Whole30 + Keto Crispy Baked Eggplant Recipe + Video – low carb crunchy eggplant. Like a dairy free eggplant parmesan! Paleo, gluten free, grain free, sugar free, clean eating, real food.

crispy coated eggplant next to caesar salad on a white plate this recipe

This is hands down my favorite way to cook eggplant! This Whole30 + Keto Crispy Baked Eggplant will make you fall in love with eggplant if you aren’t already. The eggplant gets tender, is slightly sweet, and has an irresistible crispy, crunchy coating.

Topped with marinara sauce, it’s like an eggplant parmesan without the dairy!

before and after of crispy baked eggplant

Whole30 + Keto Crispy Baked Eggplant Coating

The eggplant gets its crispy and crunchy coating from my very favorite pork rind panko. It is 0 carbs!

First, you’ll salt the eggplant to draw out all the moisture and bitterness. Then dredge them in egg, coat in the pork rind panko, and bake. So simple!

crispy coated eggplant next to caesar salad on a white plate

Serving Keto Crispy Baked Eggplant

I love serving mine topped with marinara sauce. It makes it feel like a dairy free eggplant parmesan! This would also be delicious topped with my dairy free pesto sauce.

To keep with the Italian theme, I highly recommend serving it with my keto caesar salad (the dressing is dairy free too!)

Watch Crispy Baked Eggplant Recipe Demo (2:39 minutes)

crispy coated eggplant next to caesar salad on a white plate

Whole30 + Keto Crispy Baked Eggplant

Servings: 2
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
This Whole30 + Keto Crispy Baked Eggplant Recipe is a low carb crunchy eggplant. Like a dairy free eggplant parmesan!
5 from 16 ratings
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Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 425ºF. Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet.
  • Lay the sliced eggplant on the wire rack. Salt them on both sides and let them sit for 10 minutes. This will draw out the excess water, draw out the bitterness, as well as seasoning them. After the 10 minutes, squeeze them with a paper towel to absorb all the excess moisture.
  • Set up your dredging station. In a large bowl, beat the egg. In a separate bowl, add the pork rind panko. Dip the eggplant slices in the egg, drip off excess, then coat in the pork rind panko on both sides, pressing lightly to adhere. Place the coated eggplant on the wire rack set in the rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with all the eggplant.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the eggplant is soft and the exterior coating is extra crispy.
  • Serve warm, topped with marinara sauce or pesto sauce. I love serving mine with a caesar salad!

Notes

The food photo has just 3 eggplant slices on the plate. But when I eat this I'll eat for sure 6. Assume 1 eggplant per person if you're serving the eggplant as the center of the meal. If it's being served as a side this would feed 4 people.
You could use almond flour in place of pork rind panko. Won't be as crispy, but still Whole30 + keto.
If you don't need it to be Whole30 + Keto you could use regular panko, gluten free panko, bread crumbs, etc.
If you need it to be egg free, you can use a flax egg. Mix 1 cup water with 1/2 cup flax meal (or flax seed)
My favorite Whole30 + Keto friendly marinara sauce is Rao's! You can get it at almost any major grocery store.
Cuisine: American, Italian
Course: Main Course
Author: Natalie
Calories: 252, Total Carbs: 9.9g, Protein: 23.1g, Fat: 13.7g, Fiber: 3.6g, Net Carbs: 6g
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