Air Fryer Eggplant

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Banish eggplant preparation anxiety with this easy and delicious recipe for Air Fryer Eggplant. So many people are intimidated by preparing this tasty purple vegetable, but you’ll be smiling ear to ear with this easy method!

Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe

Eggplant is such an underappreciated side dish option. How can you look at the rich purple of an eggplant and not be interested in giving it a try? Purple is said to be the color of royalty and this eggplant recipe is royally amazing. This recipe uses an Air Fryer and is such a fast and simple way to make eggplant. This recipe for Air Fryer Eggplant is perfect every single time and makes a great addition to any meal.

crispy air fryer eggplant

Don’t own an air fryer? Make this eggplant in the oven!

cooking eggplant in the air fryer

Gluten-free, low in carbs, paleo, vegan, and keto-friendly, this Air Fryer Eggplant recipe is one everyone can enjoy! When I saw low carb, I mean low cab. This baby has only one gram of carbs per serving! Truly! It seems unbelievable. Even better, this recipe tastes truly wonderful and can be enjoyed hot or cold. How is that for versatile? If you’re entertaining this recipe is a great way to make sure every guest at your table has their dietary needs met. How many recipes can boast that?

air fryer roasted eggplant

I absolutely love garlic and this recipe brings that yummy flavor together with savory olive oil and spicy red pepper. It is beyond amazing. Perhaps the best news yet, this recipe has only two steps. Are you in love? All you need to do is combine your ingredients and toss until the eggplant pieces are coated with olive oil and spices. Place the eggplant in the Air Fryer basket. Cook at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, shaking halfway through. That is it!

How to cook eggplant in the air fryer

With just these easy steps you are on your way to enjoying delicious, flavorful Air Fryer Eggplant. It is a recipe you’re sure to enjoy again and again because it is fast and full of flavor. That makes it a winner for me!

air fryer eggplant recipe

I’m always looking for great Air Fryer recipes and I know you will love this recipe for Air Fryer Eggplant as much as I do. You can’t beat this crispy and flavorful side. I love the combination of spicy garlic and eggplant, I could eat it every day in fact. You’ll devour this delicious recipe whether you are an eggplant lover or self-proclaimed eggplant hater. Give it a try! Trust me on this one.

spicy garlic eggplant in the air fryer

If you like this Air Fryer Eggplant, you will also love these easy eggplant recipes:

  • Instant Pot Eggplant – now you know how to make eggplant in the air fryer, but what about in the Instant Pot? It’s super easy and really yummy!
  • Low Carb Eggplant Pizzas – these yummy little pizzas are using eggplant slices instead of pizza crust! So healthy and delicious!
  • Oven Roasted Eggplant – this recipe was a prototype for this Air Fryer eggplant :)
  • Baba Ganoush Eggplant Dip – it’s super addictive, tastes so authentic, just like the one in a Middle Eastern restaurant!
  • Eggplant Caviar – another epic eggplant spread, so healthy and yummy!
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Air Fryer Eggplant

This spicy garlic air fryer eggplant is so amazing!  So crispy and full of flavor! Even those people who don't like eggplant devour this air fryer eggplant!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: eggplant
Cooking Method: Air Fryer
Diet: Gluten-Free, Keto / Low-Carb, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 4
Calories: 66kcal

Recipe Video

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika optional
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 eggplant cut into 1-inch pieces

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients and toss until eggplant pieces are coated with olive oil and spices.  Put the eggplant in the air fryer basket.
  • Air fry the eggplant at 375F for 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.

Notes

This air fryer eggplant can be served hot or cold.
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Nutrition

Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Fat: 7g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 20mg | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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20 Comments

  1. I wish there was a way to post my eggplant picture here :-) Got myself a new air fryer and looked for recipes and ended up here. Tried it – it was great! But only took 14 minutes or so, I think it depends on the air fryer’s power. Turned out sooooo good!

  2. The air fryer eggplant recipe is delicious. Great texture and flavor without carbs from breading. Please let me know if there is a way to rate this recipe. I almost did not make it because I did not see ratings, but I’m so glad I did.

  3. This sounds delicious! I love eggplant! Question, though – I also looked at your oven eggplant recipe and am wondering what really the difference is btw oven and airfryer preperation. Both recipes call for 2 TBSP of oil. I’m thinking of getting an airfryer because I’d like to decrease oil in my cooking, but this doesn’t seem to happen here. Not a critique, just wondering… Thanks!

    1. You don't need 2 TBS of oil. The big difference oven vs. air fryer is that the air fryer is fast and if you have an air fryer with a good non stick coating the cleanup is much faster. says:

      My eggplant is in the air fryer as I type this. I’m expecting it to be better for me than potato chips while I watch a movie.

  4. 5 stars
    I just tried this recipe, it is so delicious! So glad I found a recipe without breading ? Will tell my friends about your website on my zoom call tomorrow.

  5. 5 stars
    I was looking for an air fryer eggplant recipe that did not require breading…and stumbled across this one…what a lucky find! This was so easy, and SO tasty…and the bonus is that it is healthy as well! Thanks Melanie…I look forward to trying some of your other recipes!

  6. 5 stars
    This is easy & delicious. I used some different seasonings and also added chickpeas (canned, drained) but the basic concept was the same. SO tasty!!

  7. 5 stars
    I think the eggplant is beautiful but have tried it several times without liking it. I have discovered egg plant and was given a recipe to try. I liked it. I am on a low carb diet and found this recipe in Pinterest and tried it. It tasted wonderful. I used a mixture of chia powder, Italian spices, salt, pepper, onion powder and chopped green onion. The recipe calls for oil but I forgot it. I air dryer cooked it and it was really good. Things are looking up in this egg plant department.

  8. 5 stars
    Absolutely amazing!!! I had some little eggplants my friend gave me from her garden and just whipped this up as a bedtime snack. I had a hard time not eating the whole thing! The flavor was amazing, and the eggplant skin was crunchy and almost carmelized. I cant wait to try the leftovers cold!

  9. 5 stars
    Tried this recipe in my large Gowise air fryer. It was perfect! Instead of a basket, I have shelves. I used the same 375 degrees and cooked for 20 minutes, turning halfway through. The spices and flavor work perfect. I usually eat clean or Whole30, gluten free, so this was a wonderful find. I love this recipe. Tastes great and incredibly easy!! Highly recommend

  10. 5 stars
    I’ve made this recipe 1000 times! It’s worth getting an air fryer just for this alone! Really does a great job with eggplant and this recipe is spot on! Thanks, Melanie!

  11. 5 stars
    WOW! I had to come say thank you, this is delicious. I’m eating it right now. I’m having to do a low FODMAP diet and it’s really restrictive – I made this with 1 tbsp garlic infused EVOO and 1 tbsp parm & basil infused EVOO, salt, pepper, italian seas. Delicious hot, delicious cold, so good. It’s worth letting people know who are looking for low FODMAP foods & snacks that by modifying with garlic infused oil this is doable and a keeper (:

  12. 5 stars
    Loved it! We have a lot of Japanese eggplant in our garden. I wanted to try something else besides frying. This was perfect. Thanks

  13. 5 stars
    This was a great way to cook eggplant without the flour, egg, breading! I made a comfort food kind of casserole, like an eggplant parm/pasta/meatball casserole, and my husband wants me to add this to our recipe lineup!

5 from 13 votes

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