Super easy air fryer eggplant that makes a deliciously tasty side dish or healthy snack (which you can season any way you like)! A great way to eat more veggies, this air fryer recipe is also totally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan too.
Jump to:
- Why You Need an Air Fryer
- Our Favorite Air Fryer Recipes
- Make Eggplant in the Air Fryer!
- Why This Recipe Works
- Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Recipe Notes + Substitutions:
- How to Make Air Fryer Eggplant (Step by Step):
- Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- Recipe FAQs:
- Other Tasty Eggplant Recipes to Enjoy:
- Gluten-Free Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Eggplant (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Why You Need an Air Fryer
Getting an air fryer is sort of like using the internet, and it’s a before-after event. In fact, it’s so life-changing that you’ll probably wonder how you survived without an air fryer before!
Probably the best part of using an air fryer is the fact that you don’t need as much oil to cook foods as you would normally require, and…. no oil splatters on you or the kitchen wall (now how’s that for amazing?)
Our Favorite Air Fryer Recipes
To be honest, I’m constantly amazed at the wide range of foods that can be cooked in the air fryer, from meats to eggs to veggies.
Some of our go-to air fryer recipes include the following:
Get delicious GLUTEN-FREE recipes each week!
- Crispy Air Fryer French Fries (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Air Fryer Bacon (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Air Fryer Kale Chips (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Air Fryer Chickpeas (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Make Eggplant in the Air Fryer!
After experimenting with so many different air fryer recipes, one of the foods I had in mind to test out in the air fryer was eggplant.
And boy am I glad I made these air fryer eggplant fries, which are not only super easy, but make an extremely tasty snack, and an easy side dish too!
I’m sure this is going to be your new favorite way to eat eggplant!
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple Ingredients: For this delicious recipe, you literally need just a handful of ingredients that are easily accessible at the grocery store, or you might already have them on hand (nothing fancy required)!
- Little Oil Required: Unlike deep-frying eggplant where you would have to use copious amounts of oil, air frying eggplant uses less oil than you would normally use. This makes it less greasy and hence healthier too. Plus, since the eggplant is cooked with the air fryer closed, there are no oil splatters on the wall either (win-win)!
- Easy to Make: While it does take a while to wait for the eggplant to finishing releasing its excess moisture, cooking it once salted is very simple. Just place the pieces of cut eggplant in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook!
- Naturally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan: The best part is that this recipe is 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. This means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten and lactose intolerances, or those on a plant-based diet can enjoy these air fryer eggplant fries without worries!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this easy air fryer eggplant recipe.
(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
Recipe Notes + Substitutions:
- Garlic Powder: I like using garlic power for some extra flavor, but feel free to leave it out if you’re not big on the taste of garlic.
- Crushed Red Pepper: I like spicing things up by adding some crushed red pepper flakes for extra heat. You can use more or less red pepper flakes depending on how hot you prefer the eggplant to be. Alternatively, you can leave them out completely if you prefer.
- Optional Seasonings: You can also use onion powder, everything bagel seasoning, ground cumin, ground turmeric, black pepper, Italian seasoning or whatever favorite seasonings you like.
- Olive Oil: I like using extra virgin olive oil for flavor, but you may also use other vegetable oils such as avocado oil, melted coconut oil or sunflower oil.
How to Make Air Fryer Eggplant (Step by Step):
1. Wash and Slice
Wash and slice the eggplant into even sticks (approximately 2 inches in thickness).
2. Salt and Let Sit
Place the eggplant sticks in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined with a paper towel and sprinkle salt over them. Let the eggplant sit for 20 minutes (this will get rid of excess moisture from the eggplant).
3. Preheat
Preheat the air fryer to 400F (200C) and spray lightly with cooking spray.
4. Season
After the excess moisture has been removed, combine the eggplant sticks, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and olive oil in a large bowl. Toss to combine until eggplant has been evenly coated with the seasonings.
5. Cook in Air Fryer
Place the seasoned eggplant in the air fryer basket in a single layer (leaving a bit of space between each stick) and cook for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown, shaking the air fryer basket halfway through.
6. Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle the air fryer eggplant fries with chopped parsley and enjoy!
Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- Make Sure to Salt Eggplant and Let Sit: While it may take more time to salt the eggplant and let it sit, this step is important to get rid of excess water from the eggplant (this will prevent the eggplant from being too soggy once cooked).
- Don’t Overcrowd: Make sure you don’t overcrowd the eggplant so that there is enough space between each piece of eggplant for the hot air to circulate on all sides. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the eggplant in 2 separate batches.
- Make Breaded Eggplant: Because of the high water content in eggplant, this method does not make a crispy exterior. If you prefer to make crispy air fryer eggplant fries (such as these air fryer zucchini fries), you can dip the eggplant in a beaten egg mixture and then coat it in Italian breadcrumbs before air frying for a crispy texture (use gluten-free breadcrumbs if you have Celiac disease or gluten intolerances).
- Cut Eggplant into Rounds: In this recipe, I cut the eggplant into sticks, but you may also slice eggplant into round thin or thick slices. Bear in mind that round slices will take up more space in the basket, and you may need to cook the eggplant rounds in more batches (depending on the size and type of air fryer you have).
Recipe FAQs:
Since eggplant naturally has a lot of water content, salting eggplant before cooking (by sprinkling salt over the cut eggplant and letting it sit for approximately 20 minutes) actually helps to draw out any excess moisture from the eggplant flesh. This ensures that the eggplant doesn’t get overly soggy once it’s cooked.
Other Tasty Eggplant Recipes to Enjoy:
- Baba Ganoush (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Garlic Eggplant Penne Pasta (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Mini Caprese Eggplant Pizzas (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Gluten-Free Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love:
P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!
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Air Fryer Eggplant (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Super easy air fryer eggplant that makes a deliciously tasty side dish or healthy snack (which you can season any way you like)! A great way to eat more veggies, this air fryer recipe is also totally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan too.
Ingredients
- 1 medium eggplant
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnishing)
Instructions
- Wash and Slice: Wash and slice the eggplant into even sticks (approximately 2 inches in thickness).
- Salt and Let Sit: Place the eggplant sticks in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined with paper towels and sprinkle salt over them. Let the eggplant sit for 20 minutes (this will get rid of excess moisture from the eggplant).
- Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 400F (200C) and spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray.
- Season: After the excess moisture has been removed, combine the eggplant sticks, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, salt and olive oil in a large mixing bowl. Toss to combine until eggplant has been evenly coated with the seasonings.
- Cook in Air Fryer: Place the seasoned eggplant in the air fryer basket in a single layer (leaving a bit of space between each stick) and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the air fryer basket halfway through.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the air fryer eggplant with chopped parsley and enjoy!
Notes
Garlic Powder: I like using garlic power for some extra flavor, but feel free to leave it out if you’re not big on the taste of garlic.
Crushed Red Pepper: I like spicing things up by adding some crushed red pepper flakes for extra heat. You can use more or less red pepper flakes depending on how hot you prefer the eggplant to be. Alternatively, you can leave them out completely if you prefer.
Optional Seasonings: You can also use onion powder, everything bagel seasoning, ground cumin, ground turmeric or whatever favorite seasonings you like.
Olive Oil: I like using extra virgin olive oil for flavor, but you may also use other vegetable oils such as avocado oil, melted coconut oil or sunflower oil.
Make Sure to Salt Eggplant and Let Sit: While it may take more time to salt the eggplant and let it sit, this step is important to get rid of excess water from the eggplant (this will prevent the eggplant from being too soggy once cooked).
Don’t Overcrowd: Make sure you don’t overcrowd the eggplant so that there is enough space between each piece of eggplant for the hot air to circulate on all sides. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the eggplant in 2 separate batches.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Air Fryer
Keywords: air fryer eggplant
Good morning Felicia,
I am amazed at how many ways we can cook the egg plants for healthy snack – simply by itself or coated with bread crumbs!
What I like best is your tips of getting rid of excess water in the egg plants for air frying.
Thanks again for sharing this great yet simple recipe!
Have a great and blessed day ahead!
Mum
★★★★★
Glad you enjoyed this recipe mummy 🙂