Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan is easier to make than the classic dish, cooked to crispy perfection in minutes! Make roasted veggies with a cheesy crunch that the whole family will love.
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There is so much cheesy goodness in air fryer eggplant parmesan that even your kids will ask for seconds — trust me!
Air frying is a complete game changer for traditional eggplant parmigiana. It uses much less oil but still delivers on the crispy goodness of fried eggplant with perfectly seasoned Italian flavors.
Not only is air fried eggplant parmesan simple and quick to prepare, but it fulfills the need for a fried crispy, cheesy topping that you just can’t get through roasting in the oven! Even better, you can air fry eggplant with less mess to clean up afterward. A win, win, win!
How to Cook Eggplant Parmesan in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Cut the eggplant into ¼-inch slices. Place in a colander or on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt, and let them drain on a paper towel for at least 15 minutes.
STEP TWO: Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees F.
STEP THREE: Place the egg in one bowl. In a second bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and basil.
Dip eggplant slices first into the egg, then into the bread crumb mixture, making sure to fully coat each slice.
STEP FOUR: Transfer each breaded slice to the air fryer basket, keeping them in a single layer.
STEP FIVE: Air fry eggplant for 8 to 10 minutes. Halfway through, spritz with oil and flip to ensure even cooking. Then, place a teaspoon of marinara sauce on top of each slice, followed with mozzarella cheese.
STEP SIX: Close and cook eggplant parmesan in the air fryer for 1 more minute. Then, turn off the air fryer and let it sit for another minute, until cheese is melted.
STEP SEVEN: Remove from the basket and slightly cool until cheese is no longer piping hot. Top air fryer eggplant parmesan with fresh basil and enjoy for a super delicious meal!
What to Serve With This Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread
- Pressure Cooker Spaghetti
- Air Fryer Avocado Fries
- Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Variations to Making Air Fryer Eggplant
- Keep it simple. While I do love homemade marinara sauce, don’t be afraid to use your favorite jarred sauce. It’s a great way to get air fried eggplant parmesan on the table even faster!
- Change the texture. Try switching out the breadcrumbs for panko to get an extra crispy texture, or air fry eggplant with no breadcrumbs for a gluten free version!
- Not an eggplant lover? Switch out the eggplant for chicken cutlets in this Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan!
More Air Fryer Vegetables
- Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- Air Fryer Carrot Chips
- Air Fryer Blooming Onion
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Air Fryer Green Beans
How to Reheat Air Fryer Eggplant Parm
Air fryer eggplant parmesan will keep for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator, as long as you store leftovers in an airtight container. Make sure to let your cool until the cheese is set before you wrap it and store it in your fridge.
It’s so easy to reheat eggplant parmesan in the air fryer! Preheat to 350 degrees F, then pop leftover eggplant in the air fryer and cook for 2-3 minutes or until warmed through.
This eggplant parmesan recipe is also great for meal prep — cook as directed, but don’t top with marinara or cheese. Instead place the rounds of air fryer eggplant on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour. Then, transfer to a storage bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
When you are ready to make dinner, just pull out the number of slices you need, add sauce and cheese, and cook frozen eggplant parmesan in the air fryer for 4-5 minutes or until hot.
Is it Better to Peel Eggplant for Air Fried Eggplant Parmesan?
I rarely bother to peel my eggplant. It helps the rounds hold their shape, plus who wants to cut off that beautiful aubergine color?!
Don’t worry — the skin softens once the eggplant Parmesan is cooked in the air fryer. That said, avoid using extra large eggplants for this air fryer eggplant recipe, as the skin can be tough and bitter.
More Italian-Inspired Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Eggplant Fries
- Air Fryer Gnocchi
- Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
- Air Fryer Italian Sausage With Peppers and Onions
- Frozen Meatballs in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Air Fryer Eggplant Parm
Ingredients
- 1 eggplant
- 1 egg whisked
- 1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cut the eggplant into ¼ inch slices and place in a colander or baking sheet. Sprinkle the eggplant with salt and let sit for at least 15 minutes.
- Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees.
- Place the egg in one bowl and mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and basil in a second bowl.
- Dip each eggplant slice into the egg then the breadcrumb mixture making sure to fully coat each slice.
- Place each eggplant breaded slice into the air fryer in one single layer not touching and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, spritzing with oil and flipping over halfway.
- Put a teaspoon of marinara sauce on top of each eggplant slice and top them with mozzarella cheese.
- Close the air fryer and cook for 1 minute, turn off the air fryer and let the eggplant to sit one more minute to allow the cheese melt fully.
- Remove the eggplant parm from the air fryer and enjoy!
Delicious! Thank you for the new AF recipe to add to my collection!
That was super delicious. Easy to make and healthy. We loved it. Thanks!
I loved how crisp this got in the air fryer