Baked Eggplant Cutlets

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Baked Eggplant Cutlets come out crispy and delicious without frying! Make a batch for eggplant parmesan, to make sandwiches, or just eat on their own.

46 CAL 8g CARBS 1g FAT 2g PROTEIN
4 Comments

This delicious, easy, and super crispy baked eggplant is a healthy way to make perfect eggplant in the oven every time. They are a great meatless alternative to classically baked chicken cutlets and also a great way to introduce eggplant to kids.

I can't say enough about these homemade breaded eggplant slices. My whole family was literally grabbing them off the baking sheet, dunking them in some marinara on the side, and chowing down. I am not even sure they knew it was eggplant when they started but I happily watched as they ate a huge serving of veggies.

My kids were even asking for more, which is pretty incredible since they usually shy away from eggplant. They are also obsessed with these eggplant fries.

The key to making crispy eggplant cutlets is to make sure you cut them super thin and salting them. This is a step that many people skip but is super important. Salting the eggplant helps pull out some of the moisture and allows the eggplant and coating to get nice and crunchy on the outside.

If you skip this step, you could end up with soggy eggplant slices. They will still taste great but will be missing that addictive crunch.

Eggplant cutlets with breading on a cutting board with tomato sauce for dipping.

How to Make Baked Eggplant Cutlets

Here are the step-by-step instructions to ensure you make delicious, crispy baked eggplant every time.

  1. Salt the eggplant: This is the most important step if you want crispy eggplant that isn't soggy! Once the eggplant is sliced into rounds, sprinkle it with salt. Let the salted eggplant sit for at least 5 minutes, ideally about 30 minutes. Rinse lightly and dry or simply wipe with paper towels. This removes excess moisture and is the key to making non-mushy eggplant.
  2. Make the breading mixture: In a shallow dish, combine the breadcrumbs and spices. Feel free to swap in any spices you like. For extra crispy eggplant cutlets, add one tablespoon of olive oil to the breadcrumbs. Both regular and Panko breadcrumbs can be used, but regular is more traditional.
  3. Bread the eggplant cutlets: Dredge the eggplant slices in the eggs to start. Egg whites or whole eggs can be used. Then gently press into the breading mixture making sure to coat well on both sides.
  4. Bake until crispy: Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and cook for 15-20 minutes until browned and crispy. If desired, place them on a wire rack to ensure they are crispy on both sides. However, if you place them on a preheated baking sheet and flip them halfway through, the wire rack isn't necessary.

Main Dishes to Serve with Baked Eggplant

Think of these cutlets like any other "meat" — you can add them to just about anything, including:

  • Low-Carb Eggplant Parmesan is my all-time favorite and could very well be yours, too!
  • These cutlets would make a nice, crispy base for these Eggplant Pizza Bites.
  • Instead of roasting your eggplant, chop up these cutlets and add to this Roasted Eggplant and Quinoa Salad with Feta.
  • Bake up several eggplant's worth of cutlets and top with whatever you have on hand — every cutlet can have a different topping.
  • Use a cutlet like a faux burger — add it to a bun and top with all your typical burger toppings. You won't miss the meat!

Crispy baked eggplant with breadcrumsb and herbs being picked up.

Leftover Ideas

Eggplant cutlets are great in a number of ways, my favorite, of course, being this skinny eggplant parm. Other ways to eat the eggplant include:

  • As a snack. No muss, no fuss.
  • You can use these cutlets as the "meat" for your sandwich along with your favorite toppings.
  • These cutlets would also work well sliced or cubed over a salad.
  • They also make a great appetizer topped with a dab of ricotta and some marinara sauce. Just be sure to slice your eggplant thin!
  • Dice the cutlets up and mix them together with some chickpeas, halved cherry tomatoes, basil, and some grated parmesan for an eggplant-parm-inspired salad.

Do You Have to Peel an Eggplant?

I didn't peel the eggplant to make these cutlets. But I know that some people don't like the skin at all. For these cutlets, feel free to make them how you like. It does make the eggplant less chewy and bitter if you cut the skin off — especially if you have a bigger or older eggplant. Smaller ones should be softer and cook more easily — but then again, your cutlets will be smaller.

How do you fry eggplant in the oven?

When I originally posted this recipe, I got a lot of questions about frying eggplant. While these come out nice an crispy, some people enjoy a more "fried" version. If this is what you crave, simply drizzle the eggplant cutlets with a touch of olive oil or melted butter before baking them. The oil will add the flavor of fried eggplant that many are used to and make things even crispier.

Are Baked Eggplant Cutlets Healthy?

First of all, these cutlets are baked, not fried like most eggplant. Other ways that these cutlets are because:

  • Eggplant itself is low-carb and low-fat and also low in calories. The fruit (yes, it's a fruit!) also has plenty of bone-building calcium and antioxidants that can help to ward off heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses.
  • Breadcrumbs when used sparingly, are a great replacement for heavier breading used for frying. And, since these cutlets are baked, breadcrumbs are a good carb to add to get that crispiness you want in a cutlet.
  • Egg whites are low in calories and high in protein.
  • Spices such as oregano, basil, rosemary, pepper, and salt can help to fight inflammation in your body and also fill you with your daily allowance of essential vitamins and minerals to keep your body healthy and working properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most common questions about making baked eggplant.

When cut into slices, eggplant takes 15-20 minutes to cook in the oven at 450 degrees. If it is being roasted in cubes or wedges, it will take about 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees.

The best way to make sure your eggplant isn't mushy or soggy is to salt the eggplant slices for 10-15 minutes before cooking it. Then wipe off the excess moisture with paper towels.  This helps eggplant to have a firm texture when cooked.

Homemade baked eggplant cutlets on a cutting board with marinara sauce.
The Recipe
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Baked Eggplant Cutlets

46 CAL 8g CARBS 1g FAT 2g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 15 Min
COOK TIME: 20 Min
TOTAL TIME: 35 Min
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 egg whites
  • Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

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1

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and place a large baking sheet into the oven to preheat as well. This helps the eggplant to crisp up right away. Slice your eggplant into 1/4 inch pieces using a sharp knife.

2

Then sprinkle with salt and let sit for at least 5 minutes (ideally 10-15 minutes) on paper towels. This will help remove some of the moisture. Wipe clean with the paper towels.

3

Mix together the breadcrumbs, oregano, rosemary, basil, and black pepper. Beat the egg whites and set aside.

4

Pull out the baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Dip the eggplant into the egg whites and then coat on both sides with the bread crumbs. Place onto the baking sheet. Repeat until all of the eggplant are done.

5

Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping half way through. Let cool for 2-3 minutes and enjoy!

Equipment

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Diets:
Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1 cutlet
Amount Per Serving
Calories 46
Calories from Fat 5
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 1g
1%
Saturated Fat 0g
1%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 64mg
3%
Total Carbohydrate 8g
3%
Dietary Fiber 2g
9%
Sugars 2g
Protein 2g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
4 Comments
On Baked Eggplant Cutlets
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Pat Gold
September 15, 2024 - 07:36
FYI if you want them crispier and still keep them lower calorie instead of using oil in the breading, after you put them on the baking sheet just give them a little spray with cooking oil. I feel you can control the amount you use better.
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Jeanne
October 11, 2021 - 15:56
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5
Love this recipe! The first time I followed your exact recipe. Tonight I substituted Italian seasoning for the individual herbs, and added grated Parmesan to the panko mixture. So very good.
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Lashon
October 10, 2018 - 07:39
Add a Rating:
5
These are delicious can't wait to make more
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October 10, 2018 - 08:19
Yay! Happy to hear you enjoyed them. I couldn't believe how quickly we ate them the first time I made them. Now it's always a double batch :)
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