Tasty Oven

  • Browse All Recipes
  • Instant Pot
  • Air Fryer
  • Slow Cooker
  • Breadmaker
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Browse All Recipes
  • Instant Pot
  • Air Fryer
  • Slow Cooker
  • Breadmaker
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse All Recipes
  • Instant Pot
  • Air Fryer
  • Slow Cooker
  • Breadmaker
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Air Fryer

Air Fryer Eggplant with Crispy Herb Seasoning

Published: May 11, 2023 · Modified: Oct 14, 2023 by Kristina Tipps · This post may contain affiliate links for which I earn a small commission.

Jump to Recipe

Air Fryer Eggplant made with a crispy herb and spice seasoning is an easy and versatile side dish to enjoy with your dinner.

seasoned and breaded air fryer eggplant in a white plate

This unique recipe for Air Fryer Eggplant is made with a partial breading of fresh or dried herbs and dried seasonings, plus crispy panko bread crumbs. It doesn't contain parmesan cheese like many other eggplant recipes, so it's dairy-free if that's the diet you need to follow.

The eggplant here is coated in an abundance of seasonings that are mixed with a small amount of panko to create a light breading. The breading is mostly made of the seasonings, with the panko's purpose being not so much for flavor but to give an otherwise soft and delicate vegetable a little crunch. Whether you love eggplant on the soft and tender side as is its natural way of cooking, or simply want to find a way to make this watery vegetable a little more "crunchy", the panko bread crumbs help to do just that.

I won't lie- you are unlikely to come across a recipe or secret method that actually turns water-filled eggplant into something crisp like cauliflower, asparagus or broccoli. It's just not the way of eggplant, much like it's cousin zucchini.

So instead, this air fryer eggplant recipe uses a light, crispy breading to act as the crunch that we're hoping to get from our air fryer when we roast vegetables.

MORE AIR FRYER VEGETABLE RECIPES

  • Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
  • Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
  • Air Fryer Asparagus Parmesan
  • Air Fryer Salmon and Vegetables
  • Air Fryer Onion Petals
close up of seasoned and breaded air fryer eggplant in a white plate

Ingredients

  • Eggplant, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
  • Salt
  • Extra virgin olive oil: or any other neutral cooking oil
  • Panko bread crumbs
  • Herbs: fresh or dried oregano, thyme and parsley
  • Spices: black pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin
seasonings and eggplant on a white table

How To Prepare Eggplant For Cooking

Preparing eggplant for cooking involves a few simple steps. Because eggplant is made of mostly water, you'll want to draw as much moisture out of the eggplant before cooking as possible. This will help the eggplant cook more firmly rather than turn mushy or soggy.

  1. Rinse the eggplant under running water.
  2. Trim the ends. Cut off the stem and blossom end of the eggplant.
  3. Peel (optional): If desired, you can peel the eggplant with a vegetable peeler.
  4. Cut the eggplant into 1-2 inch chunks (for this recipe) or other shapes for other recipes.
  5. Salt the eggplant to draw out water. Put the eggplant in a colander in the sink or over a large bowl. Sprinkle the eggplant chunks with a generous amount of salt and let them sit for at least 60 minutes or up to 2 hours. Don't worry about how much salt you use here, as you're going to rinse it off. The important thing is to make sure each eggplant piece has been salted and the water is allowed to drain for at least 1 hour.
  6. Rinse the salt off and pat the eggplant completely dry with a paper towel.

How To Air Fry Eggplant

STEP 1: Place 1 lb eggplant chunks or slices in a colander. Sprinkle with 3-4 tablespoon salt. Toss to coat all pieces in the salt and put the colander in the sink or a large bowl for 1-2 hours to allow moisture to be drawn out of the eggplant. Rinse the salt off the eggplant and thoroughly dry with paper towels.

eggplant pieces in a colander and coated in salt

STEP 2: Toss the eggplant chunks with 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 6 tablespoon panko bread crumbs, 2 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes and ¼ teaspoon cumin. Mix well to coat. You can also use an Italian seasoning blend in place of the herbs.

eggplant pieces in a mixing bowl tossed with herbs, oil and spices

STEP 3: Arrange the eggplant chunks in the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer and not touching. Air fry at 400℉ for 12-15 minutes, until the eggplant breading is crispy and golden brown. Work in batches if needed.

eggplant in an air fryer basket

STEP 4: Remove the eggplant from the air fryer immediately. Taste and season with salt if desired.

air fryer eggplant in a white bowl

Serving Suggestions

If you need ideas for serving this delicious vegetable, here are some good ideas:

  • With air fried chicken teriyaki or barbecue cheddar meatloaf
  • Mixed with air fried kielbasa
  • As a side with air fried ribeye steak or some air fried hot dogs
  • Along with air fryer salmon

Recipe Tips

  • Don't let the eggplant pieces touch in the air fryer basket.
  • Always air fry eggplant in a single layer, working in batches if necessary.
  • Remove cooked eggplant from the basket immediately and don't keep in the warm air fryer. If kept in a warm air fryer, it will steam and turn mushy.
  • Leftover eggplant will lose much of its firmness in the fridge. It will still taste good, but you probably want to reheat it in the oven or air fryer rather than a microwave.
close up of air fried eggplant in a white bowl

Recipe FAQs

Using Fresh Herbs Instead Of Dried

If you want to use fresh herbs, use three times the amount as you would dried. So for this recipe you should use 6 tablespoons fresh oregano and 3 tablespoons each of fresh parsley and thyme. The stems on parsley contain a lot of flavor and can be eaten, but those on oregano and thyme should not be used.

Do I Need To Flip The Eggplant?

It's not necessary to flip the eggplant halfway through for this recipe. In fact, doing so will cause some of the seasonings to fall off as you rotate it.

Do You Need To Peel An Eggplant Before Cooking?

Peeling an eggplant before cooking it is optional. The deep purple skin of an eggplant contains nasunin, a unique antioxidant that is believed to to preserve and protect cell membranes from free radicals, according to WebMD. So I say keep the skin and enjoy the extra benefits of it! The skin is easy to chew and should not be tough after its air fried.

At What Temperature Should Eggplant Be Air Fried?

Whether you are air frying, roasting, or baking eggplant, it should be cooked at a high temperature for a shorter duration rather than a low temperature for a longer duration. This is to get the eggplant as firm and crisp as possible. If it's cooked at a lower temperature it will steam and become very soft. Most air fryers only go up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius), so you should air fry eggplant at this temperature. If your air fryer goes higher than this, you can safely go up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit or 232 degrees Celsius (but shorten the cook time by a few minutes).

How To Store

Store air fried eggplant in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the oven or in the air fryer until warmed through. For optimal quality, do not freeze.

If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to give it a star rating and let me know what you thought in the comments! And follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for more delicious recipes!

Recipe

air fried eggplant cubes in a white bowl

Air Fryer Eggplant with Crispy Herb Seasoning

Kristina Tipps
Air Fryer Eggplant made with a crispy herb and spice seasoning is an easy and versatile side dish to enjoy with your dinner.
5 from 11 votes
Bookmark RecipeSaved!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 193 kcal

Equipment

  • air fryer
  • colander

Ingredients

  • 1 lb eggplant cut into 1-2 inch chunks
  • 3-4 tablespoon salt
  • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 tablespoon panko bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin

Instructions
 

  • Place 1 lb eggplant pieces in a colander. Sprinkle with 3-4 tablespoon salt. Toss to coat all pieces in the salt and put the colander in the sink or a large bowl for 1-2 hours to allow moisture to be drawn out of the eggplant.
  • Rinse the salt off the eggplant and thoroughly dry with paper towels.
  • Toss the eggplant chunks with 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 6 tablespoon panko bread crumbs, 2 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes and ¼ teaspoon cumin. Mix well to coat.
  • Place eggplant chunks in the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer and not touching. Air fry at 400℉ for 12-15 minutes, until the eggplant breading is crispy and golden brown. Work in batches if needed.
  • Remove the eggplant from the air fryer immediately. Taste and season with salt if desired.

Notes

Tips
  • Don't let the eggplant pieces touch in the air fryer basket.
  • Always air fry eggplant in a single layer, working in batches if necessary.
  • Remove cooked eggplant from the basket immediately and don't keep in the warm air fryer. If kept in a warm air fryer, it will steam and turn mushy.
  • Leftover eggplant will lose much of its firmness in the fridge. It will still taste good, but you probably want to reheat it in the oven or air fryer rather than a microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 4ozCalories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 5352mgPotassium: 354mgFiber: 6gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 193IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 4mg
Did you try this recipe?Give a shout out to @tastyovenrecipes or tag #tastyovenrecipes! Scan the QR code to check for any recipe updates, including tips, answers to FAQs and to ask me a question!
QR Code

RELATED RECIPES

  • air fryer zucchini fries on a white plate
    Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
  • air fried mini pizza on a white plate
    Air Fryer Mini Pizza
  • pumpkin chips on a white plate
    Pumpkin Chips
  • instant pot parboiled white rice in a black cup
    Instant Pot Parboiled Rice
air fryer eggplant pin image

Recipes To Try Next

  • turkey burgers in an air fryer basket
    Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
  • air fried bacon grilled cheese on a plate with tomato soup
    Air Fryer Grilled Cheese With Bacon
  • air fryer onions image
    Air Fryer Onions
  • air fryer brussels sprouts with balsamic dressing on a white plate
    Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Parmesan
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • X
  • Threads

Comments

    5 from 11 votes (3 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




  1. Anonymous says

    October 31, 2023 at 8:22 am

    Just saying but leftover eggplant in the fridge has such a good taste without reheating. If you end up with leftovers consider tasting them cold to see if they're your thing before reheating. I prefer them that way, with a side of bread, juice...etc that contrasts their savory/salty taste

    Reply
  2. Ramona says

    May 22, 2023 at 9:51 am

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, I'm such an aubergine fan and this looks absolutely insane, I must try this immediately. Beautiful recipe thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
« Older Comments
profile image

Hello, I'm Kristina! I'm here to show you how to take your favorite recipes and adapt them to all your kitchen appliances!

More about me →

What's New

  • moroccan chicken stew and vegetables in a stock pot
    Moroccan Chicken Stew
  • veggie supreme pizza on a pizza peel
    Veggie Supreme Pizza
  • Italian herb and cheese bread on a cutting rack
    Italian Herb and Cheese Bread
  • hot honey pepperoni pizza image
    Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza

Slow Cooker

  • slow cooker mashed sweet potatoes in a bowl
    Crockpot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • slow cooker loaded potato soup topped with chives, bacon and cheddar cheese
    Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup
  • apples, oranges and whole seasonings for apple cider in a crockpot
    Slow Cooker Apple Cider
  • slow cooker apple pie filling with ice cream topping
    Best Slow Cooker Apple Pie Filling Recipe

Instant Pot

  • instant pot pumpkin risotto in a serving dish
    Instant Pot Pumpkin Risotto
  • instant pot pumpkin bread in a bundt pan
    Instant Pot Pumpkin Bread
  • instant pot cauliflower mac and cheese in a white bowl
    Instant Pot Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
  • instant pot garlic mashed potatoes in a white bowl topped with butter and black pepper
    Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Trending Now

  • mediterranean quesadilla stacked on a plate
    Mediterranean Quesadillas
  • slow cooker pepper steak over rice in a black bowl
    Crockpot Pepper Steak
  • slow cooker loaded potato soup topped with chives, bacon and cheddar cheese
    Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup
  • patriotic charcuterie board with red, white and blue foods
    Patriotic Charcuterie Board

Footer

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Newsletter

  • Sign Up for the latest recipes!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 TastyOven.com, LLC.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Stuck on what to say? Here are some suggestions:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this recipe! We can't wait to make it again.
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. It turned out great!
I made a few modifications, but it still turned out wonderful.

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.