Copycat Maggiano’s Eggplant Parmesan Recipe Gets a Crispy, Speedy Air Fryer Makeover You’ll Love

The worst food dilemma is going to your favorite restaurant craving a specific dish, only to find out it’s no longer on the menu. This happened too long ago with Maggiano’s Little Italy as the Italian-American chain discontinued the eggplant parmesan due to menu changes. Luckily, it’s not hard to whip up a homemade version of this hearty veggie dish in the air fryer! You’ll save yourself the hassle of frying the breaded eggplant slices while ending up the crispy results. Plenty of sauce and cheese on top ensures this copycat Maggiano’s eggplant parmesan recipe tastes like the real thing!

The scoop on Maggiano’s eggplant parmesan

Eggplant parmesan was a staple of Maggiano’s menu, and consisted of fried eggplant slices layered with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Its cheesy and saucy flavors made it a customer-favorite, which is why many were upset when it was removed from the menu.

In a Facebook comment from December 2024, Maggiano’s explained to a customer that the dish was discounted due to menu changes as they were introducing new items, including the “Riserva” Veal Parmesan. The good news: You can make a Maggiano’s-inspired eggplant parmesan at home with the help of your air fryer.

How the air fryer works to create restaurant-style eggplant parmesan

Many eggplant parmesan recipes call for frying the breaded eggplant on the stovetop. While this achieves a crispy, golden brown exterior, you’ll likely leave behind grease splatters to clean up afterwards. The air fryer does the trick for crisping up the sliced eggplant with less oil and mess.

All you need to do is arrange the coated veg slices in a single layer on the air fryer basket and let it cook in the machine—flipping halfway through. When the breadcrumbs are golden brown, that’s the time to top the eggplant with marinara sauce and cheese before air frying again to melt the cheese. No need to wish for Maggiano’s to bring back this menu item when it’s so easy to make yourself!

Food

Giada De Laurentiis’ Sheet Pan Lasagna Delivers Crispy Edges in Every Bite

Lasagna is a comfort food classic, but for those of us with a busy schedule, assembling all those layers can feel like a project. Not for Giada De Laurentiis! The cookbook author and Food Network chef has a genius hack: sheet pan lasagna. She ditches the tedious stacking in favor of an easier, crispier take […]

A tasty copycat Maggiano’s eggplant parmesan recipe

This air fryer eggplant parmesan recipe comes from the Chirama’s Cooking YouTube Channel and comes together in about 45 minutes. Serve it with extra helpings of sauce over pasta or garlic bread.

Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan 

Deal of the Day

This Deep Conditioning Collagen Hair Mask for Has 4.9 Stars and Is 80% Off — Get It for $20! View Deal

Ingredients:

• 1 eggplant, sliced into ½-inch rounds
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• ¼ cup mozzarella cheese

Directions:

• Yield: 2 to 4 servings

1. Slice the eggplant into ½-inch rounds. Sprinkle some salt on both sides of the eggplant slices. Let it release moisture for 30 minutes.
2. Add flour in one bowl and whisk eggs in another bowl. In the third bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
3. Pat the eggplants dry with a paper towel.
4. Preheat air fryer to 370°F.
5. Coat the eggplant slices first in flour, then dip it in eggs and finally coat it with bread crumbs mixture.
6. Place the coated eggplant in the preheated air fryer basket. Let it air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking.
7. Once eggplants are crispy enough, top it with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and Air fry for another 1 to 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
8. Top it with fresh parsley or basil and enjoy it warm!