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This hearty eggplant casserole is a great side dish but can also serve as a filling meatless entree.
The combination of eggplant, tomato sauce, and melted cheese is lovely. And the leftovers are excellent, too!
I love eggplant. Much like grilled portobello mushrooms, it's wonderfully flavorful, almost "meaty." I regularly make several eggplant recipes, such as eggplant pizza, grilled eggplant, eggplant chips, and keto eggplant parmesan.
I especially like this eggplant casserole. Flavorful roasted eggplant slices, tangy tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella combine to create a superb eating experience!
Jump to:
- Ingredients
- Variations
- Eggplant Casserole Instructions
- Expert Tip
- Recipe FAQs
- Serving Suggestions
- Storing Leftovers
- More Eggplant Recipes
- Foodie Newsletter
- Recipe Card
- Reviews
Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this eggplant casserole. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- Eggplant: Look for a large, firm eggplant with smooth skin. I don't peel the eggplant, but you can peel it if you want.
- To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Marinara sauce: Try to find a no-sugar-added sauce such as Rao's.
- Shredded Mozzarella: A good alternative to mozzarella is provolone.
- Grated parmesan: Shredded parmesan works in this recipe, too.
Variations
- If you'd like to add meat, you can brown a pound of ground beef separately and layer it with the eggplant layers.
- As mentioned above, you can use provolone instead of mozzarella.
- Add a handful of baby spinach leaves to each of the eggplant layers. Not too much, as they tend to release water into the casserole.
- If you enjoy spicy food, add ¼ or even ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce.
- You can use ½ teaspoon of fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder.
Eggplant Casserole Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:
Start by slicing the eggplant into rounds and seasoning them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Next, roast the slices on both sides in a hot oven. You want the eggplant fully cooked at this point.
Layer the eggplant slices, marinara sauce, and mozzarella in a baking dish.
Bake the casserole until golden and bubbly, for about 15 minutes in a 425°F oven. Let it rest for about 10 minutes before digging in.
Expert Tip
The leftovers of this casserole are excellent, so it's not a bad idea to double the recipe. If you wish to double it, simply bake it in a 2-quart baking dish.
You'll need two baking sheets for the initial step of roasting the eggplant slices.
Recipe FAQs
Should I peel an eggplant before cooking it?
You could, but it's unnecessary. The peel is beautiful. While some worry that the peel will have a bitter taste, I find that high-heat roasting, as we do here, takes care of that.
Can I fry the eggplant slices instead of baking them?
Sure, but salt the eggplant slices first to draw out excess water, and prepare to use a lot of oil - eggplant really soaks up oil. Personally, I find that oven-roasting is far easier than frying.
Can I use Japanese eggplants in this recipe?
Yes. Japanese eggplants are small and elongated. You'll need several to equal one large eggplant (1 ¼ pounds). But they can definitely work in this recipe.
Serving Suggestions
This casserole is an excellent side dish. But it is so filling and substantial that I often serve it as a meatless entree.
When I serve it as an entree, I divide the casserole into two servings instead of four and serve it with any of the following:
- Arugula salad
- Steamed broccoli
- Sauteed green beans
- Steamed asparagus
- Sauteed kale
- Sauteed spinach
- Creamed spinach
- Israeli salad
Storing Leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. You can gently reheat them in the microwave or simply eat them cold.
It's a bit like eating cold leftover pizza. It's different than hot but really good!
More Eggplant Recipes
- Eggplant Pizza
- Grilled Eggplant
- Keto Eggplant Parmesan
- Eggplant Chips
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Recipe Card
4.98 from 1032 votes
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Eggplant Casserole Recipe
This hearty eggplant casserole can serve as a filling meatless entree. The combination of eggplant, tomato sauce, and melted cheese is lovely.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time55 minutes mins
Rest time10 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 166kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw
Ingredients
- Avocado oil spray for pan
- 1 large eggplant (1 ¼ pound), unpeeled
- ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella shredded, part-skim, divided (4 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon parmesan dry-grated
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 500°F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with high-heat-resistant parchment paper (or nonstick foil). Spray the parchment with avocado oil spray.
Slice the eggplant into ¼-inch thick slices. Arrange the slices on the prepared baking sheet. Spray with avocado oil. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Roast the eggplant for 15 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Turn the eggplant slices to the other side. Spray again with oil. Return to the oven and roast until browned and tender. This should take about 10 more minutes, but keep a close eye on the eggplant to ensure it doesn't burn.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Reduce the oven temperature to 425°F.
Arrange half of the roasted eggplant slices in the bottom of a greased 1-quart casserole dish. Spread half the marinara sauce on the eggplant pieces and sprinkle them with half the mozzarella.
Arrange the remaining eggplant slices on top. Spread them with the remaining marinara sauce and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and with the parmesan.
Bake the eggplant casserole until golden and bubbly, for about 15 minutes. Allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- This casserole can make an excellent side dish. But it is so filling and substantial that I often serve it as a meatless entree, in which case I divide the casserole into two servings instead of four and serve it with a green side, such as arugula salad or steamed broccoli.
- You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. You can gently reheat them in the microwave or simply eat them cold. It's a bit like eating cold leftover pizza. It's different than hot, but it's good!
- Since the leftovers are so good, it's not a bad idea to double the recipe. If you wish to double it, bake the casserole in a 2-quart baking dish.
Nutrition per Serving
Serving: 0.25recipe | Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 314mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g
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Disclaimers
Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.
About the Author
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Gina D.
Hi, I'd like to make this tonight but don't have avocado oil on hand. Would grapeseed or vegetable oil be ok?
Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Gina,
While I prefer avocado oil, the oils you mentioned will work.Reply
Kate
When you say to "roast" the eggplant slices, are we actually to Grill or Bake the slices to start with? Roasting is baking, but are you putting them under the Grill to start with or not?
Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Kate, I bake the eggplant slices before assembling the casserole. I don't grill them.
Reply
lalley
Absolutely love this recipe! If I wanted to freeze it could I assemble then freeze or should I cook and let cool before freezing?Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
I recommend baking the casserole, letting it cool completely, and carefully draining any liquid from the bottom of the pan.
Once cool, wrap it in cling wrap followed by foil, and freeze for up to three months.
To reheat, thaw the casserole in the fridge for 24 hours. Remove it to the counter for 30 minutes so the baking dish is not refrigerator-cold. Unwrap it.
Preheat your oven to 350°F and place the casserole in the oven, uncovered, until heated to 165°F, for about 20 minutes.Reply
Dennis Hurshman
Fast, easy, and delicious. This will be my go-to eggplant recipe!Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed this casserole, Dennis!
Reply
Shawn Cooper
I sliced the eggplant 1/4 inch. Even measured it. After 25 minutes at 500 degrees, the eggplant was too dark. The recipe looks tasty so I’ll probably try again with thicker slices and keep an eye on the eggplant while it’s roasting.
Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Sounds like a good plan, Shawn. Thanks for the feedback. I updated the recipe to remind people to keep an eye on the eggplant.
Reply
Renee
I love eggplant! I have just made this! absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing.Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
You're very welcome, Renee! Glad you liked it.
