This crispy eggplant can be made in the oven or the air fryer for a quick and delicious side dish! The simple seasonings add plenty of flavor and the breadcrumbs help create perfectly crispy eggplant.

crispy eggplant

Eggplant has never really been one of my favorite vegetables but once I made this crispy eggplant, I said to Alex “I think this is my favorite way to eat eggplant.” The problem with a lot of eggplant recipes is that the eggplant ends up soggy. It can also absorb a lot of oil making it soggy and fatty. In this recipe, we’ll use salt to draw out some of the moisture of the eggplant, then coat it in breadcrumbs to create a crispy exterior. Cutting it into small cubes gives us lots of exteriors, so we get lots of crispy breadcrumbs in every bite.

crispy eggplant ingredients

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Eggplant– I used one small eggplant, about 12oz. Cut the eggplant into small 1″ pieces. Try to cut the eggplant into even pieces so it bakes at the same rate.
  • Olive oil– A little olive oil helps the seasoning and breadcrumbs stick to the eggplant and creates a crispy outer layer.
  • Panko crumbs or breadcrumbs- This gives the eggplant a crispy texture. You can use regular bread crumbs or panko crumbs. You can read about the differences below.
  • Smoked paprika– I love the smoky, slightly spicy flavor of smoked paprika but you can use regular paprika.

What’s the difference between panko crumbs and breadcrumbs?

Panko crumbs are made from white bread with the crusts removed. It’s processed into flakes and then dried. Panko crumbs tend to absorb oil more than traditional breadcrumbs and the end result is a crunchier crumb. For this recipe, you can use breadcrumbs or panko crumbs, but panko crumbs will give you a crispier result.

What’s better, the oven or the air fryer?

For this particular recipe, I prefer the air fryer. The convection style of cooking helps create a crispier exterior on the eggplant. This recipe still works in an oven, but if you have an air fryer, that would be my recommendation.

How to Make Eggplant in the Oven

  • Spread the eggplant onto paper towels and sprinkle with salt.  After 10 minutes, pat the eggplant dry.
  • Toss the eggplant with olive oil, garlic, salt, smoked paprika, and breadcrumbs.
  • Spread the eggplant onto a single layer on a baking sheet and bake
    for 16-20 minutes.

How to Make Eggplant in the Air Fryer

  • Spread the eggplant onto paper towels and sprinkle with salt.  After 10 minutes, pat the eggplant dry.
  • Toss the eggplant with olive oil, garlic, salt, smoked paprika, and breadcrumbs.
  • Spread the eggplant onto a single layer on a baking sheet and air fry
    for 8-10 minutes.

How to Pick an Eggplant

For this recipe, you want to use a globe-shaped eggplant. You might see Japanese-style eggplants, which tend to be long and skinny with a lighter purple peel, but this recipe works best with a traditional eggplant like the one shown above. If the eggplant is soft, it’s likely overripe. It should have dark purple skin without blemishes. The eggplant should feel firm with just a slight give when squeezed.

The Best Sauce to Serve with Eggplant

Try serving this crispy eggplant with a simple aioli. Mix one tablespoon of mayonnaise with one teaspoon lemon juice, a pinch of garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. This eggplant is also delicious with marinara sauce.

More Eggplant Recipes

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crispy eggplant

Crispy Eggplant

★★★★★ 5 from 9 reviews
  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 2
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Oven or Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

This crispy eggplant can be made in the oven or the air fryer for a quick and delicious side dish! The simple seasonings add plenty of flavor and the breadcrumbs help create perfectly crispy eggplant.

Ingredients

Scale

For the eggplant:

  • 1 small eggplant (about 12oz), totaling 3 cups cubed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons bread crumbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt to taste

For the sauce (optional)

  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • Pinch of garlic powder
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

Oven Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Spread the eggplant onto paper towels and sprinkle with salt. 
  3. After 10 minutes, pat the eggplant dry.
  4. Toss the eggplant with olive oil, salt, smoked paprika, and breadcrumbs
  5. Spread the eggplant onto a single layer on a baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 16-20 minutes until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.

Air Fryer Directions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
  2. Spread the eggplant onto paper towels and sprinkle with salt. 
  3. After 10 minutes, pat the eggplant dry.
  4. Toss the eggplant with olive oil, garlic, salt, smoked paprika, and breadcrumbs
  5. Spread the eggplant in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  6. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.

For the Sauce:

  1. Whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt.
  2. Drizzle over the eggplant.

Keywords: crispy eggplant