Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (2024)

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Air fryer eggplant parmesan is a delicious dish you can enjoy any weeknight dinner. It is light and tasty.

This air fryer recipe will be one of your favorite ways to eat eggplant. In this air fryer eggplant parmesan recipe, there is no breading but just seasoned eggplant, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese, and of course, parmesan cheese.

Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (1)

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What is eggplant parmesan?

The traditional eggplant parmesan is a fried breaded eggplant top with tomato sauce and cheese, then baked. But with this low carb air fryer version, the eggplants are air fried with little oil and without eggs and breadcrumbs.

Is eggplant parmesan healthy

Usually, eggplant parmesan is not really healthy because it contains 47% fat per serving because of the breadcrumbs and the fried method used to make them. But with this low carb air fryer version, the eggplants are air fry with little oil and without using eggs and breadcrumbs.

But Eggplant is pretty healthy full of nutrition. It is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, improves bone health, improves digestion, prevents diseases like cancer, and is perfect for heart health.

Ingredients to make healthy air fryer eggplant parm

Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (2)

How to pick the right eggplant

Pick an eggplant that is dark purple, and the skin is shiny, and it’s heavy, which means it is super ripe.

Store the eggplant in a cool, dry place for 1 to 2 days if you’re not planning to make the recipe right away.

Do you peel eggplant for eggplant parm in air fryer

You don’t need to remove the skin from the eggplant to make this air fryer eggplant parmesan because the eggplant skin is edible and high in antioxidants.

Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (3)

How to make eggplant parmesan in the air fryer

  • Preheat air fryer to 360º F for 5 minutes
  • Cut off and discard both ends of the eggplant and slice the eggplant in rounds.
  • Combine the oil and seasoning in a large bowl until well combined, and toss the eggplant slices until well coated.
  • Place the eggplant slices in the air fryer basket and air fry to 360º F for 8-10 minutes or until the eggplant is soft and golden brown.
Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (4)
  • Top the slices with 1 tablespoon marinara sauce and 1 tablespoon mozzarella cheese and sprinkle them with parmesan cheese. Bake for another 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
  • Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (5)
  • Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (6)

Tips:

  • Use a good parmesan cheese or Reggiano cheese fresh shredded.
  • You don’t need to remove the skin from the eggplant to make this air fryer eggplant parmesan because the eggplant skin is edible and high in antioxidants.
  • This recipe is gluten-free, but if you want to use breadcrumbs, use a gluten-free brand.
  • Try to keep all of the eggplant slices the same thickness to fry evenly.

Can you freeze eggplant parmesan

Yes, you can freeze eggplant parmesan. If you make them in the air fryer, you can store the air fried eggplant wrapped in foil or plastic wrap label with date and content, freeze for up to 3 months.

When ready to serve, place them in the air fryer basket to unfroze; once they are reheated, add the marinara sauce and cheese following the recipe instructions.

Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (7)

CAN YOU REHEAT COOKED EGGPLANT?

Yes, you can reheat leftovers in the air fryer, set the temperature to 360º F, and cook until hot, or you can use the microwave as well.

How to make vegan eggplant parmesan

To make this eggplant parmesan in an air fryer vegan, use vegan mozzarella cheese and vegan parmesan cheese.

How to make this recipe in the oven

  • To make this clean eating, low-carb eggplant parmesan in the oven, preheat the oven to 400º F, spray a baking sheet with oil spray, and set it aside.
  • Cut off and discard both ends of the eggplant and slice the eggplant in rounds.
  • Combine the oil and seasoning in a large bowl until well combined, and toss the eggplant until well coated. (You can use a brush to brush the mixture if you want)
Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (8)
  • Arrange the eggplant slices in the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until the eggplant is soft and golden brown.
  • Top the slices with 1 tablespoon marinara sauce and 1 tablespoon mozzarella cheese and sprinkle them with parmesan cheese. Bake for another 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese.

What to serve with eggplant parmesan

This eggplant recipe is excellent as a meal all on its own, but here are some healthy side recipes you can serve with this air fried eggplant parmesan.

Tools used to make this recipe.

Air fryer.Perfect for making fried food with little to no oil and also give you the convenience of a small convection oven.This is the exact brand I use in this recipe.

Mixing bowls.This set has a cover, which makes it double function as a mixing bowl and storage container.

More air fryer recipes you'll love

Air fryer cauliflower steaks

Crispy air fryer broccoli

Cauliflower bites in air fryer

Air fryer Spaghetti squash

Simple Air Fryer Eggplant

Looking for more air fryer recipes? You can find more in our air fryer page.

Please, do not forget tosubscribeand follow us on InstagramandPinterest. for more healthy air fryer recipes and ideas. Thank you for reading Enjoy Clean Eating!

Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (9)

Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading)

Yield: 3-4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Air fryer eggplant parmesan is a delicious dish you can enjoy any weeknight dinner because it is light and tasty.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium eggplant
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 / 4 cup marinara sauce
  • ¾ shredded cup mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

    1. Preheat air fryer to 360º F for 5 minutes
    2. Cut off and discard both ends of the eggplant and slice the eggplant in rounds.
    3. Combine the oil and seasoning in a large bowl until well combined, and toss the eggplant until well coated.
    4. Place the eggplant slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry to 360º F for 8-10 minutes or until the eggplant is soft and golden brown.
    5. Top the slices with 1 tablespoon marinara sauce and 1 tablespoon mozzarella cheese and sprinkle them with parmesan cheese. Cook for another 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted

Notes

  • Use a good parmesan cheese or Reggiano cheese fresh shredded.
  • You don’t need to remove the skin from the eggplant to make this air fryer eggplant parmesan because the eggplant skin is edible and high in antioxidants.
  • This recipe is gluten-free, but if you want to use breadcrumbs, use a gluten-free brand.
  • Try to keep all of the eggplant slices the same thickness to fry evenly.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 3Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 192Total Fat: 8 gSaturated Fat: 4.5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 470mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 6.5gSugar: 9gProtein: 13g

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used. When the recipe list salt to taste the amount of salt is not calculated​, only the sodium in the other ingredients​ is calculated.

Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (No Breading) (2024)

FAQs

Is eggplant parmesan healthier than pasta? ›

Eggplant parmesan tends to be lighter on the stomach and is considered to be more healthy. Eggplant is also less expensive. Restaurants find that it is a much cheaper option for guests. In addition, eggplant parmesan isn't a great meal when it comes to leftovers.

Why is eggplant parmesan so high in calories? ›

Eggplant parmigiana, or eggplant parmesan, is an Italian food made from layers of deep-fried slices of eggplant, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Although it's considered a vegetarian dish, eggplant parmesan is traditionally made with full-fat mozzarella and parmesan cheese, making it high in calories and fat.

Is eggplant parm sub healthy? ›

While eggplant can be great for your health and a tasty way to add more veggies to your diet, eggplant parmesan is traditionally loaded with oil. The beautiful eggplant tends to soak up oil like a sponge while it's frying, which can lead to a very high fat and calorie content in the finished dish.

What is a substitute for eggs in breading eggplant? ›

Sometimes known as garbanzo bean flour, chickpea flour is incredible! It's a perfect egg replacement for this recipe, and mixed with water creates the perfect batter to coat the eggplant in. Chickpea flour is also healthy and nutritious, with virtually no saturated fats and fewer calories than eggs.

Is eggplant OK for weight loss? ›

Eggplants are high in fiber and low in calories, making them an excellent addition to any weight loss regimen. Fiber moves through the digestive tract slowly and can promote fullness and satiety , reducing calorie intake. Each cup (82 grams) of raw eggplant contains 3 grams of fiber and just 20 calories.

Is it better to peel eggplant for eggplant parmesan? ›

The peel of an eggplant is completely edible. However, as the eggplant grows bigger and matures, the peel may become tough and bitter. People often prefer to peel larger eggplants because of this, but smaller eggplants do just fine unpeeled. It ends up being a matter of personal preference.

Which is more fattening, chicken parm or eggplant parm? ›

Eggplant parmesan is a lot healthier for you than chicken, but it comes at the cost of being a lot less filling.

Is it unhealthy to eat too much eggplant? ›

The bottom line, if the level of inflammation in the body is low, one can enjoy eggplant and nightshades in moderation. But if you suffer from any chronic inflammatory conditions you might consider limiting your consumption of eggplant until the causes of inflammation resolved.

Does Olive Garden serve eggplant parmesan? ›

Hand-breaded eggplant, lightly fried and topped with marinara and melted mozzarella. Served with a side of spaghetti. Available weekdays, 11am-3pm.

How unhealthy is fried eggplant? ›

Fried eggplant contains 475 calories per 220 g serving. This serving contains 28 g of fat, 7.8 g of protein and 49 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 3.9 g sugar and 4.4 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Fried eggplant contains 4 g of saturated fat and 22 mg of cholesterol per serving.

Is eggplant parm healthier than pizza? ›

-- all of these are big diet busters. This one may not be a big surprise; eggplant parmesan is fried. But it is surprising to see how much more fat the eggplant has compared to the pizza -- almost all the fat the average person on a 2,000 calorie diet is supposed to consume in one day ( 65 grams).

Can you use mayo instead of eggs for breading? ›

There are more than a few reasons why mayo makes sense as a substitute for egg wash. Since they both share the same main ingredient (eggs), they function in very similar ways. Much like egg wash acts as a binding agent to help seasonings and breadcrumbs stick to meat, creamy mayonnaise also manages to do the same.

How to breadcrumb without egg? ›

Luckily cream worked well, adhering the crumbs nicely. THE BOTTOM LINE: We recommend using heavy cream when breading foods if you cannot use eggs. CREAM IS BEST: If you can't use eggs, use heavy cream to hold breading in place.

Can I use milk instead of egg for breadcrumbs? ›

Breadcrumb Coating – Egg Substitutes

If there are no eggs in the house, or if you simply don't want to use eggs, there are a number of possible alternatives. Milk, cream, yoghurt or condensed milk can all be used instead. You can also try making a thin paste with flour, salt, pepper and water.

Is eggplant parmesan healthier than pizza? ›

-- all of these are big diet busters. This one may not be a big surprise; eggplant parmesan is fried. But it is surprising to see how much more fat the eggplant has compared to the pizza -- almost all the fat the average person on a 2,000 calorie diet is supposed to consume in one day ( 65 grams).

Does eggplant parmesan have a lot of calories? ›

Calories And Nutrition Information Eggplant Parmesan

One serving of healthier baked eggplant parmesan has 450 calories, 49 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 31 grams of protein, 16 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 140 milligrams of cholesterol and 1,320 milligrams of sodium.

What is the healthiest way to eat eggplant? ›

The healthiest cooking methods for eggplant include baking, grilling, or roasting. These methods require minimal added fats and help retain the vegetable's nutrients. Can eggplant be eaten raw? While eggplant can be eaten raw, it is not commonly done due to its slightly bitter taste and tough texture.

Is eggplant parmesan high in carbs? ›

Traditional eggplant parmesan is very high in carbs, as they use flour and bread crumbs in their breading. They also often serve it over pasta or spaghetti, further increasing the carbs. This keto version is very low in carbs, yielding just 7 grams net carbs per serving.

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