18 Italian Eggplant Recipes You'll Love (2024)

Baked Eggplant Parmesan

"Eggplant slices are coated with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese and baked between layers of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese for a filling Italian-inspired meal," according to recipe creator Dollface.

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan

"Cheesy grilled eggplant sits on top of a bed of smoky grilled tomato sauce for an eggplant Parm like no other," recipe creator Soup Loving Nicole says of this irresistible Italian dish.

Crunchy Eggplant Parmesan

What's the secret to this extra crispy eggplant Parm? Peeling and sweating the eggplant eliminates bitterness, while Panko adds a welcome crunch to the crust.

Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan

"These eggplant Parmesan rounds are oil free and grease free, yet they are crispy and crunchy," says recipe creator Yoly. "All due to cooking it in an air fryer. They are good eaten right out of the air fryer or topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese."

Crouton Eggplant Parmesan

If you've never cooked eggplant and you're a bit intimidated, recipe creator silveira says this quick, simple, and foolproof dish is an excellent place to start.

Italian Eggplant Salad

"If you like eggplant, you will love this recipe," according to recipe creator SANDI149. "This is very easy to make. Can be used as a side dish or for a spread on crackers."

Italian Grilled Eggplant Caprese

Grilled eggplant is a fantastic addition to the traditional Caprese trio: basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes. This appetizer will fit seamlessly into your summertime rotation.

Italian Grilled Eggplant with Basil and Parsley

"This Italian side dish (aka 'contorno') couldn't be easier," according to recipe creator Kim's Cooking Now. "We make this often during the summer, when we have an abundance of basil and parsley growing in our garden. Works well with zucchini, too!"

Eggplant Lasagna

This delicious recipe is a labor of love (each eggplant slice is individually breaded in Italian breadcrumbs), but it's oh-so worth it. Even eggplant skeptics will go back for seconds.

Pasta Melanzana

"This is REALLY good," raves reviewer Sara. "It is a beautiful dish with great taste. It's a different way to prepare eggplant and the combination of the eggplant, spinach, and cheese is excellent!"

Spicy Eggplant Pasta with Pancetta

"Eggplant has its fans and its detractors," says recipe creator Andrew Bleiman. "Even the most devoutly anti-eggplant zealot can't resist this savory combination of spicy eggplant, pancetta, and pasta."

Sicilian Grilled Vegetable Salad

This healthy and flavorful Sicilian salad is a great way to use fresh-from-the-garden veggies like eggplant, zucchini, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and basil. Don't forget to refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to meld.

Ruth's Eggplant Caponata

Recipe creator RuthE suggests serving this dish with slices of crusty French or Italian bread.

Pasta alla Norma (Eggplant Pasta)

"This is an original recipe given to me from Sicilian relatives," says recipe creator Buckwheat Queen. "Pasta is tossed with a simple tomato sauce, then topped with fried eggplant, ricotta salata, and hot peppers."

Awesome Eggplant Rollatine

This eggplant rollatine is, well, awesome. It's also deceptively quick and easy—using jarred tomato sauce cuts down on cook time and streamlines the assembling process.

Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan

"A twist on the old standby," says recipe creator MARGARITADEE. "I like to use my homemade tomato sauce for this recipe, as well as using crushed croutons as the bread crumbs."

• Homemade Tomato Sauce

Eggplant Rollatini

"This was excellent," according to reviewer DinnersON. "I prepared everything according to recipe with exception of using whole wheat seasoned bread crumbs and my own sauce. Took some time to prepare but very good."

Eggplant and Ground Beef Lasagna

"I couldn't decide if I wanted lasagna or moussaka the other night; this came out as a yummy combo of the two," says recipe creator Bethany T. "Spinach lasagna noodles work well in this if you can get them."