Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

If you love eggplant, you’ll love this Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan! Each slice of breaded eggplant is golden brown and crispy, with a tender middle and a layer of marinara sauce and melty mozzarella cheese on top!

It requires minimal oil and it's so good, it seriously just melts in your mouth!

Eggplant is one of those ingredients that is so delicious and versatile, but yet so underrated (in my opinion)! It has a hearty and meaty texture, which makes it the perfect centerpiece for vegetarian meals. 

We normally enjoy it in this Jamaican Jerk Grilled Eggplant recipe or in this Indian Eggplant Curry. And now we’re enjoying it as a vegetarian alternative to chicken parmesan!

Check out the air fryer eggplant parmesan story!

Why this recipe works

1. The texture of the air fried eggplant is the perfect contrast. It’s soft and tender in the middle and golden brown and crispy on the outside, like this air fryer ravioli or air fryer mozzarella sticks we love too.
2. Using the air fryer means you can get crispy breaded eggplant with minimal oil. There’s no deep frying or oven frying involved, just a little oil sprayed on the eggplant slices before air frying.
3. There are so many delicious ways to enjoy this recipe. You can eat the eggplant parmesan on its own (as a meal or snack), over pasta or on a sandwich.

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

Other air fryer recipes

• Air Fryer Crab Cakes
• Air Fryer Pierogies
• Air Fryer Potstickers
• Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs

Ingredients

The full list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

You’ll need one eggplant, cut into ½ inch slices. (This should give you about 10-12 slices). Look for an eggplant that's smooth and shiny and isn’t too large. Small or medium-sized eggplants tend to be sweeter and are easier to cut into slices for this recipe. 

The marinara sauce is an essential ingredient for this recipe, so I prefer to go with homemade marinara sauce. To save time, you can also use store-bought.

Mozzarella cheese is the finishing touch, and we’re not skimping on it! You’ll need 1 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella, and go with full fat for all the melty goodness. (Light cheese just doesn’t have the same melt).

Step by step instructions

Arrange the eggplant slices in a single layer on your work surface.

Sprinkle 1 ½ teaspoons of salt on the eggplant slices. Use your fingers to rub it into each slice.

Let the eggplant sit for 10-15 minutes. This allows the water in the eggplant to release.

Use a paper towel to blot off the excess water that has come to the surface.

Mix together the egg, milk, flour and water in a bowl.

Combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, salt and Italian seasoning in another bowl.

Lightly spray the inside of the air fryer basket with oil.

Dip the eggplant slices in the egg mixture to coat both sides.

Then, dip the eggplant slices in the breadcrumb mixture to coat each side.

Arrange the slices in a single layer in the air fryer. You should be able to fit 3-4 slices in the basket depending on the size of your air fryer.

Spray the tops of the eggplant slices with oil.

Air fry at 360F degrees for 8-10 minutes, until the outsides are crisp and golden brown. Shake halfway through and flip if they’re not browning evenly.

Carefully remove the slices from the air fryer and place 1-2 tablespoons of marinara on each slice and top with the shredded mozzarella.

Place back in the air fryer at 360F degrees for another 2 minutes. Serve on top of extra marinara sauce (if desired) and top with fresh basil.

Repeat with remaining slices until all of the eggplant is air fried.

Expert tips

1. Use a good quality spray oil (not PAM or equivalent) to avoid damaging the air fryer. I like to use this oil sprayer and fill with my favorite oil.
2. If your air fryer model requires preheating, please do so before adding your eggplant slices.
3. Make sure your eggplant is cut into even slices. I cut them ½ inch thick for this recipe. If you go with thinner or thicker slices, you will need to adjust the air frying time.
4. Try not to slice the eggplant too thin as it may not hold up to the marinara sauce and cheese topping.
5. It adds some time, but please don’t skip the step of salting the eggplant slices. This draws out the moisture and helps to prevent your breaded eggplant from turning out soggy.
6. Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer. For even cooking, air fry the eggplant in a single layer.
7. Flip the eggplant slices halfway through if they don’t seem to be browning evenly.
8. Each air fryer cooks a little differently, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly. Keep an eye on the eggplant to ensure it doesn’t burn.
9. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will need to air fry the eggplant in 3-4 batches.

Common questions

Storage and freezing instructions

Store any leftover eggplant parmesan covered in the fridge for 3-4 days.

The breading will get soft in the fridge, so use the oven or the air fryer to reheat the eggplant. Reheating in the microwave will result in a soggy breaded coating.

To reheat leftover slices (with the marinara and cheese on top), just heat it in the air fryer on 350F degrees for 3-4 minutes, or until heating through. (Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn). 

You can also reheat it in the oven, it’ll just take a little longer to heat through and get crispy again.

Serving options

There are so many delicious ways to enjoy this eggplant parmesan:

• Enjoy it on its own with extra marinara sauce. You can also make it with this Instant Pot Bolognese if you want to add some meat to the mix.
• Serve it with crusty bread or toasted garlic bread.
• Pair it with a green salad, zucchini salad or a side of roasted veggies.
• Serve it over pasta, rice, spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.
• Use it as a meaty sandwich filling.

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!