitely can. The air fryer time would be the same without it.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. I don’t love freezing this dish, because the parmesan coating gets soggy.
- Reheat: To crisp up the outside, just reheat the eggplant in the air fryer again. I set the temperature to 320 degrees F when reheating, so they don’t darken more.
Leftover Ideas:
One of my favorite ways to repurpose the leftovers is a makeshift air fryer eggplant parmesan — just layer the slices with marinara sauce and mozzarella. Bake until hot and melty, and finish it off with fresh basil. The same concept works to speed up my eggplant lasagna.
Serving Ideas
I love this air fryer eggplant as an appetizer — just dip it in my marinara sauce (above)! If you want it as a side, I recommend pairing it with a main dish using the same appliance, for less cleanup:
- Chicken – You can’t go wrong with crispy air fryer chicken wings or juicy air fried chicken breast. My family’s fave lately is air fryer chicken leg quarters!
- Seafood – I make air fryer salmon every few weeks, and love it with this air fried eggplant. You can also choose air fryer cod with my Cajun seasoning if you like a kick, or air fryer lobster for a special occasion.
- Beef Or Pork – My foolproof air fryer steak recipe will make you feel like you’re at a steakhouse, but it’s super easy. Or just throw some pork chops in the air fryer for a fuss-free weeknight meal.
My Favorite Air Fryer For This Recipe
It crisps, it roasts, and it evenly reheats — my favorite air fryer does it all. It’s got a roomy basket, and I use it to test all my air fryer recipes.
Air Fryer Eggplant
My easy air fryer eggplant has an irresistibly crispy, cheesy coating! Make it in just 15 minutes, with a handful of simple ingredients.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
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Slice the eggplant crosswise to make circles, about 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut off the leafy end only after you are done slicing, so that you'll have more to grab onto as you slice. Pat the slices dry with paper towels.
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Brush the eggplant slices with olive oil, on both sides. Sprinkle both sides with sea salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese, in that order.
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Arrange the eggplant in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, until the eggplant is soft and the cheese is golden brown. Repeat in batches with the remaining eggplant slices.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 4 slices, or 1/4 entire recipe
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Air Fryer Eggplant
81 Comments
Sam
0Just made these in my new air fryer and I am blown away. Light and still crispy. Will definitely put it on the weekly rotation.
barbara Cokes
0The best way to make eggplant! it’s seriosuly delicious!