This delicious air fryer eggplant parmesan features crispy eggplant, melted cheese and marinara sauce. It's a faster, healthier spin on traditional eggplant parm. A crowd pleasing vegetarian dish—perfect for weeknights! Recipe can be made in an air fryer or traditional oven.
Prep: In a shallow bowl, combine flour, ¼ teaspoon of the salt, and pepper. In a second shallow bowl, mix eggs and water thoroughly. Then, in a third shallow bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt.
Coat eggplant: Dip one piece of eggplant into the flour mixture to coat both sides. Then, dip it into the egg mixture to wet both sides. Transfer to the panko mixture and coat both sides. Arrange the coated eggplant into a single layer in an air fryer basket, repeating as needed (see note 3).
Air fry (see note 4 for oven method): Spray the eggplant with oil. Bake in an air fryer (no need to preheat) at 375°F (190°C) until golden brown, about 10 minutes (time varies by air fryer). Top each piece of eggplant with a slice of mozzarella. Bake again at 375°F (190°C) until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 3 minutes.
Serve: Divide the warmed marinara sauce into shallow serving bowls or plates. Top with the crispy eggplant. Garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh basil, if using.
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Notes
Parmesan: If you need vegetarian-friendly Parmesan, look for one made with "microbial enzymes" rather than "rennet". Alternatively, Parmesan can be substituted for another Italian hard cheese, such as Asiago.
Mozzarella: We use low-moisture mozzarella ("pizza mozzarella"). It is often sold as a ball or block. You could substitute fresh mozzarella, which will be wetter. If you're having trouble getting clean slices with a knife, try using unflavored dental floss instead. Alternatively, you can skip the slicing altogether by buying pre-sliced cheese (mozzarella or provolone).
Air frying: Eggplant should be arranged in a single, non-overlapping layer so the eggplant can get crispy. You will need to cook the eggplant in batches. Batches vary based on the size of your air fryer. (Our air fryer oven required 2 batches).
Oven method: If you don't have an air fryer, you can bake the eggplant in a conventional oven instead. Pre-heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Arrange eggplant in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet and spray with oil. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Top with cheese and return to the oven until cheese is melted and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.