Name: Baked Eggplant Parmesan
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1 large eggplant (sliced 1/4 inch thick); 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 2 cloves garlic smashed; 1 tsp oregano; 1 tbsp olive oil; 3 cloves garlic (2 reserved from earlier - smashed garlic); 1/2 large red bell pepper (1-inch cubes); 1/2 large green bell pepper (1-inch cubes); 1 medium onion (1-inch cubes); salt to taste; black pepper to taste; 1 tsp crushed red pepper (more for spice); 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning; 3 cups marinara sauce (I used Rao's); grilled eggplant; sauteed veggies; 8 ounces mozzarella cheese (shredded); 1/4 cup parmesan cheese; 5 tbsp breadcrumbs (divided - 1 tbsp for each layer, 2 tbsp for top); fresh parsley/basil (chopped)

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Mom’s Baked Eggplant Parmesan made with grilled eggplant, peppers, and onions. This dish is NOT breaded, but is cheesy and so flavorful. Perfect for the holidays!

My mom’s Baked Eggplant Parmesan is not completely traditional, but it’s so damn good. To begin with, she doesn’t bread the eggplant which saves a ton of calories, She also doesn’t fry the eggplant, but rather bakes it (sometimes even sautees it). Additionally, she adds bell peppers and onions which makes this dish so hearty and delicious.

Healthy Eggplant Parmesan

So this Baked Eggplant Parmesan is NOT exactly healthy by any means, but here are some healthy swaps:

eggplant is not breaded
baked eggplant rather than fried
addition of bell peppers and onions makes it more hearty

Can I make Baked Eggplant Parmesan gluten-free?

Yes! This dish uses 5 tbsp of breadcrumbs. Simply omit the breadcrumbs, or just use gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Can I make Grilled Eggplant Parmesan vegan?

Absolutely! These days even cheesy indulgent dishes can easily be vegan. Replace the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses with vegan cheese and you’ve got yourself Vegan Eggplant Parmesan.

Tips on making Baked Eggplant Parmesan:

There are 3 steps involved in making this indulgent dish:

bake the eggplant
saute the veggies
assemble the eggplant parmesan
bake in the oven

What should I serve Baked Eggplant Parmesan with?

Salad/Steamed Veggies: You can go low-carb and serve this dish with a salad which makes it a more balanced meal. Doing so results in 4 servings.
Pasta: You can also serve this dish with spaghetti (my preference) which makes it much more filling. This results in 6 servings.
Meat: And of course, you can simply serve this dish with grilled chicken or fish. This will most likely be 5 servings.

Baked Eggplant Parmesan is:

Baked, NOT Fried
Not Breaded
Hearty
Indulgent
Weekend Meal
Holiday Friendly
Gluten-Free option (use gf breadcrumbs)
Low-Carb (skip the breadcrumbs, or use a few)
Vegan option (use vegan cheese)

How to make Baked Eggplant Parmesan recipe step by step?

Grill Eggplant

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, oregano, and smashed garlic cloves. Mix.
3. Slice the eggplant horizontally in quarter inch thick slices.
4. Brush both sides of the eggplant with the olive oil garlic mixture from above.
5. Place eggplant on a baking sheet.
6. Into the oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees, flipping the eggplant halfway.

Saute Veggies

1. Chop the garlic from the mixture above with oil and oregano, and chop another clove of garlic, so total 3 cloves. Chop the bell peppers and onions in 1/2 inch cubes.
2. Heat up a castiron skillet, once hot, add oil, add the garlic and bell peppers. Saute for 5 minutes until the bell peppers are slightly charred.
3. Add the onions. Stir for a couple of minutes.
4. Add salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 2 more minutes.
5. Veggies are now done. Set aside.

6. The grilled eggplant should be completely done by now on both sides.
7. Grate mozzarella cheese.

Assemble Baked Eggplant Parmesan

1. In a baking dish, I am using my Le Creuset Braiser, spread 1/2 cup of your favorite Marinara sauce, I LOVE Rao’s Homemade Marinara.
2. Place the grilled eggplant over the sauce.
3. Top with 1/3 of the veggies – spread evenly.
4. Top with some more Mariara sauce – 1/2 cup or so.
5. Now top with mozzarella cheese and 1 tbsp of breadcrumbs.

6. Repeat 2 more times as follows: eggplant – veggies – sauce – cheese – breadcrumbs.
7. At the end – top with 1 cup of Marinara sauce and the remaining mozzarella cheese.
8. Top with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and 2 tbsp of breadcrumbs.
9. Into the oven for 25 minutes. Broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is slightly golden brown.

10. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil – I used parsley, but basil would be delicious too!

Enjoy with Salad or Spaghetti!

More Baked Dishes!

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Baked Eggplant Parmesan

Mom's Baked Eggplant Parmesan made with grilled eggplant, peppers, and onions. This dish is NOT breaded, but is cheesy and so flavorful. It's perfect for the holidays or a weekend family dinner.

5 from 4 votes

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 20 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Diet Gluten-Free option, Vegan option, Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 312kcal

Author: Nisha

Equipment

Lodge 10.25"

Le Creuset Dutch Oven 2.75

Fish Spatula

Ingredients

for baked eggplant

1 large eggplant sliced 1/4 inch thick
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic smashed
1 tsp oregano

for sauteed veggies

1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic 2 reserved from earlier - smashed garlic
1/2 large red bell pepper 1-inch cubes
1/2 large green bell pepper 1-inch cubes
1 medium onion 1-inch cubes
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
1 tsp crushed red pepper more for spice
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

for assembling

3 cups marinara sauce I used Rao's
grilled eggplant
sauteed veggies
8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
5 tbsp breadcrumbs divided - 1 tbsp for each layer, 2 tbsp for top

for garnish

fresh parsley/basil chopped