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We’ve made this crispy eggplant recipe 50 times, and it’s always perfect. Our family loves to make it, and once you’ve tried it, you’ll love it, too. If you’re looking for a fantastic air fryer eggplant recipe, this is it!

Air fried eggplant on a spatula over a basket.

Table of Contents

QUICK AND EASY AIR FRYER EGGPLANT RECIPE

Even if you don’t like eggplant or are skeptical about trying it, trust us, this recipe will become your new favorite way to eat eggplant.

You’ll love this recipe because it’s a great way to get your veggies in without feeling like you’re eating vegetables. The depth of flavor from each ingredient melts together to give you a dish you’ll cook on repeat.

In addition, this eggplant recipe is straightforward and won’t take up much of your time, making it perfect for people who have a bust schedule.

Plus, this recipe makes enough for leftovers to eat throughout the week! So, grab your Air Fryer and prepare to cook some tasty eggplant.

Check out all of our tips and tricks with this recipe. If you are in a rush, head down to the printable recipe card below. 

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INGREDIENTS

  • Eggplant: The star of the show. Sliced Into ¼ inch rounds.
  • Egg: Used in the dredging process to help with the bread coating. 
  • Panko Bread Crumbs: You can use plain panko or seasoned breadcrumbs. 
  • All Purpose Flour: Flour helps the coating and seal in moisture. 
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese: I prefer freshly grated, but pre-grated works too! 
  • Salt and Pepper: Sea salt and ground black pepper are the best basic seasonings. 
Ingredients needed to make fried eggplant in the air fryer.

HOW TO COOK EGGPLANT IN THE AIR FRYER

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer to 370 degrees F. Prepare the Air Fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray such as avocado oil if needed.

Step 2: Sprinkle the eggplant slices with salt on both sides and place in a large colander to drain for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Whisk the egg in a shallow bowl. Set aside.

Step 4: Combine the panko breadcrumbs, flour, Parmesan cheese, salt, and ground black pepper in a medium bowl.

Ingredients for the eggplant breading in a bowl.

Step 5: Pat the eggplant pieces dry with paper towels.

Step 6: Dip the eggplant slices into the egg mixture and then the panko breadcrumb mixture. Place on a plate or baking sheet.

Eggplant being dipped into the egg mixture.

Step 7: Drizzle the coated eggplant slices with olive oil.

Step 8: Place the breaded eggplant in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket.

Breaded sliced eggplant in the basket of the air fryer ready to be cooked.

Step 9: Air Fry for 16-18 minutes until the eggplant slices are golden brown. Flip the eggplant slices halfway through the air frying time. Work in batches if necessary.

Air Fried eggplant close up photo with eggplant in the basket of the air fryer - with one piece being lifted out of the basket.

Step 10: Carefully remove the eggplant from the Air Fryer basket.

Step 11: Serve with pasta marinara sauce on the side or on top of each slice and garnish with fresh basil.

Air fryer eggplant cut up and served with spaghetti noddles and marinara sauce.

TIPS

  • 30 minutes sitting with salt on both sides of the fresh-cut eggplant is perfect. If you go less, it will be watery, and for too long, they get a bit “chalky”.
  • Adjust cooking time: If rounds are cut smaller than ¼ inch, the cooking time will be less.
  • Shred fresh Parmigiano makes a better crust than prepackaged shredded Parmesan.
  • Adjust ingredients if needed: I had to add one extra egg as my large eggplant was about 11-12 slices.
  • Adjust cooking time according to your air fryer: My Cosori 5.8 qt cooked this dish in 8 minutes on each side, and it turned out crispy and perfect.

VARIATIONS

  • Breadcrumbs. Change up the flavor of this dish by using different flavored breadcrumbs. 
  • Seasonings. While this recipe calls for salt and pepper, consider adding in different flavors such as kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. 
  • Flour. If you don’t want to use all purpose flour, consider using almond flour or coconut flour. 

FAQs

What can I substitute for all-purpose flour?

You can use almond flour instead of regular flour. Make sure to use a 1:1 ratio for substituting for regular flour.

How do I store leftovers?

Make sure to place any leftovers into an airtight container with a paper towel and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. 
When reheating, place the eggplant in a single layer in the air fryer basket and reheat at 350 degrees F for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.

Is Air Fryer Eggplant low carb?

Yes! Since this recipe is mostly eggplant with minimal carbs, this recipe is considered low carb.

Can I use Mozzarella cheese instead of Parmesan cheese?

Absolutely! Mozzarella provides a different flavor profile than Parmesan, but you’re more than welcome to use it!

How to get crispy eggplant slices?

Make sure you only use a small amount of oil, or else the eggplant rounds will get soggy. However, if you accidentally use too much oil, pat away any excess oil with a paper towel.

What garnish pairs well with this recipe?

A sprinkle of fresh parsley on top of each eggplant slice is a great combo for this recipe.

What is the best way to eat this recipe?

This eggplant parmesan makes a great veggie side dish or as your main course.

How thick should my eggplant slices be?

You can create thin slices or thick slices. It depends on if you want a crispy texture or a more dense texture. I prefer keeping my slices at 1/4″ thickness for optimal cooking.

Can I use Italian breadcrumbs instead of panko?

You sure can! Italian breadcrumbs are a great addition to this recipe because of the Italian seasoning in the breadcrumbs.

Can I stack eggplant slices on top of one another when cooking?

We recommend sticking to only a single layer of eggplant slices as they will cook more evenly this way. If you put too many in the basket, they will cook unevenly or not crisp up.

Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant in the basket of the air fryer.

We love this recipe at our house. One of my favorite things is the crispy edges you get when air-frying eggplant. If you enjoy this recipe as much as we do, you might also enjoy a few of these other dishes. 

MORE AIR FRYER VEGETABLE IDEAS

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Cooked and crispy Air fryer eggplant being lifted out of the basket of the air fryer.
5 from 1 vote
Servings: 4

Air Fryer Eggplant

Are you craving a delicious meal that’s both hearty and healthy? Look no further than this Air Fryer Eggplant recipe! This recipe puts a fun, healthy twist on eating eggplant by adding some breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
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Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients 

  • 1 eggplant, sliced into 1.4 inch rounds
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions 

  • Preheat the Air Fryer to 370 degrees F. Prepare the Air Fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray such as avocado oil if needed.
  • Sprinkle the eggplant slices with salt on both sides and place in a large colander to drain for 30 minutes.
  • Whisk the egg in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
  • Combine the panko breadcrumbs, flour, Parmesan cheese, salt, and ground black pepper in a medium bowl.
  • Pat the eggplant pieces dry with paper towels.
  • Dip the eggplant slices into the egg mixture and then the panko breadcrumb mixture. Place on a plate or baking sheet.
  • Drizzle the coated eggplant slices with olive oil.
  • Place the breaded eggplant in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket and Air Fry for 17-20 minutes until the eggplant slices are golden brown. Flip the eggplant slices halfway through the cooking time. Work in batches if necessary.
  • Carefully remove the eggplant from the Air Fryer basket.
  • Serve with pasta marinara sauce on the side or on top of each slice.

Notes

This recipe was made using a Cosori 5.8qt Air Fryer. Your brand of air fryer may cook slightly differently, and you may need to adjust the cooking time. 
This recipe pairs well with onion powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
You can use almond flour instead of regular flour. Make sure to use a 1:1 ratio for substituting for regular flour.
Make sure you only use a small amount of oil, or else the eggplant rounds will get soggy. However, if you accidentally use too much oil, pat away any excess oil.
30 minutes sitting with salt on both sides is perfect. If you go less it will be watery and too long they get a bit “chalky”
If cut smaller than 1/4 inch the cooking time will be less. 
I shredded fresh Parmiggiano, as it makes a better crust than prepackaged shredded parmesan. 
I had to add 1 extra egg as my eggplant was about 11-12 slices
I have a Cosori 5.8 qt and cooked 8 minutes on each side and they were perfect.

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 45mg, Sodium: 464mg, Potassium: 318mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 136IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 108mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Jen Gamble

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4 Comments

  1. Brian says:

    “1.4 inch rounds”, 1/4 inch rounds?

    Reply
    1. Jen West says:

      YES!!! Thanks for pointing that out. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Winnie says:

    Newbie here – when you say “drizzle with olive oil” does every part of the eggplant need to be covered in oil?

    Reply
    1. Jen West says:

      Actually just a light coating over the eggplant would be sufficient.

      Reply