Baked Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (2024)

Published: Aug 24, 2019 by Dina

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A classic Baked Eggplant Parmesan with breaded eggplants, marinara sauce, and hot bubbling mozzarella and parmesan. It’s the ultimate Italian comfort food.

Make sure to serve this with another classic like my Caprese salad or Italian pasta salad for the perfect meal!

What is eggplant parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan is a classic Italian casserole consisting of breaded and fried eggplants, marinara, and lots of mozzarella cheese and parmesan, obviously. It’s like the vegetarian version of chicken parmesan.

What does eggplant parmesan taste like

Eggplant parmesan actually tastes really similar to chicken parmesan. The eggplant itself has a mild flavor so it doesn’t present itself too much in this dish.

Ingredients for to make the best Eggplant Parmesan

Breading: You will need a combination of flour and spices, egg dipping mixture, Italian bread crumbs, and Panko breadcrumbs
For the eggplant casserole: Once you’ve got your eggplants all fried up, you will want to layer it between marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, and parmesan.
For the garnish: Basil is optional but recommended.

Do you have to peel eggplant

This is a personal preference. The peel is edible and carries nutrients, but can sometimes be a little bit bitter.

How to make the best baked eggplant parmesan recipe

Before you get started on this dish, you want to season the eggplants with salt and set them aside so they have time to release their bitter juices. Do not skip this step.
In the meantime prepare you dredging flour, egg dip, and breadcrumb mixture as instructed in the recipe card below.
Once your eggplant slices are coated, fry them up in a skillet with hot olive oil. Then place them in a casserole dish. Make sure to coat the bottom of your dish with some marinara or spaghetti sauce.
Now you can layer on some marinara, mozzarella, and parmesan. Then repeat this step and bake the eggplant parm in the oven as instructed below.

How thick to cut eggplant

Your eggplant should be cut into 1/4 inch slices for you eggplant parmesan. You want to cut and dispose of the ends of the eggplant.

How to pull moisture out of an eggplant

Just sprinkle some salt on the eggplant slices. The salt pulls moisture out of the eggplant. So now when you fry the slices with your breadcrumbs it will be crispier and not soggy. Pat the water dry on your slices and remove the excess salt.

Tips and frequently asked questions

Can you make eggplant parmesan in advance

Yes, you can! Here are some ways you can make it in advance:

Prep ahead method

Mix your flour mixture, breadcrumbs, and eggs in advance. You can even fry your eggplants beforehand, just make sure to let them sit on a wire rack so they stay crispy. That way all you have left to do is layer the sauce and cheeses and bake it.

Freezing method:

You will want to assemble this easy eggplant parmesan in an aluminum tray, then freeze it. If you use a ceramic or casserole dish, it may crack if placed in the oven when it is frozen. This eggplant parmesan may become a little soggy from the marinara and eggplant. So make sure to remove the moisture from the eggplant using the salt.

Can you freeze this eggplant parmesan

Yes. Make sure you assemble your parmesan in a disposable aluminum tray. This is to avoid cracking of your casserole/ceramic dish. If you do place it in a dish then you will want to let it sit at room temperature first. This can cause some sogginess from the melting of your ingredients.

Watch a video on how to make this baked eggplant parmesan

What to serve with this parmesan dish

Italian antipasto salad
pesto pasta salad
Simple spinach salad
Cheesy stuffed bread rolls
Chicken gnocchi soup
Chopped Caprese salad

Full Recipe Instructions