My grandmother's easy Baked Eggplant Parmesan is a delicious vegetarian dinner that only requires 15 minutes of prep! This recipe simplifies the classic Italian dish for a quick-prep, kid-friendly weeknight meal!
My grandmother’s easy Baked Eggplant Parmesan is a delicious vegetarian dinner that only requires 15 minutes of prep! This recipe simplifies the classic Italian dish for a quick-prep, kid-friendly weeknight meal!
Certain recipes just taste like home, and this eggplant Parmesan is definitely one of those dinners. It’s like a warm hug or an instant transport back to my childhood table.
I can almost close my eyes and see it: my 13-year-old self just walked in the door from soccer practice, Dad just came home from work, and Mom is scurrying around the kitchen to get us all fed, bathed, and in bed for the night. The aroma alone takes me back to those happy memories!
When Aunt Barbara recently passed along my grandmother’s old recipe box (which is a vintage-looking tin classic!), I spent hours pouring over all of her recipes.
One that instantly jumped out at me was the handwritten Baked Eggplant Parmesan on a weathered piece of yellow legal paper. As I mentioned, this is a meal that my own mom served us throughout my youth, and I suppose she received the recipe from her mom.
I do a lot of cooking for my own family these days, but Eggplant Parmesan wasn’t one of my go-to’s…until now. I think that I put off making the dish for a variety of reasons:
(1) it seemed too complicated and hands-on (I don’t have the time or energy to stand over a frying pan flipping individual slices of eggplant at this point in my life);
(2) it’s a vegetarian meal, so I automatically assumed that the 4 meat-loving boys in my house would turn their noses up at the humble eggplant; and
(3) there was no way that any generic Eggplant Parmesan recipe could live up to the memories of my mom’s homemade specialty.
So imagine my delight when I came across the very recipe that my mom had used 30-plus years ago! Even better? It’s BAKED in the oven, which means I spend about 15 minutes preparing the meal and that’s it! No frying pan, no flipping at the stove, and so darn easy!
The outside of the eggplant still gets crispy and flavorful (thanks to a buttered dish), but there’s no extra effort on my part.
Here’s What You Need To Make Eggplant Parmesan
- Eggplant
- Marinara sauce
- Parmesan
- Corn flake crumbs
- Egg
- Mozzarella
Cooks Tips
- You don’t need to peel the eggplant, the skin is actually full of health benefits. However if you are using up an old eggplant it may be best to peel it as it can turn bitter if it’s not fresh.
- If you don’t have corn flake crumbs then panko breadcrumbs would also work.
- Freezing is not advised as the eggplant can retain a lot of water.
But the true test came when I served this meal to my boys. Eggplant is definitely not a staple vegetable in this house (although we did attempt growing it in our garden one year), so I honestly wasn’t sure whether or not this dinner would be well received.
You guys!!! My kids LOVED my Grandma’s Baked Eggplant Parmesan! All 3 of them eyed it suspiciously at first, but after one bite they were sold. Casey announced that it’s delicious because “it tastes like pizza,” and from there we were off and running!
Serving Suggestions
I enjoy my Eggplant Parmesan with a salad on the side, while the boys love their carbs in the form of a side of pasta and marinara. Rest assured, this is an easy vegetarian dinner that satisfies even the pickiest meat-loving men! My grandma would be so proud..
Other Italian Meals You Might Like:
- 5-ingredient pasta pomodoro sauce
- Creamy Italian pasta salad
- Italian stuffed chicken roll-ups
- Baked Italian shrimp (20 minutes)
Grandma's Baked Eggplant Parmesan
My grandmother's easy Baked Eggplant Parmesan is a delicious vegetarian dinner that only requires 15 minutes of prep! This recipe simplifies the classic Italian dish for a quick-prep, kid-friendly weeknight meal!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- ½ cup corn flake crumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Dash of pepper
- 1 small eggplant
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 2 ounces (1/2 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F (200C).
- Pour melted butter into a 11 x 7-inch baking dish. Set aside.
- Place egg in a shallow dish. Set aside.
- In a separate shallow dish, combine corn flake crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Peel eggplant and cut into ¾-inch thick slices. Dip each slice in egg and coat with crumb mixture. Place in prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes; turn slices and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Pour marinara sauce over eggplant and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake for 3 more minutes, or until cheese is just melted.
Recipe Notes
My boys love this dish when it's served with pasta and additional marinara sauce on the side!
I love meals that instantly take you back to your childhood! This eggplant parmesan definitely looks like the perfect comfort food dish. I’ve never made it myself before, but I do love ordering it out. I love that this is ready in just 15 minutes!
Thanks so much, Gayle! You should try it at home — this is definitely easier than it looks! 🙂
I am making this tonight for my family. BLT’S AND this. I doubled the recipe and did 2 pans. Our eggplants ate huge down here.
Oh, yum! That sounds like a delicious meal! You can never have too much of the eggplant parm — I think the leftovers are great too! 🙂
I just tried this recipe tonight; my picky husband, loved it!
It’s a hit! I used 2 baking dishes for a larger eggplant.
This recipe was so easy and fast, unlike another recipe that took at least 90 minutes. I will repeat, thanks so much. Anishara
Hi! Can this be prepared the night before and then put in the oven the next day? I want to make this for Christmas.
Hi, Darla! I’ve never tried that, but I think it would probably work. 🙂
I just made this and it was so easy to make and tastes fantastic!! I have been looking for a good eggplant parm recipe and have finally found it!! Your recipes always hit the spot! Thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad that you like it, Courtney! It’s one of my favorites, and I’ve even been known to eat any leftovers cold…straight out of the fridge! Thanks so much for reading along with us and for letting me know that you tried it. Have a great weekend! 🙂
I made this last night for dinner and it was great! I didn’t have corn flakes so I used Italian seasoned breadcrumbs. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
That’s great, Cathy! Did the breadcrumbs work ok? I was wondering if they would get crispy on the outside like the cornflakes, or if they would just be kind of soggy. Let me know! 🙂
I tried it with breadcrumbs too. It came out soggy. Will try it with corn flakes next time!
Yes, I wouldn’t recommend breadcrumbs here. Corn flakes are the way to go! 🙂
I made this recipe tonight and just love it but I did not have the cornflakes or breadcrumbs so I used Panko instead and it came out delicious!
Great! Glad to know that it works well with the panko too!
Hands down, this recipe is your best yet. It was absolutely delicious and loved by the entire family. Tank you, thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! I was just thinking the other day that I need to make this again soon. We love it as well!
This was so easy and so yummy! Thanks so much for the recipe. It turned out very well.
Yay! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, Becky! Thanks for letting me know!
I have been making recipes from your blog for about 5 months and this is my favorite so far!!Thank you!!
That’s great, Stephanie! I’m so glad that you’ve been enjoying our recipes. And yes — this is definitely one of my favorites, too! 🙂
Hi this recipe looks amazing. Is there anyway to cut down the sodium though?
Hi, Alayna! You can use a homemade marinara where you control the sodium, and you can cut the salt to 1/4 teaspoon. The rest of the sodium is largely in the cheeses, which you obviously can’t change. 🙂 Hope that helps!
This was awesome! My girls cleaned their plates which is rare! I didn’t have corn flakes so used bran flakes and doubled the parm. Thanks for a great go to for the future!
That’s great, Meggan! Way to get resourceful with the bran flakes. 🙂 And yes — I was so pleasantly surprised the first time that I served this to my kids and they loved it!
What are corn flake crumbs? Actual corn flake cereal?
Hey, Meg! I’m actually making this Eggplant Parm for dinner again tonight. 🙂
The corn flake crumbs are literally crushed up Corn Flakes cereal. You can also buy cornflake crumbs in a canister (similar to bread crumbs) if you prefer the shortcut. Either option works, but I usually just use the actual cereal and crush it in a Ziploc bag with a wooden rolling pin. Takes two seconds!
Enjoy. 🙂
Does this freeze well?
Hi, Joanna! I have never actually tried myself, but I would worry that the texture of the eggplant or the coating might get weird after freezing. Again, I don’t know for sure — just a guess. 🙂
OMG! I’m transitioning from meat! I tried this recipe last night! My husband and kids are meat people! They throughly enjoy this eggplant parm! They came back for seconds! Thank you so much for this recipe! And it was so easy! I’m hooked!
That’s wonderful, CoCo! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! I found the same to be true in my house — even my meat-loving boys enjoy this dinner!
Hello Blair, I really like your Eggplant parmesan recipe, and I tried it a little differently than your directions though. I did use Italian seasoned breadcrumbs and when I dipped the eggplant slices in the egg batter and breadcrumbs, I placed them in a seasoned frying pan with olive oil and butter and sauteed them until golden golden brown. Then I followed your directions in placing them in a baking dish, layering them as you stated and covered them with seasoned marinara sauce, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. It turned out beautifully and none of it was soggy. Great tasting and very nutritious. Thanks, Maria
Hey, Maria! Glad to know that it works your way, too! Thanks for sharing, and I’m so happy that you enjoy the recipe! 🙂
This recipe was fantastic! My non-vegetable eating boyfriend ate every bite and loved it. Super easy. I will make this again and again.
Wonderful! My non-veggie-loving husband enjoys this dish, too! 🙂
Hi
I usually have to sprinkle the eegpkant with salt abd let drain on wired rack to get all of the wter out of the eggplant. Does baking without sauce keep it crunchy
Hi, Sue! I find that the eggplant in this recipe is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. 🙂
Why do you add the sauce at the end and only bake it for 3 minutes? Most eggplant parm recipes include the sauce in from the beginning. Thanks.
Hi, Priya! I do it that way because that’s how my grandmother said to do it. 🙂 Seriously, though — it works perfectly, so I’ve never felt the need to change the process.
Many eggplant parm recipes require you to fry the eggplant in a skillet before it goes in the oven. Since this eggplant isn’t fried in a skillet at all, it gets crispy and the “fried” texture by baking in the oven before adding the sauce. I would worry that adding the sauce earlier wouldn’t allow it to get crispy, and you’d have a soggy end result. Hope that helps!
Hi there.. I made the mistake of adding sauce where I was to JUST turn it…, and I used Italian Bread crumbs.. tasty but soggy!! Ughhh my husband is a great Ginny Pig!! Next time I’ll follow directions and stay in task:)
I made it today! It’s really good!
Great! Thanks for letting me know, Jose!
Eggplant Parm is my favorite meal from Italian restaurants, but I have never tried making it at home because I thought it would be complicated to make. I just made this (SO easy!) and it is SO good! This is going to be a regular part of our dinnertime routine. I didn’t have cornflakes, so I substituted crushed Rice Chex and it came beautifully! So crunchy and tasty. You have made me very happy 🙂
Isn’t it delicious, Jean! I’m so glad that you’ve found a way to enjoy a favorite at home! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!
I just made this today. Wow!! It’s amazing. I’ve had 3 helpings today. 😳😳😳. My teenager liked it as well and thought it was chicken. 🤣. Put half of recipe in freezer. Hope it freezes well.
Yay! I’m so glad that you love it too, Lisa! 🙂
First, Thank you for this recipe. I’m in the process of making it for dinner right now and I have high hopes for it.
However, I have a small complaint. You currently have 116 ad trackers and/or ad pixels on your website which causes it to load ridiculously slow. I’m all for ads on your site to generate revenue but that is just ridiculous.
Hey, Matt! Thank you for your feedback — I do appreciate it!
I hope that you enjoy the eggplant. 🙂
If you use breadcrumbs – double bread the slices! No sogginess and absolutely perfect!
Great tip! Thanks, Kayla!
Hi Blair! I’m only beginning to experiment in the kitchen as I am out of college. I usually like to cook for my family of 4. I am making this meal tonight and I am super excited! Your story and use of words is exquisite! I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of “corn flake crumbs” you mean by this. Thank you!
Hi, Cristal! Good for you! That’s awesome that you’re getting in the kitchen, learning how to cook, and helping out your family. 🙂
You have two different options for the cornflake crumbs. You can either purchase a box of regular Cornflakes cereal, put it in a big ziploc bag, and crush it with a rolling pin or mallet until the flakes are the texture of coarse breadcrumbs; OR you can purchase a canister of cornflake crumbs. The canister of cornflake crumbs can usually be found in the grocery store near the breadcrumbs and other similar coatings (like “Shake n’ Bake, etc.”). Buying the cereal and crushing it yourself just adds an extra step to the preparation, so pick the option that works best for you.
Enjoy, and thanks so much for your kind note!
Hi Blair. I want to fix this recipe for a vegetarian friend who is coming home from the hospital after having a new baby. She was originally coming home Sunday which would have allowed me to bake it and take it. However, she needed to stay until Monday. I work weekdays so my question is can you put this together ahead of time and bake omitting the marinara and mozzarella, refrigerate overnight and take with final instructions by heating up the dish with marinara and cheese? Or will it become soggy. Thanks for your input and a great sounding recipe.
Hi! This is a great option for your vegetarian friend!
I haven’t tried this prep-ahead method myself, but I *think* it would work well. I’m guessing that it will be slightly less “crispy” than the original version, but it will definitely still be delicious. I eat this eggplant parm as leftovers regularly, and it still tastes amazing. Your suggestion for reheating with the sauce and cheese should work fine!
Thanks Blair. My friend loved it. She said it was better than Olive Garden! And I got to hold the new bundle of joy. 😍
Wonderful! I’m so glad that it was a hit! Congrats to your friend on her new baby! 🙂
Just tried this recipe for the first time tonight and it came out amazing! My husband went back for thirds 😂 I’ve never cooked with eggplant before but I know I’ll definitely be making this recipe again!!
That’s great, Shalee! I’m so glad that your first experience with eggplant was a good one! 🙂
Panko breadcrumbs work too! Browned really nicely
Great! Thanks, Veronica!
Thanks for making me sick !!! It was so good I ate it all lol
just kidding I did make it for my wife though and she and I both were amazed at how good it was !!!
Hah! I’m glad that you guys ate it all!! 🙂
Thank you for this recipe! My husband absolutely loved it (I did too!) I have never cooked with eggplant before! Oh my goodness this has me on an eggplant kick 😂 my poor husband.. It’ll be eggplant everything from here on out
Oh, good! Thanks for letting me know, Shalee! Bring on the eggplant! 🙂
Would this still work if I left the skin on? Thanks!
Hi, Lauren! Yes, this will definitely work if you leave the skin on. The skin can just be a bit tough, so it doesn’t appeal to everyone. If you don’t mind it, then feel free to leave it on. 🙂
I’m going to make this egg plant parm tonight. Do I need to sweat the egg plant first?
Hi, Connie! No, you do not need to sweat the eggplant first. If that’s your preference, you certainly can do so…but the recipe works well without that step. 🙂
I was going to make this exactly as the recipe directed. But my sweet family member who ran to the store accidentally got fruit sweetened corn flakes which were too sweet to use lol. So I happened to have rice chex cereal on hand and used it. Turned out perfect. This recipe is so delicious. Will be added to our favorite recipes.
Hah! I’m glad that you didn’t use the fruity flakes! 🙂 Glad to know that Rice Chex work as well!
Glad you said rice Chex! I was just thinking I don’t have cornflakes on hand but do have breadcrumbs, but per reviews saying may be soggy. Then when I read this comment, I remembered I do have the Chex!
I love eggplant I like eating it cold I’m going to try it your way it sounds easier than the way I make it eggplant is my favorite sandwich okay thanks your way sounds yummy.
Enjoy!
I was gifted some eggplant and stumbled on this recipe while trying to figure out what to do with it. I had one previous experience making eggplant and it didn’t turn out well at all so I was looking for something simple and foolproof. This recipe worked great! My kids pronounced it “interesting” and asked for something else, but my husband loved it and asked it be put on the menu again this week. I’ll work on my kids.😉
That’s great, Joy! Now we just need to get your kids on board! 🙂
This recipe is amazing!! First time ever trying eggplant parm and I will be making this again. Thanks so much for this delicious recipe!
Yay! I’m so glad that I’ve converted you into an eggplant parm lover! 🙂
Hi Blair!
Thanks for the recipe! I saw others comments that they had successfully used panko, so that’s what I was going to do for dinner tonight. Went to the cabinet and I didn’t have panko lol I had tempura. So I ended up using the last of a bag of mostly chip crumbs and some saltines 🙂 it still worked perfectly! It’s amazing how resourceful you can get when necessary 🙂 thanks again! 5 stars! (The site isn’t acknowledging the rating)
Wow — it’s great to know that you can use any of those ingredients and still have it turn out well! 🙂
HOLY MOLY this was SO delicious!! I’ve always wanted to try eggplant parm and include more meat alternative meals and this is going to be a staple. I didn’t have corn flakes so I substituted for panko and it was delicious and crispy! Thanks so much for the recipe! We can’t wait to make it again.
Yay! So glad that you loved it, Hannah! I need to add it to our menu again soon — it’s been too long. 🙂
I had a largish Italian Rosa Bianca eggplant in my garden and was looking for a baked eggplant parmesan recipe. I made this tonight-only had Panko bread crumbs on hand. But it was absolutely fabulous (my husband declared it ‘ not just good, but excellent’)
I made homemade marinara from my Roma tomatoes, also from the gardening with fresh basil. I still have more eggplant, so I might just make this again tomorrow night!!!
Hi, Liz! Your meal sounds delicious!!! So glad that you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂
Absolutely LOVED this receipe! It has been over 15 years, no kidding, since I’ve had this dish. My mom passed away and she use to make eggplant, I never had the chance to sit with her to get the receipe. Hubby liked it as well!
That makes me so happy to hear, Suzanne! Nostalgic recipes (like those that our moms or grandmothers prepared) are always THE BEST! 🙂
So I loved the flavor of the final product but I had one pretty big issue in the preparation part. For the life of me I couldn’t get the crumb mixture to stick to the eggplant after I dipped the slices in egg wash. I’m not sure if there is something I should be doing differently but I ended up having to kind of slap some on and strategically put the in the pan so the crumbs would stay. Any suggestions? Or anyone else have this issue?
Hey, Stephanie! I haven’t had that problem, so I’m not sure what to suggest. Was there too much egg mixture on each piece? I like to let most of it drip off before coating, so maybe that helps? Sorry that part was annoying for you! 🙂
Marinara sauce can’t belive no one says exactly what are you talking about. I assume a salty sugary preservative item out of a bottle. It’s the seafood part I’m struggling with
Is it necessary to use all of the butter called for in the recipe?
Hi, Janet! I don’t know. 🙂 I’ve always made it this way using my grandmother’s recipe because we like it and I know it works. I haven’t tested it with different amounts of butter, but you can certainly give it a try if that’s what you prefer.
Hello Blair,
Your Eggplant Parm recipe sounds yummy and I’m anxious to try it! Was wondering if you’ve prepared it or part of it a day ahead?? Pressed for time this wkend and hoping to be able to “pre” prepare!
Hi, Jean! I honestly have NOT prepared this particular meal in advance, so I don’t know how it would turn out. I regularly enjoy leftovers the day after, though, and it’s always delicious!
Hi Blair,
This was so delicious and satisfying thank you for sharing ..
So nice to eat healthy and still enjoy. I would like to try homemade marinara sometime..I only bead breadcrumbs and it was great!
Charity
I tried this recipe with homemade “Sake ‘n Bake”. It was delicious! We’ve rarely had eggplant in the past, but after my brother gave me some small eggplants from his garden, I had to do something with it. It was a real hit with my family.
Awesome! Thanks, Carmen!
I tried this recently and OMG it was so easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe. I did actually use wheat bread crumbs and they came out nice and crispy. I did make my own marinara sauce and i doubles the recipe! This one is a keeper!!
Great! Thanks, Lauren!
I have tried many recipes and this is by far the best. Thank you! It’s delicious.
Yay! So glad to hear that! 🙂
Hey, guess what? This recipe is awesome for college students too! I like to meal prep to leave myself more free time, and this was awesome! I doubled the recipe and made a gigantic pan, I’m very happy with it 🙂 thank you so much
Great! Thanks, Alex!
Delicious… Was a big hit with the whole family… Soooo quick and easy!!
Wonderful! Thanks, Jen!
Hi Blair – I am a broke college student renting a place near campus that doesn’t even have an oven, just a toaster oven we bought. I don’t have energy after school and work to stand and try something, and I thought I would never be able to make my favorite meal myself. However, I had a slow week this week and decided to try this recipe in my toaster oven – and it came out FANTASTIC!! I’m feeling like a regular chef over here. Thank you for sharing this!
Carly! That’s wonderful!!! Good to know that it works in the toaster oven, too! 🙂
This is incredible and so easy! I did use panko and fresh mozzarella and was amazing! Thank you!!
Thanks, Beckie! 🙂
Wickedly happy my hubs does not like eggplant. I get it all! And soooo yummy!
Hah! Thanks, Mary! I’m glad that you like it! 🙂
It was a hit! Thank you for sharing! This is a make again dish for sure.
Wonderful! Thanks, Lisa!
I have made several much more complicated eggplant parmesan recipes in the past, but this by far tasted the best! I love how quickly it comes together. Even my carnivorous husband ate a plate of it without complaining! Will definitely be making this again in the future.
That’s great, Brooke! I’m so glad that your husband even approved! 🙂
I made this and it was a delicious hit! Served it with pasta. 👍👍
Awesome! Thank you, Kathy!
I came here to say that I was VERY skeptical of this recipe. I have an old fashioned eggplant Parmesan recipe that I love so so much but it’s so messy to make and it takes forever to fry all the eggplant. This is a quick alternative that is not only easy to make but also tastes amazing. I am so glad I found and tried this recipe out!
Hooray! So glad that it exceeded your expectations! 🙂
Amazing. I can’t believe how easy and delicious this was, without having to deep-fry the eggplant! It was crispy on the outside and tender inside. I used Trader Joe’s brand rice crispies because that’s what I had, and they worked perfectly. This will definitely go in the regular rotation. If you’re having any doubts about making this recipe, don’t–just make it!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, Nadia! We made this for dinner last night too, and it’s always a hit with our family as well. I would have never thought to try the rice cereal, but I’m glad to know it works! 🙂
Amazing!!!! One of my new favorite recipes of all time!!! Thank you!!
I need a redo of this one. The flavor is great, the idea makes sense and the process is simple. I would like to stress the importance of the eggplant slices laying flat in the buttered dish, and also finding the right size eggplant for this recipe. My local grocery store only had big round fat eggplants available, which led to me having to stagger and stack them in the dish. I wasn’t able to get the brilliant crisp this way. Even so, we cleared are plates and enjoyed the flavor. Lesson learned 😉
Oh, yes — you definitely need the eggplant slices to lay flat in your pan. If you have very wide, large rounds, just use a bigger dish. Hopefully it will be a bigger success next time! 🙂
Just one word: YUMMY! I have made this 3 tines now. We moved to rural Alabama and the nearest Italian restaurant is over 1 hour away. We are really saving money and calories by not eating out. This is my favorite recipe… I only wish I found this recipe 20 years ago.
This is so simple and easy. I did one thing different and salted the eggplant first to draw out moisture, they turned out amazing! Thank you for sharing it.
Thanks, Karla! So glad that you enjoyed it!