Easy Eggplant Bake Recipe

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Close up of Easy Eggplant Bake

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Last Updated on December 22, 2020 by Aimee Stock

The inspiration for this Easy Eggplant Bake came from this cookbook published way back in 1992! I’ve been making the recipe for years, tweaking it along the way with my own touches. If you are looking for a delicious low calorie / low carb dinner, this one is for you!

Easy Eggplant Bake Hero Shot

While it may seem that there are many steps to making this Easy Eggplant Bake, let’s break it down into three. Making the meat sauce, prepping the eggplant and preparing the white sauce.

Step 1: Make the meat sauce

Saute onions in just a small amount of oil. If you have a really good non-stick pan, you can use just a teaspoon or so. To that, add ground beef. I’m using and 80/20 blend. Near the end of cooking, add minced garlic.

Browning the ground beef and onions for Easy Eggplant Bake

Season with salt and pepper, then add the tomato sauce.

Adding tomato sauce to the ground beef and onions

I like to let this cook down so the flavors meld just as if you were cooking sauce for spaghetti. Set aside.

Step 2: Let’s cook the eggplant

The preparation for the eggplant is really simple. The original recipe says to trim the ends and peel using a vegetable peeler (or knife).

Whole eggplants for Easy Eggplant Bake

Then, slice into 1/2″ thick pieces.

Peeling and slicing the eggplant

Immediately place them into a pan with shallow, boiling water and cover. Cook until just tender. About 5-6 minutes. I flip them about half way through the cooking time.

Boiling the eggplant slices

You want to remove any excess moisture at this point, so lay them in a single layer on paper towels to drain.

Draining the eggplant slices on paper towel

Step 3: Preparing the white sauce

While the eggplant cools a little bit, add all of the ingredients for the sauce to a small pan and cook until thickened.

White sauce for Easy Eggplant Bake

Now let’s assemble the dish!

Start with a layer of eggplant followed by a layer of meat sauce. Then repeat one more time.

Layering eggplant and sauce

Drizzle that cheesy white sauce and top with parmesan.

Adding the white sauce and cheese

Bake until golden and bubbly, but be sure to cool for just a few minutes before serving. That eggplant is hot!

Baked Easy Eggplant Bake

We serve this as a main dish in our family, so about 3-4 slices per person depending on the size of the eggplant. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Close up of Easy Eggplant Bake

Chef’s note: If you are not following a low carb diet, our family loves to add bread to sop up all of the remaining sauces.

Messy pan of Easy Eggplant Bake

Did you make my Easy Eggplant Bake? Leave me a comment below and let me know what you thought.

Easy Eggplant Bake PIN

Easy Eggplant Bake Recipe

Easy Eggplant Bake Recipe
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: casserole
Servings: 4 servings
Calories:

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Skillet
  • Baking Pan

Ingredients

  • 2 medium Eggplant peeled and sliced 1/2" thick

FOR THE MEAT SAUCE:

  • 1 tsp Oil add more if needed
  • 1/2 c Onion finely diced
  • 3/4 c 80/20 Ground Beef
  • 15 oz Tomato Sauce
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

FOR THE CHEESY WHITE SAUCE:

  • 1 tbsp Margarine
  • 4 tsp All Purpose Flour
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • dash Pepper
  • 3/4 c Milk

FOR SERVING:

  • 3 tbsp Parmesan grated
  • Parsley for garnish

Instructions

TO PREPARE THE EGGPLANT:

  • Bring a large skillet with one half inch of water to a boil.
  • Trim the ends from the eggplant and using a vegetable peeler, peel the eggplant. You can also use a sharp knife. Then slice the eggplant into 1/2" slices
    Peeling and slicing the eggplant
  • Place the slices in the boiling water until JUST tender (do not overcook as these will continue in the oven). About 5 minutes or so.
    Boiling the eggplant slices
  • Drain excess water on paper towels.
    Draining the eggplant slices on paper towel

TO PREPARE THE MEAT SAUCE:

  • Add a small amount of oil to a skillet with onions and ground beef.
    Browning the ground beef and onions for Easy Eggplant Bake
  • Add garlic, if desired and the tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper, cooking down until a bit thickened. Set aside.
    Adding tomato sauce to the ground beef and onions

TO PREPARE THE CHEESY WHITE SAUCE:

  • Whisk all ingredients together in a small saucepan over medium high heat until thickened.
    White sauce for Easy Eggplant Bake

TO ASSEMBLE:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray a baking pan with cooking spray, then add one layer of eggplant slices. Top with with meat sauce and repeat with another layer of eggplant then meat sauce.
    Layering eggplant and sauce
  • Drizzle with the white sauce and top with parmesan.
    Adding the white sauce and cheese
  • Bake until golden and bubbly, allowing to cool slightly before serving.
    Baked Easy Eggplant Bake

 

 

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