Crispy, crunchy, and moreish, these Air Fryer Eggplant Fries are quickly going to become your new favorite savory snack! Like a normal fry, but different, eggplant fries are crispy on the outside, creamy and tender on the inside, and loaded with all the goodness of eggplant without the bitterness. The perfect snack or appetizer, especially when feeding a crowd and looking for something that little bit different.
Who can resist the crispiness of something coated in breadcrumbs and cooked in the air fryer? One of our other favorite air fryer recipes is these Roasted Za'atar Chickpeas.
Air Fryer Eggplant Fries
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You may have started seeing crispy eggplant done in the air fryer on social media lately.
People have started to catch on that lots of veggies make for excellent fries, especially when done in the air fryer, which provides the perfect amount of crisp and crunch you have come to expect from a traditional fry.
And what's not to love with a simple ingredients list?
You are going to need:
- eggplant: kind of a no brainer that you will need eggplant for eggplant fries. Look for a medium sized eggplant that will be easy to cut into evenly sized sticks;
- panko breadcrumb: do not sub this out for regular breadcrumbs or you will not have the same amount of crunch we want from these veggie fries. Panko can be found in the Asian or international section of a well-stocked grocery store;
- grated parmesan: I am a firm believer in grating your own cheese so you can skip the preservatives and powdery texture of pre-grated cheese, but you do you;
- garlic powder: found in the spice section. Best to stick to the powder, and not fresh garlic for ease;
- eggs: we will need 2 average sized eggs for this recipe;
- cooking spray of choice: avocado oil is great for this recipe, but you can also use olive oil or coconut oil, depending on what you have.
Feel free to change up the seasoning to match whatever you are pairing the fries with.
Why not try some Italian seasoning, onion powder or cajun seasoning.
You may also want to be sure you have whatever sauce you enjoy eating with homemade fries.
I am partial to an aioli or ranch, but good old ketchup works a treat also.
How To Make Eggplant Fries
Eggplant is a great alternative for potatoes when making homemade fries.
The breadcrumb mixture sticks to the eggplant super easily, making it a quick process to get the breading on there.
Have everything ready to go before you start making the fries. If you leave the egg mixture on the eggplant fries for too long before coating in crumbs, it may become soggy.
Set up a dredging station comprising of:
- eggplant sliced into evenly sliced sticks, similar to a traditional thick cut fry
- a shallow bowl with the whisked egg
- a large bowl with the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan and garlic powder combined
- a prepped air fryer
Once you have everything set up you are good to go.
TIP: if you don't work fast you can add the breadcrumb mixture to a Ziplock bag, throw in the egg-covered eggplant and give everything a good shake if preferred. This will help to prevent the fries from becoming soggy.
We are simply going to dip the sliced eggplant into the egg wash, followed by the panko mixture, evenly space the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and cook.
Too easy.
Serve hot, fresh, and golden brown with a sprinkle of salt.
If the fries seem a little greasy (perhaps you were a little heavy-handed with the olive oil), you might want to blot up the excess oil with a paper towel before serving.
Tips and Tricks For Better Fries
Be sure to evenly coat the eggplant sticks in the breadcrumb mixture so that they are crunchy all over when cooked.
If you have small eggplants you may want to cut them into evenly sized eggplant rounds instead of sticks.
If you have a large eggplant, you may want to do long, thin slices lengthwise.
You do not have to peel the skin from the eggplant.
In fact, the skin helps the eggplant sticks hold together once cooked.
Note: on exceptionally large eggplants the skin can become quite tough, so if this is what you have you may want to consider peeling it before use.
Please note: cooking times can vary depending on the thickness of your fries and the type of air fryer being used.
Storing, Freezing and Leftovers
These fries are best eaten hot and fresh.
They can become soggy once allowed to cool, and for this reason, I do not recommend storing leftovers.
If you do have leftovers you can reheat them in the air fryer to give them that crispy texture before serving.
Tip: Make a big batch and freeze half of the coated eggplant pieces for a great addition to your next salad.
If you like to have things prepped and ready in the freezer then prepare the eggplant fries as directed in the recipe card, flash freeze on a baking sheet, and then store in a freezer-safe bag/container for up to 6 months.
When you’re ready to use them simply thaw them in the refrigerator and air fry as directed.
How To Serve Eggplant Fries
These eggplant fries are just perfect for dipping into a nice dipping sauce.
Why not serve with one of these:
- marinara sauce
- pizza sauce
- a yogurt dip
- ranch
- aioli
- tomato kethcup
- this peri peri sauce
The options are limitless!
Alternatively, enjoy them as a healhty side dish, as a main dish when added as a cripsy addition to a green salad, dipped in a runny egg, or in a salad wrap for lunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the eggplant is young and tender and on the smaller side then you do not have to peel it.
If it is a larger eggplant you may want to peel it before using it in this recipe as the skin can sometimes be tough.
Yes.
Bake for 15-18 minutes at 425ºF/220ºC.
Yes.
Make a batch and freeze before cooking. Simply thaw in the fridge and cook as directed when needed.
Yes.
Replace the breadcrumbs with a gluten-free crumb like rice crumbs. You can also use almond flour instead.
Yes.
Swap the egg for plant-based milk and the cheese for nutritional yeast.
Whether you eat them as a snack, as a side to the main dish (how good would these go with a Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burger or Air Fryer Paleo Meatloaf Sliders), or as a crispy addition to a green salad, I hope you love these crispy eggplant fries as much as I do!
Need another great recipe using eggplant?
Try these Eggplant and Bean Vegan Sausage Rolls next!
Loved this air fryer eggplant recipe or have a question? Leave a comment below or leave a 5-star rating on the recipe card.
Happy Eating.
xx
Recipe
Super Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium eggplant washed and dried
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 eggs
- oil spray
- sea salt for serving
Instructions
- Cut the eggplant into evenly sized sticks resembling thick-cut fries. You do not have to remove the skin of the eggplant.1 medium eggplant
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix the panko breadcrumb, the parmesan, and the garlic power.1 cup panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- In a second bowl, whisk the eggs together.2 eggs
- Take one eggplant stick at a time and dip it in the eggs.
- Transfer to the panko mixture bowl and press the stick on all sides, so it’s covered with panko mixture. You will want to do this step quite fast to prevent the eggplant from soaking in the egg mixture and becoming soggy.
- Spray the bottom of the air fryer's basket with oil, add the eggplant fries, and spray again on top.oil spray
- Cook at 400 ˚F (200C) for about 8 minutes, flipping them halfway.
- Sprinkle with sea salt and serve hot and fresh.sea salt for serving
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
JuneVee says
I haven’t even tried your recipe yet, but already I love it! Why? Because of that little extra touch of reminding me how much of each ingredient…AT the step I need it. Great idea, no more scrolling up and down like a yo-yo! And I’m sure I’ll love the fries too 😊
Donna says
Oh I am glad this is helpful, I wasn't sure if it added too much clutter to the recipe, thanks for the feedback!
Kris says
These were so crispy and tasty and the kiddos loved them which is always a win! Will make again. Thank you!
Amanda says
I love using my air fryer to make little snacks to have with drinks with my husband, so I made these over the weekend. So good! They came out perfectly crispy. These are definitely a new favorite for us. Thank you!
Lisa says
I never really liked eggplant until trying this recipe. The fries were so crisp and delicious!
Relle says
Love my air fryer. Thank you.
Gail says
Love that these are made in an air fryer - so easy! These eggplant fries are so crispy and delicious too!
Mandy Applegate says
This is the perfect way to get the kids eating veggies - mine loved them!
Eileen Kelly says
We just loved these fries! Eggplant is our favorite veggie and making them today into fries was delicious! Crispy and crunchy with tender eggplant.
Donna says
Glad you like them as much as we do!
Rupali says
My kids would normally not eat eggplant but loved this crispy version. I am definitely making these again.
Donna says
Yay!
Patrice says
Eggplant...Yes
Easy Recipe...Yes
In an Airfryer...OMG YES!!!
I love it. We'll be making this again soon.
Donna says
So glad you enjoyed! Definitely on repeat around here!
Rachel says
I love fried eggplant but had never tried it in the air fryer. Your recipe is awesome. So flavorful and crispy. Thanks for sharing!
Donna says
Glad you enjoyed! We have been using the air fryer for everything lately!
Lynn Polito says
These are so good! So delicious!
Rye says
I sadly couldn't get my egg wash to stick and got so frustrated and made a mess of the kitchen. First batch sucked!! Then I tried to first dredge in Corn starch and Viola perfection. Delicious and will do this again, first in cornstarch then egg.
Donna says
Glad you got it to work for you Rye! I have never had this issue when making the fries but will pop a little troubleshooting note in the recipe card in case anyone else has the same issue. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Susannah says
These were amazing! Can't wait to make them again.
Sherry says
My daughter loves eggplant, so I am always on the lookout for fun new recipes for her to try. After coming across your recipe, I decided to make it for her. She absolutely loved your Air Fryer eggplant fries!! This is an appetizer recipe that I will be making again and again!!
Donna says
Happy to hear it 🙂
Jennifer says
I'm in love. I love eggplant but have never tried it crispy before! Loved this! I'll be eating lots of eggplant now!
Linda says
I've been wanting to make eggplant fries and am so glad I found this recipe. It's so easy to make, flavorful, and can be ready in no time!