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Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan delivers the same crispy, crunchy, tender eggplant parmesan you know and love, without the excess fat and calories of the deep-fried version!
Looking for more lightened-up favorites? You will love Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, and Air Fryer French Fries.
Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant Parm
From the crispy eggplant to the rich marinara to the gooey mozzarella cheese, classic Eggplant Parmesan is undeniably delicious. But far from being light.
Enter the Air Fryer.
Just as it crisps up chicken parmesan and chicken wings without excessive oil, the air fryer delivers crispy, decadent-tasting Eggplant Parmesan, no deep frying required. All the flavor with a fraction of the fat and calories.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Notes on Ingredients
- Eggplant: Select an eggplant that has smooth, shiny skin, and feels heavy for its size. Smaller eggplants are a better choice, as they tend to be sweeter, less bitter, have thinner skin, and fewer seeds.
- Panko: Instead of regular breadcrumbs, use panko-style breadcrumbs for a light and crispy coating.
- Parmesan: Freshly grated parmesan is best in terms of flavor, but feel free to use any version of grated parmesan you have on hand.
- Mozzarella: I prefer thick slices of fresh mozzarella for the best melt and decadent finish. You can swap this out for shredded mozzarella or deli-sliced mozzarella.
- Marinara: Use your favorite marinara or spaghetti sauce. Even leftover pizza sauce works in a pinch.
- Cooking Spray: I recommend using an avocado or olive oil cooking spray for the best flavor, rather than a regular old cooking spray like Pam.
Low-Carb Swap
If you need a gluten-free or low-carb version of eggplant parmesan, use my recipe for Baked Low-Carb Eggplant Parmesan and air fry as this recipe directs.
How to Air-Fry Eggplant Parmesan
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prepare Eggplant. Eggplant can be very bitter if not prepared correctly. The way to combat this heavily salt, peeled and sliced eggplant slices and let them sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. As the eggplant sits, the salt will draw out the eggplant's natural bitter liquid.
- Prepare Breading Station. Set out three shallow dishes. In the first dish, combine flour with garlic powder and salt. In the second, whisk and egg with water and a pinch of salt. In the final dish, combine breadcrumbs, parmesan, oregano, garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes and salt.
Kristen's Tip
Season, season, and season again! It is crucial to add seasonings to every layer of the breading to ensure flavorful eggplant parmesan.
- Bread Eggplant. Pat the salted eggplant dry to remove excess moisture. Then dip each slice into seasoned flour, followed by the egg wash, followed by the parmesan panko breading, gently shaking off excess between steps.
- Air Fry. Place the breaded eggplant in a single layer in the basket or on the tray of the air fryer. Spray with cooking spray and air fry for 6 minutes. Remove basket, flip, and continue to air fry until golden and crispy.
Don't overlap
Keep in mind that it is better to work in batches than overcrowd your air fryer. We need the air to circulate evenly around the eggplant to evenly and fully crisp it up.
- Top with Sauce and Cheese. Once the eggplant is nice and browned, top each slice with 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite marinara or spaghetti sauce and one slice of mozzarella cheese. Continue to air fry until the cheese is just melted.
Serving Suggestions
Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan is classically served with a side of pasta, like Instant Pot spaghetti or baked rotini. I love rounding out dinner with a side salad, like Olive Garden salad, tossed Greek salad, or Caesar salad. And of course, no one will complain if you add a side of garlic toast.😉
More Favorite Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Bagel Pizzas
- Air Fryer Summer Squash
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Air Fryer Baked Potato
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan
Ingredients
- 1 small eggplant
- kosher salt, to taste and to salt eggplant
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, + more for topping breaded eggplant
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- ½ cup marinara or spaghetti sauce
- 2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
Instructions
- Peel the eggplant and slice into ½-inch thick slices. Lay the sliced eggplant on a rack over a baking sheet and heavily salt both sides of the eggplant with kosher salt. Let the eggplant sit for at least 30 minutes and up to an hour. After the eggplant sits, run the slices under water to rinse away the salt and pat the eggplant dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel.
- Set up 3 shallow dishes in which to prepare the breading station for the eggplant. In the first dish, mix flour with a ½ teaspoon each of salt and garlic powder. In the second dish, whisk 1 egg with 2 tablespoons water and a pinch of salt. In the final dish, combine the panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese with ½ teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch of salt
- Dredge each slice of the eggplant in the four mixture, shaking off the excess. Then dip into the egg mixture, allowing the excess egg mixture to drip off the eggplant. Finally, coat the eggplant slices in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere the breading to the eggplant.
- Spray the breaded eggplant with cooking spray and then place it sprayed side down into the basket or tray of the air fryer. Be careful to not overlap the eggplant, so that it cooks and browns evenly. Spray the top of the eggplant slices with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 370℉ (185℃) for 6 minutes. After 6 minutes, remove the basket, flip the eggplant, spray again with cooking spray and return back to the air fryer and cook for an additional 6 minutes, or until crispy.
- Remove the basket and top each slice of eggplant with 1-2 tablespoons of tomato sauce and a slice of mozzarella cheese, or 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella cheese, and a couple teaspoons of parmesan cheese.
- Return the air fryer, and air fry for 3-4 minutes at 370℉ (185℃), or until the cheese is melted and browned.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
DELICIOUS!! Truly, better than any restaurant and it’s so easy. This is a keeper!
I love hearing you enjoy it so much, Lauren! Thanks for sharing!
This turned out great. I was in a bit of a hurry, so I didn’t salt the eggplant or let them drain 30 minutes I went right into the recipe. After they were cooked six minutes on each side, I just put some chopped up fresh tomato on top and then fresh mozzarella cheese on top of the tomatoes. I let it melt three minutes and it was done! So so so good.
This recipe was quick and awesome. No grease to deal with and as crispy as ever! Tasted delicious with my homemade sauce and pasta! Thanks
You are very welcome 🙂 Thanks for sharing your review.