Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 28 Easy Eggplant Recipes for Dinner, Lunch, and More Try these eggplant ideas, including pizza, fries, salads, and sandwiches. (Seriously, this is one versatile vegetable.) By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 30, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: JEN CAUSEY With easy eggplant recipes like these, it's no wonder eggplant is the best multitasking vegetable. It's a healthy meat substitute and can be grilled, fried, or baked; it's also delicious roasted, stewed, or sautéed. Bonus: Learning how to cook eggplant is pretty easy if you start with these simple eggplant dishes and cooking methods. 01 of 28 Roasted Eggplant With Miso and Sesame Seeds Antonis Achilleos In this Asian-inspired recipe, eggplants roast at high heat, making the outside skin crispy and the inside succulent. The rich miso dressing gives it a salty, umami flavor that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Serve alongside a piece of fish or meat for an easy and impressive meal. Get the recipe 02 of 28 Eggplant Parmesan Rollatini Jonny Valiant This twist on the popular eggplant parmesan dish calls for a ricotta mixture rolled inside each pre-baked eggplant slice before topping it with marinara sauce and freshly grated mozzarella. This eggplant meal has all the cheesy, saucy goodness you'd expect from lasagna without the heaviness of pasta noodles. Bake until browned and bubbly, then serve warm to guests. Get the recipe 03 of 28 Eggplant and Chicken Caponata Pizza Jen Causey Here, fresh eggplant, shredded chicken, and salty capers create a delicious (and surprising) topping for pizza. This makes a great lunch or dinner. Use frozen homemade pizza dough or store-bought dough for a faster meal. Get the recipe 04 of 28 Matt Romero’s Eggplant “Sandwiches” Katherine Wolkoff A sandwich without bread might not sound like much of a sandwich, but when you replace standard bread slices with slabs of thick, fried eggplant, the result is rather delicious. Stuff beefsteak tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and goat cheese crumbles in the middle, and you've got a satiating vegetarian sandwich alternative. Get the recipe 05 of 28 Greek Lamb Burgers With Baked Eggplant Fries Greg DuPree Alongside this delicious burger recipe comes eggplant fries, which are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The key to coating these fries is a bath in frothed egg whites and then a toss in panko, or Japanese breadcrumbs. It's easy but with complex flavors—arguably, the best recipe for entertaining. Get the recipe 06 of 28 Grilled Eggplant Salad Andre Baranowski Let the eggplant shine in this simple grilled salad recipe. To avoid any bitterness, choose young, smaller eggplants that don't have a lot of seeds. This recipe utilizes more fresh summer produce, but feel free to substitute vegetables depending on the season. get the recipe 07 of 28 Eggplant Tart With Lemon and Feta Greg DuPree This elegant eggplant tart recipe is easy, fresh, and incredibly flavorful. The thinly sliced eggplant melts into the buttery pastry, and the thin slices of lemon brighten up every bite—and did we mention the feta? This flavorful tart is the star of any dinner party as a veggie main dish or sliced into small squares for a bite-sized appetizer. Get the recipe 08 of 28 Eggplant Panzanella Andrew Purcell A panzanella is a traditional Italian salad featuring cubes of deliciously grilled bread. While it's hard to beat that, this version's protein-packed kale and meaty eggplant chunks make it filling enough for dinner. And don't sleep on the lemony vinaigrette and juicy cherry tomatoes, which give this salad plenty of fresh, acidic notes. Plus, we love that the whole thing is tied together with shaved Manchego cheese and fresh dill. get the recipe 09 of 28 Miso Eggplant Dip Caitlin Bensel If you're a fan of dips, you've probably had baba ganoush, and while this dip is similar, we'd argue it may be tastier than the Middle Eastern classic. It combines baba ganoush with the umami flavor of miso eggplant. To make this flavorful dip, you'll blitz the flesh of a roasted eggplant with miso paste, nutty tahini, mirin, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. The result is a rich dip you'll want to make again and again. Serve with crackers, crudités, and everything in between. get the recipe 10 of 28 Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad Greg DuPree Who doesn't love pasta salad? Salty olives and feta cheese combined with fresh tomatoes, chewy pasta, and tender cubes of roasted eggplant make this a perfectly satisfying (and healthy) lunch or dinner. The longer it sits, the more the flavors meld together, so make extra and eat well all week. Get the recipe 11 of 28 Grilled Eggplant and Smoked Mozzarella Melts Charles Masters For days when you're craving a sandwich, this open-faced melt will do the trick. Grilling thick slices of country bread and melting mozzarella over the top elevates the humble sammie into an elegant meal you would be proud to serve anyone (or keep all to yourself). get the recipe 12 of 28 Spicy Summer Squash Stir-Fry Greg DuPree While summer squash is the star of this vegetarian stir fry, half-moons of Japanese eggplant help make this spicy dish extra hearty. The meal, which riffs off Kung Pao, features a savory cornstarch-soy sauce that thickens around the crisp summer veggies. It also includes spicy red jalapeño and crushed red pepper flakes, adding some serious heat. To ensure the vegetables don't get soggy, go ahead and sear them in batches. This way, you'll be left with tender, golden-brown pieces. Get the recipe 13 of 28 Eggplant-Mushroom "Meatballs" Jennifer Causey Yes, it's possible to make meatballs without actual meat—and yes, the result is still delicious. In this vegan recipe, the toothsome combo of eggplants and mushrooms helps ensure that these meatballs still deliver the familiar texture you know and love. Rolled oats and brown rice help bind the meatballs together while giving the meal plenty of wholesome fiber. Throw in some garlic, parsley, and a shallot, and you get the perfect plant-based recipe for topping subs or salads. get the recipe 14 of 28 Torn Pita and Eggplant Salad With Parsley and Green Tahini Jennifer Causey Eggplant isn't as popular a salad ingredient as tomatoes, but that doesn't mean you should shy away from using this meaty nightshade in your next bowl of greens. In this recipe (which resembles a deconstructed baba ganoush), you've got broiled, seasoned eggplant, crispy pita pieces, and parsley leaves. Everything is tied together with flavorful green tahini, which is as tasty as it is versatile. Trust us: You'll want to make extra to pair with everything from grain bowls to crudités. Get the recipe 15 of 28 Roasted Summer Vegetable Pasta Marcus Nilsson Eggplant is joined by other colorful veggies in this dish (think bell peppers and cherry tomatoes) to create a vibrant summer meal. Eat it warm for dinner, or serve it at room temperature for your next picnic. Pro-tip: If you're extra hungry, toss in some fresh mozzarella, crumbled feta, or goat cheese crumbles. get the recipe 16 of 28 Eggplant Dip With Feta and Crudités Victor Protasio If you want to impress guests at your next gathering, kick things off with this picture-perfect mezze platter. It's packed with feta cheese, pita, and fresh vegetables, but the undisputed star is the baba ganoush. The savory roasted eggplant dip is creamy, smoky, and full of flavor. If you're feeling adventurous, sprinkle sumac spice over the dip for added tart, citrus-like notes. Get the recipe 17 of 28 Eggplant and Tofu Stir-Fry José Picayo Add a sliced chili to this vegetarian stir-fry for a boost of heat. Though the recipe suggests white rice, you can serve it with brown rice or noodles for a nutritious meal. Get the recipe 18 of 28 Spicy Chicken and Eggplant Stir-Fry Jen Causey Eggplant's meaty texture makes it a true stir-fry star. Here, the hearty vegetable joins chicken breast pieces and scallions to create a quick and easy dinner that's ready in less than 30 minutes. Toasted sesame oil, fresh ginger, and teriyaki sauce help deliver that familiar stir-fry taste, while fluffy jasmine rice makes this dish a complete meal. Get the recipe 19 of 28 Curried Eggplant With Tomatoes and Basil Con Poulos This vegetarian recipe combines eggplant, chickpeas, and tomatoes for a comforting meal. Serve with plain yogurt to balance the warming curry sauce in this fresh, summery dish. Full of protein and nutritious vegetables, make it a complete meal with rice. Get the recipe 20 of 28 Deep-Dish Eggplant Parmesan Paul Sirisalee Is there anything more satisfying than digging into a decadent plate of eggplant Parmesan after a long day? This version of the classic dish features layers of baked eggplant, marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, and fresh mozzarella cheese. The whole thing is topped with panko breadcrumbs, which get perfectly crispy after a trip to the oven. If you're searching for a family-friendly meal that takes roughly one hour to make, this is it! Get the recipe 21 of 28 Eggplant Parmesan Panini Caitlin Bensel For a take on eggplant parm that requires slightly less hands-on work, try the classic dish in panini form. To make this irresistible Italian sandwich, roast the eggplant slices until they're melt-in-your-mouth tender. The eggplant is then joined by sliced tomato, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella, and marinara sauce, and the whole thing is sandwiched between two slices of crispy ciabatta bread. Get the recipe 22 of 28 Roasted Baby Eggplant Amy Neunsinger Stuff the eggplant with lemons, garlic, and oregano to allow their intense flavors to permeate the entire dish. Top with Feta cheese when serving, and you have a delicious vegetable side dish or main entrée that's easy to make. Get the recipe 23 of 28 Ratatouille Maura McEvoy This rustic French classic is chock-full of healthy summer veggies, including zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, and (of course) eggplant. The wonderful part of this comforting, hearty dish is you can eat it as-is or serve it over toast, with eggs, or pasta. Get the recipe 24 of 28 Turkish-Style Beef and Eggplant Stew Victor Protasio Our take on traditional beef stew combines the beef with eggplant, onions, and bell peppers in a tomato sauce. Enjoy this slow-cooker recipe as-is, or serve it with couscous, brown rice, or quinoa for an even heartier meal. get the recipe 25 of 28 Eggplant Torta Milanese Victor Protasio This Mexican-inspired torta recipe stuffs crispy eggplant, avocado, and Oaxaca cheese into a deliciously satisfying sandwich. If you're unable to find Oaxaca cheese, try substituting it with mozzarella. get the recipe 26 of 28 Eggplant-and-Tomato Masala With Chickpeas Antonis Achilleos Inspired by the traditional Indian dish, this vegetarian masala recipe cooks in under 30 minutes. Canned chickpeas, eggplant, onions, and flavorful spices stew together for a tasty meal. Shopping tip: Japanese eggplants are longer and thinner than the Italian variety and tend to be less bitter. get the recipe 27 of 28 Eggplant Shepherd's Pie Caitlin Bensel Substituting eggplant for traditional beef, this vegetarian version of shepherd's pie is filling and comforting. Pair with red wine or a rich, dark beer for the perfect dinner. get the recipe 28 of 28 Meatless Meatball Subs Caitlin Bensel Plant-based meatballs made of umami-filled mushrooms and savory eggplant are the key to these meatless subs. Top with marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil for a tasty lunch or dinner. get the recipe The 4 Healthiest Nutrients Found in Eggplants, According to RDNs Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit