Eggplant Parmesan Boats
I can’t stop making Eggplant Parmesan.

I’ve made it in the slow cooker and in the oven as roasted rounds (with chicken, too!). I’ve created crispy Eggplant Parm Chips… even heavenly Eggplant Parm Fries. It’s fair to say that I’m crazyyy for this dish.

This new rendition delivers everything you crave in the Italian classic—oh, and it’s fuss-free and low in carbs. I promise you won’t miss the breadcrumbs; the marinara sauce seeps into the crevices of the juicy and tender eggplant, and the melty mozzarella blankets the top for the ultimate slice-and-bite situation. It’s simply irresistible and makes a perfect dish any day of the week.

There’s no need to peel the eggplant—the skin soaks up the sauce and adds extra flavor and nutrition, so enjoy it! And before roasting, be sure to score the eggplant flesh in a deep crisscross pattern so it cooks evenly in the oven (the smaller the crisscross squares, the better).
Pro tip: After drizzling olive oil over the top, give it an extra misting of olive oil spray to help it roast faster and soften by the 25-minute mark. Check at 20 minutes, and if the eggplant looks dry, give it another light misting and place back in the oven until its fork tender.
Looking for more eggplant recipes? Make these Ratatouille Skewers and my No-Noodle Cheesy Spinach Lasagna!

Eggplant Parmesan Boats
Ingredients
- 1 eggplant, trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise
- 1 to 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¾ to 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- ½ cup part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- Crushed red pepper flakes, optional for heat
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 420ºF. Mist a baking sheet with nonstick oil spray.
- Score the eggplant halves by creating a cross-hatch pattern using the tip of a knife. Place cut side up on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle olive oil evenly over the tops. Sprinkle on the salt and pepper.
- Roast in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the eggplant becomes fork tender and juicy (you should be able to squish the flesh with a fork; if it looks dry, spritz oil spray over the top and place back in oven for 5 more minutes or so).
- Remove from oven, add sauce evenly over the tops, then sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese, parmesan and red pepper flakes, if adding.
- Place back in the oven on the top rack for about 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, watching carefully to make sure the cheese doesn’t burn. Let slightly cool and enjoy!
Notes
• There’s no need to peel the eggplant—the skin will soak up the sauce and add extra flavor and nutrition—so enjoy it! • Be sure to score the eggplant flesh in a deep crisscross pattern so it roasts evenly in the oven (the smaller the crisscross squares, the better). Misting the eggplant
After drizzling olive oil over the top, give it an extra misting of olive oil spray to help it roast faster and soften by the 25-minute mark. Check at 20 minutes, and if the eggplant looks dry, give it another light misting and place back in the oven until its fork tender.

This looks Devine. I love eggplant Parmesan. Going to make this week!!!
Hi Claudia. Please come back and let us know what you thought of it once you’ve had a chance to try it. We’d love to hear your feedback!
—Team Joy
What a simply, delicious and satisfying dish! Thank you, Joy!
Hi Linda! Thank YOU for your trying it out and for sharing your comment. So happy you enjoyed it 🙂
—Team Joy
Amazing!!!! We just devoured this! I can’t wait to make it for family & friends!! Thank you Joy ❤️❤️❤️
Hi Bennie. Yay! So glad you loved it…and hopefully your friends and family will feel the same 🙂
—Team Joy
I made the eggplant for dinner this evening. It was a hit , especially with my husband who usually likes meat with every meal . He said it was very good . So I will be making it again . Maybe next time I will do thick slices .
Thanks Joy
Hi Teresa. So thrilled to hear both you and your husband loved the recipe…and that you’ll be making it again!
—Team Joy
this recipe was easy, healthy and delicious. I will make it again for sure.
Hi Rita Jean. So happy to hear you liked it and will be making it again! Feel free to check out Joy’s other Eggplant Parm spins: Eggplant Parm Rounds, Eggplant Parm Fries, Eggplant Parm Chips and Slow Cooker Eggplant Parm.
—Team Joy
I absolutely loved this recipe! I seem to rarely cook with eggplant, and only really have it at my Italian girlfriend‘s house or in a restaurant. That is going to change… I will make it again and again!! ❤️
Hi Susan. And we absolutely to love to hear when people open their heart to a new veggie 🙂 So glad you have a new favorite recipe. This happens to be one of ours as well!
—Team Joy
Thanks
Hi Harold. You’re so welcome. Hope you enjoyed it!
—Team Joy
Loved it!
Hi Craig. So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Joy has a few other fun Eggplant Parm spins, if you want to give them a try: Eggplant Parm Rounds, Eggplant Parm Fries, Eggplant Parm Chips and Slow Cooker Eggplant Parm. Please let us know if you decide to give any of these a shot.
—Team Joy
Made this tonight with fresh from the garden eggplants, and WOW!! These are awesome.
Will continue to make eggplant this way. Thank you.
Fresh-from-the-garden eggplant probably made the recipe even more delish! So happy you enjoyed the recipe and thanks for your comment!
—Team Joy
Fantastic Joy!
Hi Adrienne. Thanks so much! 🙂
—Team Joy
It was great. My husband and I loved it. So easy.
Hi Jean. So glad both you and your husband enjoyed it!
—Team Joy
I love this recipe! It’s delicious and easy to make. Eggplant Parmesan is my favorite Italian dish and I’m happy I can enjoy a healthy version of it without skimping on quality and taste! Thank you Joy!
Thank you so much, Carrie! We’re all about healthier twists on classic recipes without sacrificing flavor and deliciousness. Thrilled you love this recipe as much as we do! ❤️
— Team Joy
My husband and I loved it. It was perfect a weeknight dinner. Super easy and tasty. We actually made it with a meat sauce to add protein to the meal. We will definitely be making it again. Thank you Joy!
Thank you so much for sharing, Eva! We’re delighted to hear that you and your husband loved the recipe (it’s one of our favorites too!). ❤️
— Team Joy
Love this recipe. Fast, no frying and super delicious
Hi Diane. We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe!
—Team Joy
Oh my Gosh, my new favorite Eggplant Parm. Grew up in an Italian household. We always floured, egged, and fried it first. This is genius. I added a sprinkle of granulated garlic and whole milk mozzarella otherwise made it exactly as per the recipe.
Thank you, thank you
Jen
Hi Jen. This is a huge endorsement coming from you…thanks so much! Love your tweaks, too—sounds delish. So glad you’ve found a spin you love.
—Team Joy
I tried this yesterday and followed the recipe’s times but the eggplant was a little too firm for my taste. I would definitely make several slices instead just cutting in half to solve that problem because otherwise I think it’s a fun recipe.
Hi Shannon. One of the reasons I love this recipe so much is the ease and presentation of the eggplant halves. If you are willing to give it another shot, just be sure you make your scoring cuts deep enough so the eggplant roasts more evenly and quickly in oven. And when you drizzle olive oil over the top, you can also finish it off with a liberal misting of olive oil spray; this will help to expedite the roasting process and get the eggplant nice and soft by the 25-minute mark. Note: At the 20-minute mark, open the oven to check, and if the top of the eggplant looks dry, give it another misting!
On the other hand, if you do want to cut this into rounds, I have recipe for that as well. Check it out here.
Eggplant Parm lovers unite! 🙂
This is a fantastic recipe! Wouldn’t change a thing. I have made it several times over the last couple of weeks, so I must LOVE it!!! The sauce seeps into the eggplant. Do not miss the bread crumbs a bit.
Hi Pauline! Thanks for sharing and so happy that you’re enjoying this dish!! I wish you could see my smile right now after reading your comment. 🙂
Wondering if the skin will taste bitter?
Hi Susan. It doesn’t! It becomes very soft and tasty, sopping up the sauce and only adding the deliciousness of the dish. But if you decide you don’t like it, it’s easy enough to leave it behind as you enjoy! Please let us know what you think if you decide to give the recipe a shot…I’d love to hear your thoughts 🙂
I would like to get yours wonderfull food recipes.
Hi Anna. There are so many ways to get Joy’s delicious recipes. The easiest is to sign up for Joy’s newsletter. Twice a week, you’ll get recipes, tips and tricks, easy kitchen hacks and exciting giveaways sent straight to your inbox. You can subscribe here.
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Thanks again for your interest!
—Team Joy
Hi Joy,
I just picked 9 beautiful Japanese eggplant from my garden. What would the roasting time for the smaller version of eggplant?
Hi Lisa. It’s hard to share a specific cooking time without knowing the exact size of your eggplant. However, it should be pretty easy for you to determine based on feel—when it’s fork-tender, it’s ready to enjoy! You can start checking around the 15-minute mark, and it’s likely that it land around 20 minutes. Happy cooking!
–Team Joy
This is a great idea can’t wait to make it!
Thank you so much, Fern! We’re excited for you to try it—we have a feeling you’re going to love it!
— Team Joy
Excellent! Starting my healthy eating journey.
Hi Lisa. We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe…it is a favorite of our team! And we’re happy to hear that you’re starting out on your healthy-eating journey! Please feel free to use all the recipes and resources on Joy’s site to help you along the way, and keep us posted on your progress. We’d love to hear how you’re doing!
—Team Joy
Love this recipe! It’s the only way I make eggplant now and I’m so glad you shared this recipe with us. Eggplant is so healthy for you but was such a chore, I never made it, but now I make this regularly. Thanks again!!
Hi Terri. Thanks for your sweet comments! We’re so glad you’re a fan of this recipe—it’s one of Joy’s favorites, too! Be sure to check out some of Joy’s other eggplant recipes, including:
• Eggplant Parmesan Fries
• Eggplant Parm Chips
• Eggplant Parmesan Rounds
• Slow Cooker Eggplant Parm
We hope you love them as much as her Eggplant Parm! Thanks again for sharing your feedback!
—Team Joy
One of my new favorite recipes! If you love eggplant, try this! It is so refreshingly easy and tasty. I make homemade yogurt and serve pita bread along side.
Hi Cherie! Thank you so much for your comment. We’re so happy this recipe is one of your favorites! The yogurt and pita sound like delicious sides to serve it with 🙂
-Alison
I just made this recipe and it came out fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing it. I plan to make it weekly as it is a healthy option and easy to make.
Yay! Nancy, I’m so happy to hear you loved it. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
My oven doesn’t have 420° baking temperature. Is that a typo?
Thx
Hi Cindy, any temp between 400 and 425 will work! I make this recipe on repeat… I’m hoping you love it as much as we do in my house!!
Absolutely delicious!! Thank you!
Hi Susan, thank you for your comment! So happy to hear that you found this recipe delicious – it’s definitely a keeper!
-Alison
Love the ease of this recipe. Taste great and don’t even miss the fried part. Great for vegetarian night.
Hi Patricia, so glad you’re enjoying the recipe and that you have a new recipe for vegetarian night! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us—we so grateful to have you here!
—Donna
Really tasty and easy recipe. I added fresh basil.
Hi Eloise, thanks so much for your kind words! We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe – fresh basil sounds like a wonderful addition!
-Alison
Absolutely loved this. My family does not like eggplant, but I love it. This is so simple, healthy and delicious. I made it for myself and served them tortellini. Adding it to my weekly rotation.
Hi Christine! I’m so happy you loved this easy eggplant parm recipe! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review 😉
Excellent recipe. Very enjoyable to eat. A simple way to eat eggplant.
Thanks
Phil
Hi Phil, so happy you enjoyed the recipe. This one is a favorite of ours, too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
—Donna
Oh my goodness — this is delicious and so easy to make! Thank you for another winner, Joy!
Hi Claudia, thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts, and we’re so glad you loved Joy’s Eggplant Parm! This is one of our favorite recipes as well, so we’re thrilled you enjoyed it! Be sure to try Joy’s other eggplant creations, including her Slow Cooker Eggplant Parm, Chicken and Eggplant Parm and Eggplant Parm Rounds. If you decide to give any of them a shot, we’d love to hear what you think!
—Donna
Love this eggplant recipe. It is fast, easy, delicious and healthy, all the things I want in a weekday dinner!
Awww, thanks for the wonderful review, Bernadette! This is on repeat in my house… one of my husband’s favorite Joy recipes!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Wonderful and delicious recipe. I’ve made it 3 times and it’s always outstanding. I do spruce it up though by adding a layer of pesto and ricotta cheese. Off the charts
Hi Caryn, the pesto and ricotta sound like tasty additions—thank you for sharing those! We’re so happy you enjoyed the recipe and we appreciate your feedback!
—Donna
Hi Caryn—OMG, we are on the same page! I actually made a variation of this recipe a few weeks ago using pesto, ricotta and melty mozzarella (just left off the marinara sauce). I topped it with balsamic glaze and it was so delicious. It’s all set to post on my site—I’m just waiting on the final professional photos. I know Donna from my team responded to you, but I had to chime in to let you know…I’m hoping “our version” will be posted soon!!
These eggplant boats are fantastic, we made them once and they were so good we made them again the next day. I used my homemade Italian marinara (I learned to make at a cooking class in Italy). We serve it as a main course with a salad!
Hi Mary Frances, Love hearing this— making a recipe twice in two days is the ultimate compliment! Your homemade Italian marinara sounds incredible (nothing beats a recipe learned in Italy), and pairing the eggplant boats with a fresh salad makes for a perfect, feel-good meal. So glad they were a hit! If you loved this recipe, you may also like Joy’s Scarpaccia (a savory zucchini cake). Enjoy! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Amazing, tasty and easy recepie. Come back to it time and time again. Yhank you so much! Everyone in my family LOVES it.
Luba, that makes me so happy to hear!! I’m thrilled it’s become a repeat recipe in your home….and I’m sending a big hug to your whole crew!
It was absolutely delicious. My husband loved it! I added a little garlic salt while roasting the eggplant. Excellent flavor. Thank you!
Hi Linda, Yum…that sounds perfect! A little garlic salt is such a smart addition for extra flavor. We’re so happy to hear that you both loved it. Thanks for giving the recipe a try and sharing your tasty tweak! — Eliza (Team Joy)
I made this earlier this week. It was a hit. I used a homemade meat sauce with italian sausage and ground chicken. I’m making it again tonight. So easy and so delicious. I could eat this everyday! Absolutely awesome.
Hi Livjoy, Yay, we love hearing that! So glad it’s become a repeat favorite… that’s the best compliment! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Made it tonight and it was fabulous!
So glad you enjoyed this one, Beth!!
Just made this for dinner. Fabulous. Cooked up beautifully. I used provolone slices as that’s what I had with parm. Thanks for making over our favorite dishes in a healthier way.
Hi Jennifer, So glad you loved this recipe, and thanks for sharing that it worked well with provolone! “Fabulous” is the ultimate compliment! — Eliza (Team Joy)
I just discovered your recipe. Looking forward to trying it since I live alone and this would be the perfect way to enjoy eggplant parmigiana for one.
Hi Lucille, Aw, that’s wonderful..we’re so glad you found it! It really is the perfect way to enjoy eggplant parm without all the fuss (and leftovers for days!).— Eliza (Team Joy)
This was amazing and easy! It’s a keeper! I didn’t have marinara so used pizza sauce which was delicious! I love eggplant and this recipe is so simple! Love it!
Hi Kimberly! I’m so happy you enjoyed this easy eggplant parm recipe… any favorite red sauce works great!!
Excellent recipe. Easy and so delicious. Thank You Joy!
Hi Wendy, Thank you so much for your review. So glad you loved this one! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Delicious recipe! I will be making this recipe regularly.
Hi Barbara! Thank you for the recipe love! So glad you loved it and that it gained a place in part of your regular rotation!— Eliza (Team Joy)
I’m new to eggplant so I followed your directions exactly and everything turned out perfectly-dare I say failproof? Definitely a keeper!! And so adaptable to so many variations. Thank you!!
By the way “joy” is my favorite word and I have it everywhere!
Hi Karen! Aww, we love this so much…thank you! We’re thrilled your first eggplant adventure was a success (and yes, failproof is the best compliment ever!).— Eliza (Team Joy)
Loved this recipe and it was so easy to make!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed this one, Eileen!
Eggplant was fabulous, going to make again very soon. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Denise! So glad you loved this eggplant dish! And…that you’re going to make it again! Enjoy! — Eliza (Team Joy)
We had this for dinner last night. My husband is not an eggplant fan, but he loved it as much as I did. It was so flavorful and easier to make than the Skinnytaste eggplant parm I typically make. Thank you for a healthy and scrumptious recipe!
Hi Susan! This makes us so happy! Even better that it won over an eggplant-skeptic husband… that’s the ultimate compliment. This dish is all about big flavor with simple, lighter ingredients, so we’re thrilled it hit the mark for both of you. Thanks for giving it a whirl and for taking the time to share your delicious review!— Eliza (Team Joy)
Delicious recipe ! Going to be on my menu weekly.
Yay, this makes me so happy, Brenda! Appreciate you sharing your wonderful review!