While it may seem intimidating, eggplant parmesan is surprisingly easy to make! This classic vegetarian dish requires just a handful of ingredients and tastes like it came from a restaurant.
You’ll have this one on repeat
8 simple ingredients that are mostly pantry staple ingredients make this a great weeknight meal. Cheaper than chicken. Eggplant will run you about $1 per pound while chicken is $2+ per pound. Freezer-friendly because you can make 2 or 3 trays of this eggplant parmesan and freeze them until ready to bake. Then on busy nights, just pull it out of the freezer and bake! Feeds a crowd! Especially if you have different types of eaters, like vegetarians or meat-eaters. Everyone always loves it!
Ingredients for Eggplant Parmesan
This classic Italian dish is turned into a delicious vegetarian dish thanks to some very strategic ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
Eggplant: You’ll need 3 medium eggplants, or aubergine as the Brits say! But if you’re using a smaller type of eggplant, grab 5-6. Italian Breadcrumbs: Flavored bread crumbs are a great way to pack in flavor without additional ingredients. If you just use plain bread crumbs, you can add 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning. Flour: I use all-purpose flour but a 1:1 gluten-free replacement flour should work just fine since this is a coating and not being used for the structure. Eggs: Eggs help to bind the breadcrumb coating to ensure an even crisp all the way around. Cheese: You’ll need shredded mozzarella cheese for creaminess and grated parmesan cheese for the coating. I prefer to grate my own but you can use pre-grated parmesan. Marinara Sauce: 1 jar of store-bought marinara is all you need for this recipe to add natural sweetness. You can also make homemade marinara sauce to use.
Baked, not fried
With a few simple tricks, this will be the best baked eggplant parmesan recipe you’ve ever had! While eggplant parm is typically made by frying the eggplant pieces, we’ll coat it in breadcrumbs and bake it for a healthier, crispy result. Let me show you!
Yes, you can Air Fry it!
While I prefer to bake this recipe, you can also make it in an air fryer. To do so:
pairing ideas
Eggplant parmesan makes a great dinner when paired with some other staples, like a leafy green salad or pasta. Here are some pairing ideas to make this a complete meal:
Panzanella Toscana is an Italian salad that’s easy to make and a refreshing bite alongside eggplant parmesan. Basil Oil can be used to dip bread into or to drizzle on top of this eggplant dish. Vegan Garlic Bread is something you have to eat with any baked Italian dish, I think it’s a rule (just kidding…but not really).
