If you want inspiration for cooking with eggplant, get ideas from these 25 best eggplant recipes that are easy to makefamily-friendly, and healthy.

This recipe collection offers a variety of inspiration, including sautรจedbakedstuffed eggplant, pasta, soup, salads with eggplant, and more.

easy eggplant recipes

With its rich flavor and meaty texture, eggplant is a nutritional powerhouse that deserves a place in every kitchen.

These healthconscious recipes transform the humble eggplant into mouthwatering dishes.

From quick weeknight meals to impressive entertaining options, these recipes prove that eggplant can be both easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying.

Whether you’ve been a long-time eggplant enthusiast or are just beginning to explore its potential, this selection offers something for everyone.

Our Best Eggplant Recipes

1. Eggplant Parmigiana

Parmigiana with eggplant in a glass casserole

Eggplant parmigiana, or melanzane alla parmigiana, is a gorgeous Italian casserole dish adored for its rich flavors and comforting texture.

Simple Italian ingredients combine to create a triumph of flavors and textures in the comfort of your home kitchen.

2. Roasted eggplant

roasted eggplant with garlic seasoning

tender and hearty way to make a vegetable side dish is roasted eggplant.

Cook this recipe, and you will have a base for many excellent meals: eggplant caponata, pasta salad, curries, parmigiana, and so much more.

3. Sautรจed eggplant

Sautรจed eggplant in a bowl

Italian sauteed eggplant is a hearty and easy side dish to serve with your favorite pasta.

Combining fresh herbs, tender eggplant, and tomato will please everyone around your table. Best of all, it cooks in 20 minutes!

4. Caponata

Eggplant Caponata in a bowl

If you love eggplant, you must try this Sicilian eggplant salad.

Caponata is made of olivestomatoaubergine, and pine nuts with a sweet and sour flavor.

5. Air fryer eggplant

air fryer eggplant

Ready in just 15 minutes, this air fryer eggplant recipe is perfect as a side dish and addition to pasta.

You can even serve this tender eggplant recipe as a quick appetizer on bruschetta.

6. Stuffed eggplant

air fryer chickpeas on stuffed roasted eggplant

These roasted eggplant boats cradle a savory chickpea filling and a creamy avocado spread.

This dish is a nutritious vegetarian meal and a colorful dinner, perfect for kids and grownups alike.

7. Baba ganoush

Baba ganoush on a small plate with olive oil and fresh parsley

Endlessly creamy and smooth, this eggplant dip is a perfect dipspread, and side dish.

Serve it as an appetizer with grilled vegetables or a healthy spread on a sandwich or pita bread.

8. Eggplant curry

Eggplant curry with rice and lemon

Try this creamy curry with tender roasted eggplant paired with curry-spicecoconut sauce.

Serve eggplant curry with basmati rice, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon.

9. Eggplant soup

eggplant soup with crispy roasted chickpea

Roasted eggplant, garlic, and cherry tomatoes make a sweetcaramelized, and smoky flavor for this healthy soup.

Or make this recipe in one pot on the stovetop in just 30 minutes and top it with croutons.

10. Creamy eggplant risotto

eggplant risotto

This risotto dish can be made in just over 30 minutes and served for a delicious and comforting Italian dinner.

The creamy tomato risotto base and small pieces of eggplant make this dish a great way to eat more veggies (and camouflage them).

11. Breaded eggplant

breaded eggplants with marinara sauce

It’s a perfect vegetable side dish and a base recipe for eggplant parm.

This breaded eggplant recipe makes tender and bready discs of eggplant, perfect with most main dishes.

12. Zaalouk

Zaalouk on a plate with tomatoes and parsley on the side

Zaalouk is a delicious Moroccan eggplant salad with tomatoes, garlic, cumin, and olive oil.

Learn how to make it in one pot in about 30 minutes.

13. Mutabal

Mutabal with olive oil, pine nuts, and fresh mint

Next on our list is an endlessly creamy dip made with charred roasted eggplant and Greek yogurt.

This velvety eggplant spread is an excellent Middle-Eastern recipe on a mezze platter as a starter or side dish.

14. Fried eggplant

fried eggplant slices on side salad

This fried eggplant recipe is crunchy outside and tender inside.

It’s also suitable for vegetarians and vegans and works well as an appetizer or side dish with a serving of marinara sauce.

15. Vegetable stew

Vegetable stew with a silver spoon

Our vegetable stew recipe combines colors, textures, and flavors into a hearty and satisfying meal for the whole family.

It is an excellent dish for a weeknight dinner or meal prep, as you can make it in 30 to 40 minutes with the veggies and chickpeas you have at hand.

16. Grilled eggplant

grilled eggplant on a platter with grilled tofu, grilled zucchini and seasoned with chimichurri
Grilled eggplant on a platter with grilled tofu and zucchini and seasoned with chimichurri.

Smoky, tender eggplant slices are perfectly charred on a hot grill or skillet.

Drizzle with garlic-infused chimichurri sauce and sprinkle with fresh herbs for a beautiful summer side dish.

17. Barley salad

Barley salad on a platter with a side of hummus

Mediterranean barley salad with roasted vegetables is a wholesome and nutritious plantbased meal with a lemon vinaigrette.

You can make it ahead and store it in the fridge for up to five days; it’s excellent as a lunchbox and potluck dish.

18. Vegetable couscous

couscous with vegetables served in a large bowl

Here is an excellent way to use veggie leftovers with this eggplant and zucchini couscous.

Serve it with a dollop of hummus for a satiating and protein-rich meal.

19. Thai red curry

Thai Red curry with lime and rice

Better than Asian takeaway, this homemade Thai red curry is an aromaticcreamy, and fresh Asian dinner idea.

We love it with white rice, fresh lime juice, and Thai basil.

20. Pasta alla Norma

eggplant pasta or pasta alla norma

Learn how to make this delicious Sicilian eggplant pasta recipe in about 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients and fresh eggplants.

Eggplant is incredibly well-suited to pasta, tomato, and fresh basil, and this simple dish is a guaranteed crowdpleaser.

21. Red pepper pasta

Red pepper pasta with eggplant

You can make the creamy roasted red pepper pasta sauce while the pasta cooks, which is convenient for a last-minute dinner.

Tip: to make this recipe even more delicious, add roasted or air-fried veggies like cauliflowereggplant, or zucchini.

22. Eggplant bruschetta

Italian eggplant bruschetta

Eggplant bruschetta is a delicious appetizer made with tender diced eggplant cooked with simple ingredients and served on crunchy bread.

Bruschetta is mainly served as an appetizer, but many Italians also eat it for dinner as a light meal with a salad on the side.

23. Mediterranean Farro salad

farro salad with crumbled feta

Earthychewy, and vibrant, this Mediterranean farro salad is packed with veggies and drizzled with a mustard dressing

It’s a wholesome grain and a guaranteed crowdpleaser – perfect for cookouts.

24. Italian rice balls

Italian rice balls with marinara sauce

Eggplantpacked rice balls are made with leftover risotto, fried in vegetable oil (or air-fried), and served with marinara sauce.

They’re great as a party foodcookout meal, appetizer, and crowdpleasing dish.

25. Eggplant pizza

roasted eggplant pizza

We end this list with an easy eggplant recipe where eggplants are cut into slices, roasted, and topped with a rich tomato sauce and melty cheese.

This recipe is a sure hit with picky adults and kids as an appetizer or side dish.

What goes well with Eggplant

Eggplant (sauteed, grilled, air-fried, baked) is a tasty side dish that pairs perfectly with most sauces and protein:

Mezze platter with eggplant and falafel
easy eggplant recipes for healthy dinners

Easy Eggplant Recipes: Roasted Eggplant

By: Nico Pallotta
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Roasted eggplantย is an easy,ย delicious sideย dishย you can serve with most mains, or use to make other wonderful eggplant recipes.
Fromย easy stuffed eggplantsย to deliciousย eggplant pasta, from roastedย eggplant dipย to bakedย eggplant pizza, roasting eggplants is an essential cooking skill you'll want to master.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 – 8 people
Course: Appetizer, Side dish
Cuisine: American, Italian

Ingredients

  • 2 medium eggplants
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • โ…“ teaspoon salt
  • ยผ teaspoon black pepper

For the seasoning

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or other vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ยผ cup parsley finely chopped
  • ยผ teaspoons dried oregano
  • โ…› teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ยผ teaspoon salt

Instructions 

  • Preheat ovenย to 430ยฐF or 220ยฐC. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    Wash and dry 2 medium eggplants, remove the stems, andย cut them into โ…“ inch (1 cm) discs.
    eggplant cut into discs
  • Arrange the discs on the baking sheet, brush them with 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, and season withย โ…“ teaspoon saltย and ยผ teaspoon black pepper.
    eggplant slices on a baking tray with parchment paper
  • Roast 20 minutes, turn and roast 10 more minutes, then transfer onto a serving platter.
    Eggplant discs should be golden, slightly browned, and tender, but not dry.
    Roasted eggplants on a plate
  • Drizzle with seasoningย while they are still hot. Ideally set aside 15 minutes before serving, to allow the condiment to infuse the eggplants.
    roasted eggplant with garlic seasoning

For the seasoning

  • Do this while the eggplants bake.ย 
    To a small bowl add, 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 clove garlic (minced), ยผ cup parsley (chopped), ยผ teaspoons dried oregano, โ…› teaspoon red pepper flakes, and ยผ teaspoon salt.
    Stir well and set aside.
    chimichurri in a bowl

Notes

Nutrition information is for one serving of roasted eggplants out of six servings.
MAKE AHEAD & STORAGE
Make ahead: this is a good recipe to make ahead because you can serve the eggplants at room temperature. So go ahead, and make them up to 6 hours before serving time.
Refrigerator: keep leftovers in an airtight container or on the serving platter covered in plastic wrap for 3 days. Take them out of the fridge 15 minutes before eating.
Freezer: let them cool down completely then arrange the slices on a platter without overlapping. Freeze, then after a couple of hours, you can transfer the frozen eggplant slices into a freezing bag.
Alternatively, you can arrange the slices in a freezing bag, on top of each other, but with a piece of parchment paper in between them.

Nutrition

Calories: 123kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Potassium: 370mg, Dietary Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 260IU, Vitamin B6: 0.1mg, Vitamin C: 7mg, Vitamin E: 2mg, Vitamin K: 53ยตg, Calcium: 20mg, Folate: 38ยตg, Iron: 1mg, Manganese: 0.4mg, Magnesium: 23mg, Zinc: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or mention @nicoandlouise on Instagram. We are also on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok.
Louise holding an eggplant
Louise picking an eggplant in the street market of Ortigia, Sicily

The best place to find eggplants? Well, some of the largest ones can undoubtedly be found in Sicily, Italy. Here, Louise works out her biceps when lifting heavy eggplant in Ortigia’s morning market.

If you liked these eggplant recipes, you might also enjoy:


Nico and Louise in the kitchen

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.

Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.

Easy right?

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