• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Eat With Carmen
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Sides

    Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe

    Published: May 16, 2022 · Modified: Mar 18, 2023 by Carmen · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This air fryer eggplant recipe is one of the best eggplant recipes I have ever made. It only requires 6 ingredients. This is a completely plant-based meal for all my vegan/vegetarian friends. Have it with a nice bowl of steamed white rice, and you have a delicious meal ready in 20 minutes. Give this eggplant in air fryer and try and let me know what you think.

    momofuku chili oil air fryer eggplant

    If you’re a fan of eggplant and looking for a healthier way to cook it, you might want to consider air frying. Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they allow you to cook food with little to no oil, resulting in healthier and crispier dishes. In this blog post, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about cooking eggplant in an air fryer.

    My other simple vegetables inspired this dish, such as my Sesame Braised Cabbage and Peanut Sauce Roasted Cabbage.

    First of all, why choose eggplant? Well, this vegetable is a great source of fiber and antioxidants, and it’s also low in calories, making it a healthy addition to any meal. Plus, eggplant is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from Italian classics like eggplant parmesan to Middle Eastern dips like baba ganoush.

    Don’t have an air fryer? You can bake this in the oven as well. It will take significantly longer to cook.

    OVEN:

    You can roast it in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer. Preheat to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and roast for 30 minutes until the eggplant is crispy on the outside and soft and tender inside.


    air fryer vegetables

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    check the recipe below for the exact measurements

    Eggplant – you can use any eggplant for this recipe. Japanese eggplant would be delicious as well.

    Avocado oil – any neutral oil should work, such as, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil or canola oil.

    White sugar – white sugar is crucial to building a nice crust on the outside. However, up to you. Use maple syrup or honey, or any sweetener you wish.

    Low sodium soy sauce – Tamari is a great alternative for my gluten free friends.

    Garlic – garlic powder would work, but I highly recommend fresh garlic for a more garlic taste. Great addition if you don’t have fresh garlic is a mixture of garlic powder and onion powder.

    Black pepper

    Chili oil (optional) – This is optional. Highly recommend. I used Momofuku Chili oil. A little bit goes a long way.

    Garnish ideas – green onions, a sprinkle of fresh parsley

    See recipe card for quantities.


    Equipment

    • Knife
    • Bowl
    • Cutting board
    • Air Fryer (with air fryer basket or tray)
    • Paper towel
    • Parchment paper
    roasted eggplant

    Instructions

    This simple recipe is super easy to follow. Here are the steps. Let’s get cooking!

    • Preheat your air fryer your 350 degrees.
    • Slice your eggplant into thick slices. About half inch slices. Do not do thin slices.
    • Cut slits in the middle to create opening for the sauce.
    • In a shallow bowl, mix together oil, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and chili oil(optional).
    • Line your air fryer with parchment paper for easy clean up.
    • Place your eggplant rounds on the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer. Place the sauce on top of the eggplant.
    • Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees f.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Variations

    Here are some variations to make this great recipe better.

    • Spicy – add as much chili or as little as you want.
    • Deluxe – make your favorite noodles to pair with this eggplant dish
    • Kid friendly – omit the chili oil, and your kids will devour these. This is a great way to introduce your children to vegetables.
    • Meal Prep Friendly – These simple ingredients can turn this humble eggplant into something utterly delicious. This marinade can also be used as a marinade for other proteins such as chicken breast, chicken thighs, tofu, and other vegetables. Go try it!

    Usually, what you see on the internet is breaded eggplant parmesan with mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and marinara sauce. What I love about this recipe is it can be gluten-free, dairy free, and plant-based. It is great to have different variations of eggplant when it is not slathered with cheese and bread crumbs.

    eggplant in air fryer

    Storage

    Air frying this at first, then store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat using an air fryer. 350 degrees for 5 minutes.


    Top Tips

    For best results, here are some top tips for you.

    • For crispy eggplant slices – pat the eggplant dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture before adding the Asian marinade on top.
    • To prevent the eggplant from turning brown, drizzle lemon juice.

    Air fryer eggplant is a healthy and delicious dish that can be easily prepared in an air fryer. You can elevate this humble vegetable into a satisfying meal by seasoning the eggplant and cooking it until it’s crispy. Give it a try.


    FAQ

    Can you put eggplant in the air fryer?

    Yes, I always cook eggplant in the air fryer because it always comes out juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. It also cuts the cooking time in half.

    Do you need to soak eggplant before frying?

    No, when you’re air frying, there is very minimal prep. It happens to be healthier for you and quicker to cook.


    Related recipes

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • zucchini parmesan cooked in air fryer
      Air Fryer Zucchini Parmesan
    • cucumber salad
      Sesame Cucumber Salad
    • miso eggplant air fryer
      Miso Glazed Eggplant (Air Fry or Baked)
    • sweet potato glass noodle
      Sesame Sweet Potato Glass Noodles

    Pairing

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with:

    • San Bei Ji
      Fast and Easy 3 Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji Recipe)
    • spicy sesame chicken
      Spicy Sesame Chicken – Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
    • Char Siu Chicken
      Char Siu Chicken – Chinese BBQ Chicken (air fryer)
    • braised cabbage
      Sesame Braised Cabbage

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    air fryer eggplant

    Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe

    5 from 1 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    This air fryer eggplant recipe is one of the best eggplant recipes I have ever made. It only requires 6 ingredients. This is a completely plant-based meal for all my vegan/vegetarian friends. Have it with a nice bowl of steamed white rice, and you have a delicious meal ready in 20 minutes. Give this eggplant in air fryer and try and let me know what you think.

    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 2 1x

    Ingredients

    Scale

    1 large eggplant

    2 tablespoon of avocado oil

    2 tablespoon of white sugar

    2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce

    2 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)

    1 tbsp chili oil (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat your air fryer your 350 degrees.
    2. Slice your eggplant into thick slices—about half inch rounds.
    3. Cut slits in the middle to create opening for the sauce.
    4. In a shallow bowl, mix together oil, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and chili oil(optional).
    5. Line your air fryer with parchment paper for easy clean up.
    6. Place your eggplant rounds on the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer. Place the sauce on top of the eggplant.
    7. Air fry for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Broil for extra 2 minutes for a crispier crust. 
    8. Serve and enjoy!

    Equipment

    Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer

    Air Fryer

    Buy Now →

    Notes

    Oven instructions:

    Preheat to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and roast for 30 minutes until the eggplant is crispy on the outside and soft and tender inside.

    • Author: Carmen
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: sides
    • Method: air fryer
    • Cuisine: asian

    Keywords: Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe, air fryer eggplant, eggplant in air fryer

    Did you make this recipe?

    PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW

    More Sides

    • rice paper dumplings
      Crispy Rice Paper Dumplings 
    • easy asian garlic noodles with parmesan, garlic, oyster sauce, chives, browned butter
      Easy Asian Garlic Noodles – ready in 15 minutes
    • sour cream onion dip
      The Ultimate Sour Cream and Onion Dip
    • Chicken Lumpia
      The Best Chicken Lumpia (Filipino Spring Roll)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Tanya Trout

      March 18, 2023 at 12:30 am

      Very flavorful but did not “crisp” or develop a crust at all. Followed the recipe exactly.

      Reply
      • Carmen

        March 18, 2023 at 1:15 am

        Thats too bad. Did you broil it at the end, maybe?

        Reply
    2. Wendy Adams

      March 15, 2023 at 4:37 am

      Wow, this is the best eggplant I’ve ever had!!






      Reply
      • Carmen

        March 15, 2023 at 4:46 am

        Thank you!!!

        Reply
    3. Barbara Henderson

      March 14, 2023 at 9:51 am

      I was wondering if the setting on the air fryer was air fry or bake?

      Reply
      • Carmen

        March 15, 2023 at 12:49 am

        Air fry. Not bake.

        Reply
        • Jerry Wigger

          March 17, 2023 at 6:46 pm

          Can you use a confection oven

          Reply
          • Carmen

            March 17, 2023 at 9:29 pm

            Yes! Instructions are above. I will put it in the notes area of the recipe card. It will take longer to cook, but it’s totally doable.

            Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Don't miss out on my latest recipes

    SUBSCRIBE NOW

    My name is Carmen and welcome to the place I like to store my recipes. I hope you enjoy trying out my recipes just as much as I did creating them!

    More about me →

    CHECK OUT MY
    AMAZON STORE

    FOR ALL MY FAVORITE PRODUCTS

    SHOP

    VIRAL RECIPES

    • Garlic Miso Chicken
      Garlic Miso Chicken Air Fryer
      Cook Time25 minutes
    • San Bei Ji
      Fast and Easy 3 Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji Recipe)
      Cook Time30 minutes
    • spicy sesame chicken
      Spicy Sesame Chicken – Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
      Cook Time20 minutes
    • braised cabbage
      Sesame Braised Cabbage
      Cook Time20 minutes

    (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

    AIR FRYER RECIPES

    • lemon pepper chicken thighs air fryer
      Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs Air Fryer
    • honey garlic chicken wings
      Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
    • miso eggplant air fryer
      Miso Glazed Eggplant (Air Fry or Baked)
    • Spicy Honey Chicken
    See more Air Fryer →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Eat With Carmen

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok