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    Home » Recipes » Vegan

    Air Fryer Eggplant

    Published: Jan 18, 2021 · Modified: Nov 17, 2022 by Kristen Wood - This post may contain affiliate links.

    Skip to Recipe Pin Recipe
    air fryer eggplant pinterest pin

    Easy, healthy, and delicious Air Fryer Eggplant made with a simple spice blend. This air-fried eggplant has a deliciously smoky flavor and tender, yet crisp, texture.

    a white bowl filled with air fried eggplant

    This delicious Air Fryer Eggplant recipe is great simply as a healthy snack, a fabulous side dish, or incorporated into entrées! It is packed with flavor and has a beautiful texture. Gluten-free, plant-based, vegan, and keto diet friendly!

    Jump to:
    • 🍆 Ingredient Notes
    • ♨️ How to Cook Eggplant In An Air Fryer
    • 🍽️ Serving Ideas
    • ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
    • 🥡 Storage and Reheating
    • 🍴 More Air Fryer Recipes You Might Enjoy
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍆 Ingredient Notes

    • Eggplant (also known as aubergine) forms the base of this air fryer recipe. It is in the same nightshade family of plants as tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.
    • Olive or avocado oil contributes an extra bit of crispness and also adds some healthy fats to this recipe.
    • Garlic powder is simply super complementary when paired with eggplant!
    • Smoked paprika adds a hint of irresistible smokiness to this recipe and contributes the majority of the flavor.
    • Salt! Hard to go without salt on this one—it enhances all the flavors in this dish.
    a close up shot of eggplant on an air fryer tray

    ♨️ How to Cook Eggplant In An Air Fryer

    Chop eggplant.
    Toss with olive oil or avocado oil and spices.
    Place in a single layer and air fry.
    Enjoy!

    🍽️ Serving Ideas

    • This smoky Air Fryer Eggplant makes an excellent side dish. We like to serve it with baked potatoes and vegetarian meatloaf.
    • It's also great incorporated into your favorite pasta dishes.
    • And I love to eat it as is for a healthy low-carb snack or dipped into a favorite condiment or dips like tahini sauce, hot sauce, or marinara sauce.
    • Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese while still warm.
    • Top with chopped fresh herbs like fresh parsley or fresh basil.
    a close up shot of air fryer eggplant

    ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I omit the oil in this recipe?

    Yes! On an oil-free diet? You can omit the oil for a still-delicious Air Fryer Eggplant dish!

    What kind of paprika should I use?

    Make sure you use smoked paprika and not the Hungarian (sweet) variety, for best results.

    How much salt should I add?

    I find around 1/2 teaspoon to be about the perfect amount of salt for this dish but feel free to adjust and salt to taste! You can wait to add salt until the eggplant has finished cooking if need be.

    🥡 Storage and Reheating

    This tastes best fresh out of the air fryer, but once cooled can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, place in a 400-degree air fryer or conventional oven and heat until warmed throughout (about 10 minutes).

    eggplant in a white bowl

    🍴 More Air Fryer Recipes You Might Enjoy

    Air Fryer Kale Chips

    Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

    Air Fryer Asparagus

    35 Plant-Based Air Fryer Recipes

    Air Fryer Parsnips

    air fryer eggplant in white bowl with a napkin and purple eggplant in background

    You might also love this Eggplant Shakshuka.

    📖 Recipe

    Air Fryer Eggplant

    Easy, healthy and delicious Air Fryer Eggplant made with a simple spice blend. This air fried eggplant has a deliciously smoky flavor and tender, yet crisp, texture.
    4.73 from 119 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Side Dish, Vegan
    Cuisine: Air Fryer
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 14 minutes
    Total Time: 19 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Kristen Wood

    Ingredients

    • 1 medium-sized eggplant sliced into 1" cubes
    • 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or pink salt
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    Instructions

    • Preheat air fryer oven to 400°F.
    • Prepare eggplant by slicing and discarding the leafy top. Slice eggplant vertically then slice each halve vertically again. Then slice horizontally into 1" cubes.
    • Place the eggplant in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with oil, then sprinkle with garlic powder, paprika and salt. Toss to coat.
    • Place the eggplant into air fryer basket or try. Air fry for 14 minutes or until tender and a fork pierces through easily.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    You might also like 35 Vegan Eggplant Recipes and Aubergine (Eggplant) Curry.
    Please refer to the full post above for valuable information!
    You might also like Air Fryer Zucchini or Air Fryer Cauliflower.
    Also see: The Best Oils for an Air Fryer.
    You might also like: Can You Put Foil in an Air Fryer? How to Use Aluminum Foil in an Air Fryer
    You might like: 17 Amazing Fruits That Start With E.
    You might also like our Quick Sauteed Mushrooms Recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 149IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

    Recommended Products

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    Have you tried this recipe?Please Rate + Comment Below!
    Mention on Instagram!@moon.and.spoon.and.yum

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    • Share

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jamie says

      June 06, 2022 at 10:26 pm

      5 stars
      I love how simple and easy this eggplant recipe is! It's great I can make this in the air fryer!

      Reply
    2. veenaazmanov says

      June 06, 2022 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      Egg plant is one of my favorite and I love your healthy and easy Air Fryer recipe.

      Reply
    3. Andrea says

      June 06, 2022 at 8:44 pm

      5 stars
      I've never made eggplant before but this was so good. It's a win in the air fryer!

      Reply
    4. Chef Mireille says

      June 06, 2022 at 8:25 pm

      My husband loved it...loved the spice blend too. Definitely one of my new favorite ways to make eggplant.

      Reply
    5. Beth says

      June 06, 2022 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      I'm so happy this recipe calls for smoked paprika - it's my favorite! Perfect, tasty, gluten-free snack!

      Reply
    6. Kate says

      May 04, 2022 at 3:31 am

      5 stars
      I love the spice blend here, and how the aubergines are crispy without the slugs of oil if you were to cook them in a pan. Love it!

      Reply
    7. Ieva says

      May 04, 2022 at 1:33 am

      5 stars
      You are my go-to for any air-fryer recipes and this was another great recipe! So good with the smoked paprika! Thanks!

      Reply
    8. Iryna says

      May 04, 2022 at 1:26 am

      5 stars
      My hubby adores this eggplant side dish. Simple recipe and so delicious. Thank you!

      Reply
    9. Juliane says

      May 04, 2022 at 12:43 am

      5 stars
      Perfect dish to make tonight!

      Reply
    10. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

      May 03, 2022 at 11:45 pm

      5 stars
      I normally find that frying eggplant means it takes in too much oil. This airfryer version is perfect and delicious.

      Reply
    11. Kate says

      April 03, 2022 at 8:18 am

      5 stars
      Such a great air fryer recipe - lots of lovely flavours and aubergine/eggplant cooks so well in the air fryer. Thank you!

      Reply
    12. Suja md says

      April 03, 2022 at 8:10 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious; thank you for this fantastic recipe! Very straightforward and easy to make. The dish came out perfectly. I will make it again!!

      Reply
    13. Tayler says

      April 03, 2022 at 6:50 am

      5 stars
      I’ll never make eggplant any other way! This recipe turns out perfectly every time!

      Reply
    14. Kechi says

      April 03, 2022 at 3:40 am

      5 stars
      I made this last week and totally enjoyed it, definitely making it again today. It’s unbelievable the magic of the air fryer.

      Reply
    15. Beth says

      April 02, 2022 at 10:30 pm

      5 stars
      This is wonderful! I recently went gluten free and discovered smoked paprika - so this recipe was just what I was looking for for a tasty snack or side dish!

      Reply
    16. Danielle Wolter says

      December 30, 2021 at 4:43 am

      5 stars
      Eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables. This came out just perfect - I like how tender and flavorful the eggplant came out.

      Reply
    17. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      December 30, 2021 at 3:39 am

      5 stars
      Such perfect timing! I just bought an air fryer and it's arriving tomorrow!

      Reply
    18. Dannii says

      December 30, 2021 at 1:27 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great way to use the air fryer and a new way to use eggplant too. I can't wait to try it.

      Reply
    19. AISilva says

      December 29, 2021 at 8:34 pm

      5 stars
      I'm always looking for new air fryer recipes, and better yet new egg plant recipes. We love eggplant in my house and this air fryer egg plant recipe was a hit. Thanks so much!

      Reply
    20. Denay DeGuzman says

      December 29, 2021 at 5:35 pm

      5 stars
      I love discovering new air fryer recipes. This air fryer eggplant was so delicious. I'll definitely be making this again and again.

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        December 29, 2021 at 6:37 pm

        Thank you! So happy to hear. 🙂

        Reply
    21. veenaazmanov says

      September 02, 2021 at 8:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is one of my favorite veggie meal. Air Fryer sounds interesting and healthy too.

      Reply
    22. Anjali says

      September 02, 2021 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      I don't typically like eggplant because it is too squishy - but using your method it turned out nice and crispy!! I'll never make eggplant any other way again!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        September 02, 2021 at 7:04 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

        Reply
    23. Jamie says

      September 02, 2021 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      This is so delicious with the smoked paprika and other spices! Such a great idea using the air fryer for this!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        September 02, 2021 at 7:04 pm

        Thank you!!

        Reply
    24. Nart at Cooking with Nart says

      September 02, 2021 at 5:46 pm

      5 stars
      I enjoyed this recipe so much. It was super easy to make and I had never thought about cutting the eggplant in this shape. It made a difference!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        September 02, 2021 at 7:05 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

        Reply
    25. Beth says

      September 02, 2021 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy! My husband and I enjoyed this recipe, so delicious and very tasty! Such a great and easy side to make! Love it and I can’t wait to make this again!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        September 02, 2021 at 3:42 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

        Reply
    26. Amanda says

      June 21, 2021 at 12:19 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Went well with a Greek zucchini "pasta" salad and Greek meatballs. I love air fryer roasted veggies, so simple and yummy.

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        June 21, 2021 at 12:29 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for stopping by to share! 🙂

        Reply
    27. Raymond Gallatin says

      April 16, 2021 at 11:12 am

      5 stars
      Delicious, simple, and healthy! Love it. Only change was adding a pinch of black pepper.

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        April 16, 2021 at 11:15 am

        I'm so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    28. Mimi says

      January 24, 2021 at 1:57 pm

      5 stars
      Very pleased with the result. So simple and very tasty. Will try it with zucchini too.

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        January 24, 2021 at 3:03 pm

        So happy to hear! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and share. 🙂

        Reply
    29. Daniela Modesto says

      January 21, 2021 at 4:35 am

      5 stars
      As soon as I read smoked paprika, I just knew, this recipe has my heart!! 100% my kind of food!

      Reply
      • Kristen Wood says

        January 21, 2021 at 7:45 am

        Hehe, now why am I not surprised that you're a smoked paprika fan, too?! 😀 Thank you so much, my friend!

        Reply
    30. Long says

      January 21, 2021 at 1:26 am

      5 stars
      I love it. Thanks for sharing such a great post!

      Reply

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    kristen wood

    About Kristen Wood

    Hi, I'm Kristen! A mama, food writer, photographer, recipe developer, and cookbook author. I enjoy sharing both wildly creative and ridiculously practical gluten-free vegetarian recipes that are approachable for all. Welcome!

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