20+ Easy Eggplant Recipes

We think it is safe to say that this sauteed eggplant is possibly the easiest eggplant recipe out there. This tender dish cooks eggplant slices on the stovetop with a simple mixture of pantry-ready ingredients, resulting in a perfectly customizable sauteed eggplant recipe you’ll want to serve alongside all your favorite mains. Whether you cook it with sliced or diced eggplants, this pan-roasted eggplant recipe is as easy as it gets when making eggplant.

You won’t believe the number of recipes you can make with this basic roasted eggplant recipe that comes together in under 35 minutes. With a deliciously tender texture and savory taste, this is easily one of the best ways to cook eggplant to kickstart your best eggplant recipe ideas.

Learning how to roast eggplant halves is a must when making stuffed eggplant dishes. Baked until softened and tender, this caramelized eggplant dish is also great when you need eggplant flesh for dips or salads.

Even beginner-level chefs can roast eggplant in the oven with this easy recipe. Once you master our foolproof method for baking whole eggplants, you’ll be able to make everything from Turkish Karniyarik to creamy eggplant dips (like everyone’s favorite, Babaganoush) that will change the minds of even the pickiest eaters.

Once you learn how to roast eggplant in an air fryer, you’ll unlock two ways to make incomparably delectable, tender eggplant cuts—perfect for everyday snacking or incorporating in other easy, good eggplant recipes. Use this basic recipe as a starting point for easy eggplant meals like Air Fryer Eggplant Parm and Breaded Eggplant in the air fryer.

If you are wondering how to cook eggplant for baba ganoush as they do it in the Middle East, you have found it. Charring eggplant on the stove is the classic way to create smoky and rich roasted eggplant dishes that you see on menus of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean restaurants. A great alternative to grilling eggplant, once you master this technique, you’ll be able to discover dozens of other scrumptious ways to use eggplant.

If you have never grilled an eggplant before, this recipe is a must-try. Eggplant slices are marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic marinade and then cooked on the grill for perfection. This is one of those eggplant recipes that is perfect for beginners. Serve it as a side dish, or sprinkle it with feta cheese and fresh basil leaves for a light summer lunch.

Ratatouille is probably one of the most popular eggplant recipes for dinner. If you are not familiar with it, it is a vegan French vegetable stew that is bursting with flavor and vibrant colors. My version here is made in one pot in under 40 minutes, making it an ideal weeknight dinner that you can serve to everyone in the family.

Dive into the rich tapestry of Turkish cuisine with this visually impressive stuffed eggplant recipe, also known as Karniyarik. It is made by filling the “belly” of whole roasted eggplants with a sauteed ground beef mixture and then baking them in the oven. A classic late summer eggplant meal, this recipe promises a culinary journey that is both exotic and comforting.

One of my favorite dinner ideas with eggplant, this melt-in-your-mouth stew brims with a hearty flavor. It is also comfort food at its best. Who can resist tender steak cooked in a tomato sauce with cubed eggplant that softens as it simmers on the stove? Store it in the freezer for later use, and this easy eggplant recipe will be your new go-to make-ahead meal.

Beautiful presentation and bold flavor go hand-in-hand with this heartily spiced eggplant entree. With every bite, experience the smokiness of the eggplant, beautifully paired with seasoned meatballs garnished with fresh herbs. This tasty meal will transport you on a culinary journey through the Middles East, offering a unique and flavorful dining experience.

Few meals with eggplant are as filling yet fresh as this. A quicker alternative to Eggplant Lasagna, this delicious ziti bake has all your favorite ingredients: fresh mozzarella cheese, tomato basil sauce, and creamy ricotta.

Layer after layer, this authentic Mediterranean eggplant recipe is one of the best eggplant dinner ideas for anyone who can’t resist the silky taste of rich bechamel sauce. Serve it with a glass of red wine and a simple green spring mix salad, and call it dinner!

If you are looking for easy eggplant recipes for dinner that won’t take hours in the kitchen, put this Pomodoro noodle recipe on your weekly rotation. This late-summer pasta uses briny olives, savory capers, and nutty Parmesan cheese to give every bite a tantalizingly complex flavor.

One of the most famous eggplant dishes, this vegan Middle Eastern dip combines a drizzle of olive oil, nutty tahini, and bright lemon juice to make a savory spread you’ll want to put on everything. It can be made with widely available globe eggplants, Italian eggplants, or even Chinese eggplant; once you try it, this smoky eggplant dip will be your go-to recipe for entertaining.

If you can’t resist the gooey taste of roasted cheese and tangy tomato sauce, this ricotta-stuffed eggplant is guaranteed to satisfy your appetite. Serve this Italian classic alongside citrusy Mediterranean Lemon Chicken for a complete meal that will disappear in seconds.

You’ll feel like you’re dining on the Mediterranean coast with this easy eggplant dish. Stuffed with an herby Bulgur Wheat Pilaf packed with chickpeas and Mediterranean spices, this recipe is even more delicious when drizzled with my tangy Yogurt Tahini Sauce.

Prepared with layers of oven-roasted eggplant slices, rich tomato sauce, and gooey cheese, this classic eggplant parmesan is easily one of my 10 best eggplant recipes (especially with a spicy touch of red pepper flakes!). Freeze this basic eggplant dish for hands-free meal prep, or serve it right away as a light lunch or a side with your favorite chicken, beef, or turkey dinner recipes.

Looking for kid-friendly eggplant recipes that will have your picky eater licking their plate clean? This air-fried recipe takes less than thirty minutes to infuse every bite with rich Parmesan cheese, tender eggplant, and earthy Italian seasoning—ideal for the whole family!

Crisp Panko breadcrumbs, savory Tomato Basil Sauce, and robust garlic make this treat yet another kid-friendly eggplant side dish that you can make when you need something quick. Serve this easy-baked eggplant recipe as a crowd-ready appetizer or a tasty side to compliment dozens of mouthwatering mains.

Vegetarian eggplant recipes don’t have to be bland. This gourmet appetizer mixes simple ingredients—roasted veggies, piquant cayenne pepper, and refreshing lemon juice—for one of my cookbook’s most delicious eggplant recipes.

If you’re looking for a quick, easy eggplant recipe that will satisfy kids and foodies alike, this simple dish is just what you need. These 25-minute eggplant rounds will transform your eggplants into a tasty side perfect for serving a crowd—especially when served with your favorite homemade or store-bought marinara sauce!

This Turkish aubergine dip is one of our reader's favorite Greek yogurt recipes. Not only will this Mediterranean eggplant dish ensure you’re never at a loss for tasty snacks, but it also pairs beautifully with other healthy eggplant recipes, like salads and sides.

An iconic Sicilian dish, this pasta recipe makes an incomparably delicious meal using fresh basil, tender rigatoni, and sauteed eggplant cubes. One taste is all you need to solidify this dish as one of your best eggplant dishes for dinner.

Wondering what to do with roasted eggplant? This simple recipe adds diced eggplant to a flavorsome combination of bright parsley, roasted garlic, and tangy feta cheese for a gluten-free side that pairs wonderfully with all your favorite main dishes.

The classic Italian Caprese but made with an eggplant twist. To me, this is one of those quick eggplant recipes that every eggplant lover should know how to make. Grilled eggplant slices layered with creamy mozzarella, juicy summer tomatoes, and fresh basil make the best summer salad to serve a crowd or to treat yourself.