AIR FRYER EGGPLANT PARMESAN

This lightened-up crispy air fryer eggplant parmesan skips the egg and milk, but still delivers serious, bold Italian flavor! By slicing the eggplant thin and air frying it with seasoned breadcrumbs, you get a golden, crispy result that’s perfect with a touch of marinara and melty cheese.

Looking for a healthier way to make eggplant parmesan? This easy air fryer version is crispy, satisfying, and comes together fast, no frying, no eggs, no milk needed!

If my Italian grandma could taste this air fryer eggplant parmesan, I know she’d love it. She always made the most delicious eggplant parmesan, frying it to perfection in her cast-iron pan. This version is lighter, but still packed with flavor and comfort, just like I remember from growing up.

To keep things simple, I slice the eggplant thin and lightly spray it with olive oil before coating it in seasoned breadcrumbs. The air fryer gives it that perfect crunch on the outside, while the cheese and marinara on top bring everything together. It’s a quick, healthy twist on a comforting classic, and it’s become a weeknight favorite in our house.

If you love this version, be sure to try our healthy baked eggplant parmesan, too. It’s another lightened-up Italian favorite made with a crunchy cornflake coating for extra flavor and texture. Plus, don’t miss our crispy air fryer chicken parmesan!

Why You Will Love Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

• Healthy: This recipe is made with simple ingredients, minimal oil, and cooked in the air fryer instead of deep-fried.
• Easy: Simple steps make it quick and straightforward to prepare.
• Crispy: The air fryer gives the eggplant a perfectly crispy texture without traditional frying.
• No Eggs or Milk Needed: It’s a lighter, dairy-free option that’s still just as delicious.

Ingredients Needed

• Eggplant: You’ll need one medium eggplant for this recipe. Slice it into 1/4-inch rounds for extra crispness.
• Olive Oil Spray: The eggplant slices are sprayed with olive oil before being coated in the breadcrumb mixture. There are no eggs or milk needed for this recipe!
• Breadcrumbs: For the classic crispy eggplant parmesan coating!
• Parmesan Cheese: Add optional grated parmesan cheese to the breadcrumb mixture for added flavor.
• Seasonings: Season the breadcrumb mixture with garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper.
• Marinara Sauce: Once air-fried, top each eggplant parmesan slice with a spoonful of marinara sauce.
• Mozzarella: After adding the sauce, top with light shredded mozzarella cheese before air frying again so it melts perfectly.

Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

Substitutions & Variations

• Olive Oil Spray Substitute: You can replace olive oil spray with egg wash if preferred. Instead of using olive oil spray, dip the eggplant slices in a shallow bowl with one beaten egg before coating them in the breadcrumb mixture.
• What Breadcrumbs to Use: We used plain breadcrumbs for this recipe, but you have plenty of options! You can swap them for one cup of crushed cornflakes or panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch. To make the recipe gluten-free, simply use gluten-free breadcrumbs. If you only have Italian-style breadcrumbs on hand, those work too, just reduce the added seasonings by half since they’re already seasoned.
• Marinara Options: You can use your favorite store-bought marinara sauce for this recipe. Alternatively, to elevate this recipe to the next level, consider trying our homemade healthy marinara sauce, slow cooker tomato sauce, or roasted tomato sauce. Any of these will work perfectly for this recipe.
• Cheese Options: If you don’t have shredded Mozzarella cheese, you can top this eggplant parmesan with grated Parmesan cheese instead.

How To Make Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

Step 1: Slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch rounds.

Step 2: In a shallow bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.

Step 3: Lightly spray both sides of each eggplant round with olive oil spray.

Press each slice firmly into the breadcrumb mixture, coating both sides well.

Ensure both sides are coated in the breadcrumb mixture.

Step 4: Preheat your air fryer. We like to add a parchment paper liner for easy cleanup. Place the eggplant slices in a single layer in the basket. Don’t overlap the slices. You will need to cook them in batches.

Step 5: Air fry the eggplant parmesan, flipping halfway, until golden brown and crispy.

Step 6: Add a spoonful of marinara and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese to each slice. Return to the air fryer, just until the cheese melts.

Step 7: Garnish with fresh basil or more Parmesan if you like, and enjoy!

How Long To Cook Eggplant Parmesan In The Air Fryer

Air fry eggplant parmesan at 375°F for 17-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Then, add the marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, and air fry for another 1-2 minutes to heat the sauce and melt the cheese.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your air fryer eggplant parmesan with a refreshing Italian chopped salad, Caesar salad, Caprese salad, salad tossed in our creamy Italian dressing, our high-protein Italian pasta salad, or flavorful chicken pesto pasta salad for a delicious meal. It also pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables or a comforting bowl of homemade roasted tomato soup. You can also enjoy it alongside our chicken Alfredo linguine or marry me chicken pasta.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover air fryer eggplant parmesan in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

More Healthy Italian Recipes To Try!

• Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
• Healthy Baked Eggplant Parmesan
• Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
• Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
• Italian Turkey Meatloaf
• High-Protein Italian Pasta Salad
• Italian Turkey Meatballs
• Turkey Pesto Meatballs

Also, don’t miss our collection of air fryer recipes here on Healthy Foodie Girl!

If you try this recipe, please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating, ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.

5 from 1 vote

AIR FRYER EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

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Lightened-up crispy air fryer eggplant parmesan recipe with no eggs or milk! A healthy and easy twist on a classic, cooked to perfection in the air fryer.

Equipment

• air fryer
• parchment paper liner

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 medium eggplant
• ▢ olive oil spray
• ▢ 3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
• ▢ 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• ▢ 1 cup marinara sauce
• ▢ 1 cup light shredded mozzarella cheese

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Instructions 

• Slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch rounds. Optional: Sprinkle both sides with salt and let them sit for 10-15 minutes to draw out moisture. Pat them dry with paper towels.
• In a shallow bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
• Lightly spray both sides of each eggplant round with olive oil spray. Press each slice firmly into the breadcrumb mixture, coating both sides well.
• Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Place the eggplant slices in a single layer in the basket. Lightly spray them with oil for extra crispiness before air frying. Don’t overlap the slices. You will need to cook them in batches.
• Air fry at 375°F for 17-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
• Add a spoonful of marinara and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese to each slice. Return to the air fryer for 1-2 minutes, just until the cheese melts.
• Garnish with fresh basil or more Parmesan if you like, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

• Olive Oil Spray Substitute: You can replace olive oil spray with egg wash if preferred. Instead, dip the eggplant slices in a shallow bowl with one beaten egg before coating them in the breadcrumb mixture.
• What Breadcrumbs to Use: We used plain breadcrumbs for this recipe. You can swap them for one cup of crushed cornflakes or panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch. To make the recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs. If you have Italian-style breadcrumbs on hand, those work too, just reduce the added seasonings by half since they’re already seasoned.
• Marinara Options: You can use your favorite store-bought marinara sauce for this recipe. Or, make our homemade healthy marinara sauce, slow cooker tomato sauce, or roasted tomato sauce!
• Remove Excess Moisture: Eggplant has a lot of moisture. Sprinkle the slices with salt and let them sit for 15-20 minutes, then pat them dry. This helps reduce sogginess. You don’t have to do this, but it’s great if you have time.

 

WW Points: 5 points per serving

To see your WW Points in the WW app for this recipe click here! Or, please manually add the ingredients to the recipe builder.

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 11.5g, Fat: 9.2g, Saturated Fat: 3.6g, Cholesterol: 23mg, Sodium: 493mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 10g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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