Make this incredible loaded Crispy Baked Eggplant for a flavorful and satisfying dish! It's the best and EASIEST way to cook eggplant and results in a fantastic meal.
Top your eggplant rounds with melty cheese, smoky bacon, and all your favorite toppings. These are like loaded potato skins but even better for you and so simple to make!
Jump to:
- 🩵 About This Recipe
- What readers are saying...
- 🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- 🔪 Let's Make Crispy Baked Eggplant!
- 💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- ❔ FAQs
- 📝 Substitutions and Variations
- 🥡 Storage and Reheating
- ⏳ Make Ahead Instructions
- 🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
- 😋 More Eggplant Recipes You'll Love
- 📋 Recipe Card
- 💬 Reviews and Comments
🩵 About This Recipe
For a stellar appetizer or even a unique side dish, this crispy eggplant dish is a guaranteed crowd pleaser! Perfectly tender eggplant is the perfect way to assemble your favorite savory toppings for a delicious blend of flavors.
So easy to make, you can customize this recipe to your liking and try all kinds of topping combos. Perfect for a handheld snack or game day appetizer, this recipe takes loaded potato skins and gives them a lighter, more nutritional upgrade.
And for even more eggplant appies, try my Air Fryer Eggplant Fries or these super yummy Grilled Halloumi Kebabs with Eggplant!
What readers are saying...
These are amazing 🙂 I love eggplant so much that I am always looking for new ideas on how to prepare it 🙂
- Milena
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- eggplant - the base for all the yummy toppings.
- olive oil spray - helps the eggplant get nice and crisp.
- garlic salt - adds a savory flavor.
- toppings - I opted for a combination of bacon, a shredded Mexican cheese blend, and some scallions.
🔪 Let's Make Crispy Baked Eggplant!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Slice
Use a sharp knife to cut the eggplant into even rounds, about ¼ - ½ inch thick.
Prepare and Bake
Place the eggplant rounds on a lined baking sheet and spritz with oil. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Add Toppings
Add bacon and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
Bake
Return to the oven and bake another 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle with chopped green onions, then serve and enjoy.
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- For the best eggplant, choose one that's nice and firm and doesn't have any major blemishes or bruises.
- Make cleanup a breeze by adding a sheet of parchment paper on your baking sheet.
- If you want a super crispy result, sprinkle the eggplant rounds with some salt and let them sit so the moisture is drawn out.
- Unless you really hate the skin, don't peel the eggplant before slicing. This will ensure your eggplant holds its shape.
- A mandoline slicer is a great way to ensure even slices.
❔ FAQs
Yes! It is rich in fiber, packed with antioxidants, and a good source vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and manganese. It also may help lower cholesterol.
If your eggplant is soggy, you may have used too much oil to let it crisp up properly. You want just a light spritz!
Salting your eggplant isn't necessary, but it can help pull moisture out of the eggplant and leave you with a crispier result.
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- Instead of the Mexican blend, use Feta, Parmesan, mozzarella, or cheddar cheese.
- Replace the bacon with crispy chickpeas or some sun dried tomatoes to make this aubergine in the oven vegetarian.
- Add Italian seasoning or smoked paprika for some extra flavor, and if you like a little bit of kick, you can use red pepper flakes or chili powder.
- Top with other ingredients like avocado, sour cream, or even a drizzle of hot honey.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
For even cooking, make sure you slice the eggplant rounds into even thicknesses!
🥡 Storage and Reheating
If you have leftovers, let them cool and transfer to an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or in the air fryer, as microwaving will leave you with soggy eggplant.
I don't recommend freezing your leftovers. Freezing eggplant results in a mushy and sometimes grainy result when it thaws again.
⏳ Make Ahead Instructions
Cook and crumble your bacon ahead of time to make it quicker to prep these crispy zucchini rounds when the time comes!
Keep It Handy
Don't have time for this crispy baked eggplant recipe right now? Click on or tap the heart icon on the BOTTOM RIGHT of the screen to save it for later!
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Eat this dish alongside your favorite grilled chicken, some Air Fryer Steak Bites, or these Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Carrots! You can also serve these in a wrap, or layer them with some marinara sauce in a baking dish to make a unique eggplant Parmesan.
😋 More Eggplant Recipes You'll Love
- Oven Grilled Eggplant with Easy Yogurt Sauce - Great as a side dish or snack, this eggplant is "grilled" in the oven.
- Oven Baked Eggplant Milanese Sandwich - You'll love this elegant and flavorful sandwich with crispy, oven baked eggplant.
- Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan - This vegetarian take on chicken parm comes together easily in the air fryer for a simple and quick dinner.
- Sauteed Eggplant - From Wholesome Yum, this super easy eggplant recipe is great for a quick veggie side dish!
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Crispy Eggplant Recipe
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📋 Recipe Card
Loaded Crispy Baked Eggplant Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large eggplant
- Olive oil spray
- Garlic salt
- 1 ½ cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- ¾ cup cooked chopped bacon
- 6 scallions, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Slice eggplant into round discs, about ¼ - ½ inch thick (thinner rounds will get crispier).1 large eggplant
- Place the eggplant rounds on a baking sheet, spray both sides of each with a light coating of olive oil spray, and sprinkle with small amount of garlic salt.Olive oil spray, Garlic salt
- Place the rounds in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until rounds are getting brown and crispy.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Top each round with the shredded cheese and the bacon crumbles.1 ½ cups shredded Mexican blend cheese, ¾ cup cooked chopped bacon
- Return the baking sheet to the over for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Sprinkle the scallions over the rounds and serve.6 scallions, chopped
Notes
- Choose an eggplant with a firm, heavy feel, minimal blemishes, and smooth purple skin.
- For maximum crispiness, slice the eggplant evenly and use a light touch with the oil.
- A parchment paper liner on your baking sheet makes for quick cleanup!
- If you don't have time to cook your bacon and crumble it, you can buy pre-cooked bacon recipe pieces to use in this recipe.
- If your rounds are not as crispy as you would like even when using thin slices, next time try 'sweating' them to draw out some of the water before baking them (sprinkle the rounds with salt, let them sit for a half hour, then gently wipe them with a paper towel to remove the salt and moisture).
- The eggplant skin helps hold its shape and adds fiber, so no need to peel.
- For quick, even slices, use a mandoline slicer.
- If desired, you can swap the Mexican blend shredded cheese for mozzarella, feta, or parmesan.
- For a vegetarian version, replace the bacon with sun-dried tomatoes or crispy chickpeas.
- For additional flavor, add smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, or red pepper flakes.
- Garnish with diced avocado, sour cream, or a drizzle of hot honey for a twist.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in an oven or air fryer at 375°F for 5-7 minutes to regain crispiness. Avoid the microwave, as it will make them soggy.
- Freezing is not recommended, as eggplant tends to become mushy when thawed.
Additional Serving Suggestions:
- Pair with grilled chicken, steak, or roasted vegetables.
- Use in a wrap or sandwich with extra toppings like lettuce and tomatoes.
- Layer with marinara and extra cheese for a quick eggplant parm-style dish.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in July 2019, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in March 2025.
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Ricki @ The Questionable Homesteader says
I have to admit that I'm like 2, egg plant is not high up on my list of things to eat...however some how it ended up in my vegetable garden, and a friend of mine keeps giving them to me... so I need to find a way to enjoy eating egg plant (as the culprit for putting the plant in my garden can't keep up with it...)
Thanks for sharing at The Blog Strut Peacock Style, and I look forward to trying this recipe.
Kristin says
Thanks Ricki! If Thing 2 liked them, you might like them too. He really is tough to please. Of course, sometimes he just has to eat whatever I make, whether he likes it or not, but I do try to find things that he likes when I can. It is always great when I can expand his horizons a little by preparing something he usually doesn't like in a way that makes him like it! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Katie says
WOW...I would have never thought of loading an eggplant. Great idea! I'm sure this is yummy. I will have to try it next time I bake eggplant. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Katie @thecasualcraftlete.com
Kristin says
Thanks Katie! I love your chalkboard tag idea. So cute and useful! Thanks for stopping by!
Krista @ joyfulhealthyeats says
What an awesome idea, love that you loaded eggplant instead of the typical potato. Pinning this now!
Kristin says
Thanks, Krista! I am heading over to check out your veggie eggs benedict now...they sound delicious!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
I completely ADORE eggplant so YUM! 😀 I would put olives and sun-dried tomatoes and maybe some jarred tuna in olive oil on those rounds!
Kristin says
Thanks! Your ideas sound great too! I love sun-dried tomatoes! I think I will try that next time I make them! Thanks for stopping by!
Sarah says
What a great idea!! I have to try these!! Thank you so much for sharing & linking up at Thank You Honey's Whatever Wednesday Party!!
LydiaF says
I shared your photo on my facebook page and got a great response. I love this idea and am waiting for the eggplant to ripen just so I can try it 🙂
Maria says
These look so good! I hardly ever buy eggplant because I don't ever know what to do with it... this is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing! Looks wonderful!
Kathleen says
I am with Thing 2 on this. I don't like eggplant. However, I never knew it was so good for you. I think I will try this out. Thanks!!
Miss Messy says
Loaded eggplant? Now why have I never thought of that? 🙂
Jersey Girl Cooks says
Such a great idea! Don't think I could get my son to go for them but the rest of the family would gladly eat them. I love eggplant.