Easy Eggplant Parmesan
Easy Eggplant Parmesan is a delicious vegetarian Italian main course featuring layers of panko-coated eggplant, marinara, and cheeses, baked to perfection.
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
- Rimmed Baking Sheets
Ingredients
Eggplant Preparation
- 2 large eggplants sliced into 24 rounds (about ½" thick)
Coating Mixture
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons whole milk (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper divided
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (see notes)
- ¼ cup olive oil
Filling Ingredients
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 16 oz. fresh mozzarella thinly sliced into 24 pieces
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- cooked pasta for serving
- more marinara sauce for serving
- fresh basil for serving (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 400° F. Get out two rimmed baking sheets and spread 2 tablespoons of olive oil on each.
- In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs with the milk, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- In another shallow bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with the Italian seasoning, and the remaining ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Dip each eggplant slice in the egg mixture to coat all sides, then into the breadcrumb mixture to coat all sides. Place the eggplant on the oiled baking sheets, fitting about 12 on each.
- Bake the eggplant at 400° F for 10 minutes. Flip and bake for another 8 minutes, until golden and crispy.
Assembly
- Spread ¼ cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. Layer 12 slices of eggplant, a spoonful of marinara sauce, a slice of mozzarella, and ½ cup of parmesan cheese. Repeat the layers with remaining ingredients.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is golden brown and the dish is bubbly.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
To ease slicing mozzarella, freeze for 30 minutes. For quicker prep, buy pre-sliced mozzarella or use shredded. Optional: salt eggplant and let sit for 30 minutes. For store-bought marinara, Rao's is recommended.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 376kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 24gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 1609mgPotassium: 781mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1119IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 494mgIron: 3mg
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