Easy Vegetarian Classic Eggplant Parmesan
Introduction
Easy Vegetarian Classic Eggplant Parmesan delivers a restaurant-quality Italian experience in your own kitchen. This dish is beloved for its layers of tender, golden-baked eggplant, robust tomato sauce, and gooey, melted cheese—all coming together in a recipe that’s simple, satisfying, and meat-free. Whether you’re serving guests or looking for a hearty weeknight meal, this classic is guaranteed to please vegetarians and omnivores alike.
Why You’ll Love This Classic Eggplant Parmesan
This recipe stands out for its approachable technique and bold, familiar flavors. By baking (not frying!) the eggplant, you get all the flavor without extra mess or oil, and each bite is perfectly complemented by the cheese and savory tomato sauce. It’s a universally loved comfort food—ideal for gatherings or make-ahead meal prep.
Prepping the Best Eggplant
The secret to exceptional Eggplant Parmesan lies in prepping your eggplant slices. Lightly salting and draining the slices before breading removes excess bitterness and moisture, ensuring a firm, flavorful base for each layer. Breaded and baked until golden, the eggplant stays crisp beneath luscious sauce and cheese.
Layering the Perfect Eggplant Parmesan
Once your eggplant is ready, alternate it with spoonfuls of marinara and generous sprinkles of mozzarella and parmesan. The flavors mingle in the oven, with each layer building a depth of flavor and satisfying, cheesy pull in every serving. The result? A bubbling, golden-topped casserole that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
Serving Suggestions for a Crowd-Pleasing Vegetarian Favorite
Serve slices of Eggplant Parmesan alongside simple pasta, a fresh green salad, or warm, crusty bread for a memorable meal. It also keeps well for lunches and next-day leftovers, developing even more flavor as it rests.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe yields about 6 hearty servings, with each portion delivering approximately 325 calories, 16g protein, and 22g carbs (exact values may vary based on cheese and sauce brands). It’s high in fiber and satisfies cravings for classic comfort food—while staying vegetarian.
Easy Vegetarian Classic Eggplant Parmesan (Recap)
Layers of golden eggplant, tangy tomato sauce, and melty cheese come together in this meatless classic that’s perfect for weeknights, meal prep, and feeding a hungry crowd. It’s nutritious, comforting, and easy to customize.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.
Instructions
- Arrange eggplant slices on a tray and sprinkle both sides with coarse salt. Let sit for 30 minutes to draw out moisture, then gently rinse and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and spray or brush lightly with olive oil.
- Set up three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs. Dredge each eggplant slice first in flour, then dip in egg, then coat with breadcrumbs.
- Arrange coated slices in a single layer on baking sheets. Spray the tops with olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes, flip, then bake 10 more minutes until golden and crisp.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara in a 9×13″ baking dish. Layer half the eggplant slices, cover with half the remaining sauce, half the mozzarella, and a sprinkle of parmesan. Repeat with remaining ingredients to form a second layer.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden. Cool for 10 minutes before garnishing with fresh basil and serving.
Weekly Meal Planning
This Eggplant Parmesan is a star for weekly meal prep. Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI to plan your week, consolidate shopping lists, and streamline dinner prep—even if you’re making multiple vegetarian or Italian-inspired dishes!
Planning Benefits:
- Automatically calculates your total ingredient needs across all recipes
- Sorts shopping lists by grocery store section for fast, efficient shopping
- Minimizes food waste by combining overlapping ingredients
- Makes weekly meal prep and planning truly hassle-free
Pro tip: Schedule and batch recipes to see how ingredients overlap—things like fresh basil, mozzarella, or eggs—so you buy just what you need.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes (excluding resting time for eggplant)
