Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Slices

Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The easiest side dish you will ever make at your next backyard barbecue or picnic our these Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Slices.

Sliced eggplant topped with a rich freshly made marinara sauce (or your favorite store-bought brand) then topped with Parmesan cheese and done in around 2 minutes on the grill there is nothing easier than this recipe.

These eggplant slices can be cooked longer for crispiness, made in an air fryer for a rained-out picnic, or even oven-baked in a cast iron skillet, simple, easy, and delicious.

I love a crispier cheese so I do like to broil mine a few minutes to get it all toasty so after I add the sauce and add a slice of provolone I like to broil it a minute.

Even the pickiest vegetable members in your home will love these eggplant slices, they're so flavorful with sauce and cheese it's almost like eating a slice of pizza and using the eggplant as a crust.

This also would be great as an appetizer if you want to add some pepperoni on top, tomato sauce then melt a slice of cheese on top.

Baked, grilled, or air fried, these eggplant slices are delicious and super fast to make.

We have some shortcut step-by-step instructions for you, tips, and suggestions below in our recipe card to change up your eggplant every time you make it.

Just scroll to the bottom of the page to print off the directions.


eggplant slices made on a gas grill with tomato sauce and cheese on top





Easy to Make Step by Step

  1. heat a gas grill or cast iron skillet for the stovetop or heat the air fryer to 400 degrees and grease your basket
  2. slice the eggplant, place on paper towels and salt for 30 minutes then rinse the salt off
  3. place eggplant in an oil-sprayed skillet, sprayed air fryer basket or directly on the heated grill grates
  4. grill them until the grill marks are prominent on both sides using a medium-high heat for about 2 minutes on each side(for air frying you won't have the grill marks and it will take around 4 minutes at 400 degrees just until it softens and starts to crisp on the sides)
  5. top with your favorite tomato sauce and long strands of Parmesan cheese or add shredded mozzarella, and a slice of provolone cheese, and melt it under the broiler in the oven

eggplant grilled parmesan topped with cheese and tomato sauce


Other Topping Suggestions and Tips:

  • use zucchini rounds in place of eggplant
  • for topping substitutions you can mix and match:
  • asparagus diced, 
  • any kind of peppers
  • chopped celery
  • chopped green beans
  • sliced mushrooms
  • fresh spinach or arugula 
  • julienned carrots
  • use any kind of cheese you prefer
  • deli sliced pepperoni or cooked sliced meats of your choice can be added for meat lovers
  • think about your favorite pizza toppings and add them on top
  • add the marinara sauce first then cheese
  • add taco sauce with chilies and cheddar for a Mexican Blend


eggplant thick slices


Ingredients You Will Need Refer to the recipe card below for exact measurements

  • fresh eggplant slices
  • marinara sauce homemade or store-bought
  • grated  Parmesan cheese, Pecorino Romano, provolone slices or shredded mozzarella
  • Garnish: fresh basil

cast iron skillet grilled eggplant


Try My Other Favorite Recipes




Eggplant Parmesan


Zucchini Rollatini


Eggplant Boats


Pin for later



pin for later grilled eggplant


Easy Grilled Eggplant


This eggplant grilled is so versatile when it comes to toppings so you can make a whole meal out of it or a side dish.


The eggplant looks elegant served when hosting a dinner party on the plate, the grill marks give it a rustic feeling and is perfect with any meal.


The eggplant cooks quickly and is so flavorful and a great addition to that cookout when you need an easy side dish in a hurry.


If you're an eggplant lover, you will love the simplicity of the recipe and the variations can be endless with different toppings you may prefer.



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Italian, American
Yield: 6
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Slices

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Slices

Grilled eggplant with marinara and Parmesan cheese is perfect for a side dish at your next cookout or side dish indoors.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 4 MinTotal time: 14 Min

Ingredients

  • 2 or 3 small Eggplant sliced thick (or use Zucchini slices if you're not a fan of eggplant)
  • sea salt
  • paper towels
  • Marinara Sauce Homemade or use your favorite jarred store-bought
  • Parmesano Reggiano cheese grated fresh or use Pecorino Romano cheese
  • salt, pepper, red pepper flakes to taste if needed
  • Optional Garnish: granulate garlic powder, fresh basil leaves, more grated cheese, sliced provolone melted or mozzarella melted on top

Instructions

  1. Slice the eggplant into thick slices, place them on paper towels with a light coating of sea salt for 30 minutes or up to an hour to remove bitterness, then rinse the salt off.
  2. Grilling: heat the grill to medium heat adding a little oil to the grates before adding the eggplant.
  3. Grill on one side for 2 minutes, flip and grill the other side (or until a nice charred grilled mark remains).
  4. Place on a plate, add warmed marinara sauce and grated cheese or add a slice of provolone(or mozzarella) and broil until the top is crispy and brown before serving.
  5. Garnish with more cheese, red pepper flakes if desired, and fresh basil and granulated garlic powder.
  6. Stovetop: For using a gridded cast iron skillet on the stovetop, oil spray the skillet to medium-high heat. Sear the eggplant slices on both sides until a nice char remains on each side with grill marks. Proceed with the highlighted above instructions.
  7. Air Fryer: coat the air fryer basket with cooking oil and heat it for 5 minutes on 400 degrees. Place the slices on the basket carefully using tongs.
  8. Air fry until softens and starts to crisp up around 3 to 4 minutes on 400 degrees.
  9. Proceed with the serving instructions above with tomato sauce, cheese, and garnishes

Notes

Other Topping Suggestions and Tips:

  • use zucchini rounds in place of eggplant
  • for topping substitutions you can mix and match:
  • asparagus diced, 
  • any kind of peppers
  • chopped celery
  • chopped green beans
  • sliced mushrooms
  • fresh spinach or arugula 
  • julienned carrots
  • use any kind of cheese you prefer
  • deli sliced pepperoni or cooked sliced meats of your choice can be added for meat lovers
  • think about your favorite pizza toppings and add them on top
  • add the marinara sauce first then cheese
  • add taco sauce with chilies and cheddar for a Mexican Blend




Pin for later



pin for later grilled eggplant


Eggplant Favorite Recipes


Eggplant Ricotta Casserole

Eggplant aka Zucchini Roll-Ups

Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Boats



Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2010. It was edited and re-published in 2022.

27 comments

  1. Love this - you always have great recipes for weeknight meals that don't seem like weeknight meals!

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  2. I adore eggplant. It's so easy and 95% of the time comes up pretty darned tasty in any dish.

    Grilled with light marinara and of course cheese makes a perfect Eggplant dish. Love it!

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  3. now that's something I have not done in a while, and something I need to do, great and ever so good...

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  4. I love eggplant! Thanks for this quick and easy side dish, I'll be making it soon for sure!

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  5. Grilled eggplants sounds terrific! I'm cooking a lot on a grill these days and will try this too! Thanks!

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  6. One of my all-time favorites love me some eggplant Parmesan. Great job!

    Cheers!

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  7. Eggplant parmesan is one of those classic dishes where I could eat it at every meal. I never tire of this one and yours looks mouthwatering. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Such a great family favourite.
    My 'Nonna' used to make it the best...I'm still trying to get hers just right ;o)
    Thanks for reminding me to get those eggplants the next time I'm out.
    Very appetizing version you have made here for your famiglia ;o)
    Buon appetito!
    Flavourful wishes, Claudia

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  9. This is a great way to eat eggplant. It looks delicious.

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  10. This is just the thing! I love it. Thanks for reminding me about how excellent eggplant really is!

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  11. Eggplant is one of my favorite meals. I love the way it grills and just melts in your mouth!

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  12. This will be perfect when the eggplants come in. Healthy, very delicious, fresh and that grated cheese always adds zing.

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  13. I had grilled eggplant for the first time just a few months ago and loved it! I could eat just a big plate of this for dinner. Delicious!

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  14. Yummy deliciousness. This is one of my favorite dishes to eat any time of year. Though eggplant is in season now, no? Nice....

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  15. I told Dad I'm going to have an Italian Saturday this weekend. He wants spaghetti and meatballs, and I want your eggplant! Guess we'll have both. Thanks for the inspiration friend, the eggplant is just perfect!

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  16. Quick... easy... delicious.

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  17. that looks wonderful!! I love eggplant

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  18. Light and tasty dish, ideal in this season!

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  19. You can't beat a simple and healthy dish like this for dinner!

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  20. I love eggplant! Looks perfect for dinner.

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  21. Oh you are making me hungry this morning Claudia, and I already had bbfast! beautiful eggplants and recipe, for me they replace meat and are one of my fav. vegetables!

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  22. One of my very favorite dishes...Looks great!

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  23. Beautiful grilled eggplant Claudia..very tasty looking!

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  24. Grilled eggplant and cheese, and marinara sauce?

    Time to break out the grill now!

    jessyburke88@gmail.com

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  25. Hey today is National Eat Your Veggies Day.

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  26. Thanks for including this awesome grilled eggplant in our Get Grillin' event!

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Remember to use the search option for a recipe you're looking for and thanks for all your kind words and support. We love our readers all the best Claudia