Easy Eggplant Parmesan

Easy eggplant parmesan is hearty, cheesy, and delicious. This meatless dish is sure to make the dinner-time rotation.

Deliciously easy eggplant parmesan is made with crispy-coated eggplant slices smothered in cheese and marinara. Be sure to try these other scrumptious Italian dishes like Italian Wedding Soup, Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta, and Antipasto Salad.

Healthy & Kid-Friendly!

Eggplant parmesan (or parmigiana di malanzane) is an Italian casserole made with fried eggplant slices, tomato sauce, and cheese.

This vegetarian dish is easy to make. It is hearty and delicious. The kids are sure to love this baked cheesy goodness.

This eggplant parmesan is a lot easier to make than you would think. You don’t have to limit your consumption of this well-loved dish to restaurants, you can now have it at home whenever the craving hits!

Eggplant Tips

Did you know that eggplant is actually a type of fruit?

Choose a ripe eggplant. When picking out the pretty purple fruit look for eggplants that have smooth shiny skin. When lightly pressed, it should leave an imprint. Also, smaller eggplants tend to be less bitter than larger ones. 

Salt as directed. Speaking of bitter, you’ll want to salt the eggplant as directed in the recipe. The reason you do this is because the salt draws out the bitter juices. After 30 minutes rinse, dry, and coat.

How to Make Eggplant Parmesan

Easy eggplant parmesan is an Italian classic that comes together with ease! It’s cheesy and so inviting.

EGGPLANT. Peel the eggplant and slice it thinly. Lay the eggplant slices on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse and dry on fresh paper towels.

PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

COAT. Add the eggs to a shallow dish, and the bread crumbs to another shallow dish. Dip each slice of eggplant in the eggs and roll in the bread crumbs to coat both sides. Place the eggplant in a single layer on a cookie sheet.

BAKE. Bake for 10 minutes, flip, then bake for an additional 10 minutes. They will be an even golden brown. Do not turn off the oven.

Assemble It

Now it’s time to layer it and bake!

ASSEMBLE. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Layer half of the eggplant in the bottom of the dish then spread with another cup of sauce. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the parmesan cheese on top.

LAYER. Add the remaining eggplant in an even layer over the top of the cheese, then spread the remaining sauce over the eggplant. Sprinkle with the remaining cheeses, then sprinkle the dried basil over the top.

BAKE. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling. Serve hot.

Recipe Tips

Change up this baked eggplant parmesan with any of these alternatives, and be sure to serve it up with some of our Italian favorites!

Breadcrumbs. The Italian breadcrumbs can be replaced with panko breadcrumbs. 

Seasoning. You can also add extra flavor and sprinkle in some garlic salt or red pepper flakes on top. Instead of using dried basil, you can sprinkle on ½ tablespoon of chopped fresh basil.

Eggplant. Add a third layer of eggplant slices by adding another medium eggplant to the ingredient list and increasing the other ingredients by 50 percent.

Sauce. Use your favorite meatless spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce.

Serving suggestions. Any of our favorite Italian sides go well with this dish, but here are some of our favorites:

• Focaccia Bread
• Italian Wedding Soup
• Caprese Kabobs
• Italian Cookies

Storing Info

Make ahead of time. Assemble this eggplant parmesan recipe ahead of time and store it to be baked later. Cover and keep in the fridge for 2-3 days.

FREEZE. Cover with plastic wrap then wrap the entire pan with aluminum foil. Label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before heating in the oven.

STORE. If you happen to have leftovers, divide them up into individual serving sizes and store them in airtight containers. Store in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave.

Recipe FAQ

For More Italian Recipes, Try:

• Italian Sausage Pasta
• Parmesan Chicken Manicotti
• Mozzarella Sticks
• Homemade Lasagna
• Sausage Alfredo