Baked Eggplant Parmesan

5 from 176 votes

Baked Eggplant Parmesan is a lighter twist on the classic! Tender eggplant with crunchy panko, melty cheese, and marinara make it so good!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1 10

Resting time 45

Total Time 2 10

Servings servings

Calories 356kcal

Author Yumna Jawad

Equipment

Ingredients

2 large eggplants sliced into ½-inch circles
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon italian seasoning
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon water
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
2 ¼ cups low moisture mozzarella
¼ cup fresh basil chopped, for serving

Instructions

Place the eggplant slices on a baking sheet lined with a paper towel, salt the eggplant generously then apply another paper towel on top of the eggplant; let it rest for 45 minutes. Then use the paper towels to pat dry and remove the excess salt and moisture.
Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a large sheet pan.
Combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and italian seasoning in one bowl. Beat eggs and water in a separate bowl. Place flour in a third bowl.
Toss the eggplant with the flour, then dip into the egg wash, and then into the breadcrumbs mixture, making sure to press the breadcrumbs onto the eggplant firmly. Place onto the prepared baking sheet, and repeat with the remaining slices. Bake until the eggplant coating is browned, about 30-35 minutes.
Add about 1 cup of marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Place half of the eggplant on top of the marinara. Spoon another 1 cup of marinara over the top, followed by ¾ cup mozzarella. Apply the remaining eggplant on top of the cheese followed by the remaining marinara and remaining cheese.
Lower the oven temperature to 375°F. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until the cheese has lightly browned, about 20 more minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving. Serve with fresh basil.

Video

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about 3-4 days in the fridge.

Freezing Instructions: You can also freeze the baked eggplant parmesan for up to 3 months. To re-heat, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake in a 350°F oven until heated through. You can also freeze the uncooked eggplant parmesan as I often do. Follow the baking instructions but leave it in the oven for an extra 10 minutes.

Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.

Instead of all-purpose flour, you can bread the eggplant with almond flour or any other flour of choice.

Nutrition