Satisfy your craving for fries the healthy way with air fryer eggplant! Just slice into sticks, then bread and fry for a delicious, crispy, irresistible side or snack.
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Stuck between craving French fries and wanting to eat something healthy? With this easy air fryer eggplant recipe, you can have your fries and eat them, too!
This crispy, crunchy, irresistible dish is super satisfying and so easy to make. You don’t even have to peel the eggplant! Just slice it into sticks, add a simple breading, then toss them all in the air fryer. How nice does that sound?
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- How to make crispy, delicious eggplant fries in the air fryer
- Tips for making the best air fried eggplant
- Fun variations and twists for this recipe
- How to reheat eggplant in the air fryer
These delicious eggplant fries make a great side dish, or you can even eat them on their own as a snack. I like to dip mine in marinara because the flavor combination reminds me of eggplant parmesan!
How to Make Air Fryer Eggplant Fries
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees and cut the eggplant into sticks.
STEP TWO: In a bowl, mix together the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, and garlic powder. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs together.
STEP THREE: Dip one eggplant stick at a time in the egg. Next, lay it in the panko mixture and press on all sides until fully covered.
STEP FOUR: Add the eggplant fries to the air fryer in a single layer. Spray the tops with an EVO Oil Mister.
STEP FIVE: Cook at 400 degrees F for 7 to 8 minutes, flipping them halfway.
STEP SIX: Serve hot with marinara or other dipping sauces.
Do You Need to Peel the Eggplant Before Air Frying?
Nope! There is no need to peel the eggplant before cooking. You can simply slice it into sticks, then continue on with the recipe.
If you prefer to peel the skin, you’re more than welcome to. Personally, I leave it as-is to cut down on prep time.
How Do You Keep Fried Eggplant From Getting Soggy?
If your eggplant is holding too much moisture, you might want to “sweat” it first. After you cut the eggplant into sticks, sprinkle it with some sea salt and let it sit for about 15 minutes. This will draw out excess moisture.
After that, pat the eggplant dry and continue on with the recipe. This will help keep your eggplant fries nice and crispy!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Eggplant
- 5-Minute Buffalo Chicken Wrap
- Air Fryer Meatball Parm Sub
- Country-Style Ribs in the Air Fryer
- Frozen Hamburgers in the Air Fryer
- Ninja Foodi Chili
Tips to Make Crispy Eggplant Fries in the Air Fryer
- Look for an eggplant, also known as aubergine, with smooth, shiny skin that isn’t too soft or too hard.
- For the crispiest eggplant fries, sprinkle the sticks with coarse sea salt after slicing and let them sit for 15 minutes to draw out excess moisture.
- Lay the eggplant fries in a single layer with space between each one so the hot air can crisp them up on all sides.
- Spray the air fryer eggplant with oil to let the breading get nice and crispy without being dry.
How to Change Up This Recipe
- For a keto-friendly version, swap out the breadcrumbs for crushed pork rinds.
- You can also replace some or all of the breadcrumbs with more parmesan cheese to reduce the carbs.
- For the healthiest option, skip the breading altogether. Air-fried eggplant sticks make a delicious side!
- Get creative by adding some spices and seasonings to the breading mixture. Cumin, lemon pepper, cayenne, or Italian seasoning would all add their own twist on the flavor!
- Have some fun with your dipping sauces! I like to use marinara, but everything from ketchup to mustard to honey sriracha sauce would be delicious.
How to Reheat Eggplant in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Lay the leftover eggplant fries in the basket.
- Cook for about 3 minutes until the fries are warmed through and the breading is crispy.
Other Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Avocado Fries with Sriracha-Ranch Dip
- Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan
- The Best Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
- Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
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Air Fryer Eggplant
Ingredients
- 1 eggplant sliced into ½-inch sticks
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 eggs
- Oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Cut the eggplant into sticks (you don’t have to remove the skin of the eggplant).
- In a bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, and garlic powder.
- In a second bowl, whisk the eggs together.
- Take one stick at a time and dip it in the eggs.
- Transfer to the panko mixture bowl and press the stick on all sides, so it’s covered with panko mixture.
- Add the eggplant fries to the air fryer in one single layer and then spray the tops of them with an EVO Oil Mister.
- Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
- Serve hot with marinara sauce or other dipping sauce.
Notes
Notes:
You can make these delicious eggplant fries as a side dish or even eat them by themselves as a snack.How to Reheat Eggplant in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
- Lay the leftover eggplant fries in the basket.
- Cook for about 3 minutes until the fries are warmed through and the breading is crispy.
I am always looking for new eggplant recipes and this is amazing!
These were amazing in the air fryer. I always love anything eggplant!
Like nothing I’ve ever had before. I never dreamed of making eggplant into fries. They were easy and so delicious!
what a wonderfully healthy side instead of fries!