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    Pinch Me Good! » Gluten-Free » Easy Baked Eggplant Fries – Gluten-Free

    Easy Baked Eggplant Fries – Gluten-Free

    February 7, 2019 by Amy Estes 5 Comments

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    Crispy Baked Eggplant Fries that are gluten-free and so easy to make! Chickpea breadcrumbs stuck to soft and tasty eggplant all baked to oven-fried perfection and matched with a delicious marinara dipping sauce! The best healthy snack or appetizer everyone will love!

    Several crispy breaded and baked fries on a plate with parchment paper and tomato sauce in a small bowl next to it.

    I just love these Easy Baked Eggplant Fries! They are super crispy, satisfying and so fun to make and eat!

    When I was working in CT, there was this incredible pizza shop that my co-workers and I used to go to during our lunch break. They had the most amazing eggplant fries that we would all get, along with salad to balance out the crispy fried eggplant. Those fries were so good and we got them every single time!

    Almost as incredible as these Crispy Paleo Sweet Potato Fries that are also so delicious and will satisfy that French fry craving for sure.

    I miss that crew and all the fun we used to have! They made the work not feel like work, and our lunches out were the BEST!

    So in honor of the good old days, I am bringing you a healthier, gluten-free version of those eggplant fries. These Easy Baked Eggplant Fries are much lighter since they are baked with no frying in oil, but still super crispy and delicious.

    Breaded baked eggplant in a basket on top of brown parchment paper

    Although, if you worked out hard all week and feel like indulging in some incredible homemade fried eggplant then check out this recipe from Gonna Want Seconds. It’s delicious!

    Now back to my lighter more figure-friendly Easy Baked Eggplant Fries for the times when you need to cut back a little on fried foods but still want all that crunchy goodness.

    Is Eggplant good for you?

    Yes! Eggplant is actually a fruit but that most people classify as a vegetable. It is naturally very low in calories and carbohydrates but also packed with nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Potassium.

    Eggplant also only has 20 calories per serving. How is that for a low-calorie food you can enjoy in the form of fries or incredible Air-Fryer Eggplant Parmesan or these amazing Baked Eggplant Meatballs?

    How To Make Easy Baked Eggplant Fries

    Eggplant fries are super simple and easy to make and are a great alternative to traditional French fries. You can make them in the oven or even the air-fryer in less than 30 minutes (see recipe notes on the air-fryer version of this recipe).

    Whenever I make these, which is pretty often, they go quickly and everyone raves about how crispy and crunchy they are with no oil at all!

    Of course, I never mention how healthy they are for you until everyone devours every last bite.

    Raw sliced eggplant onto of paper towels with a breading mixture and egg mixture next to it.
    1. Start by cutting the eggplant, skin-on since that helps the breadcrumbs stick, plus the skin is so good for you! To cut the eggplant into fries, just slice off the ends and rounded edges and save them for roasting. Using a sharp knife, slice the eggplant into even size french fry shapes.
    2. Dredge the eggplant in some egg and gluten-free breadcrumbs (I used Chickpea breadcrumbs). There are a lot of varieties of gluten-free breadcrumbs at the grocery store or Trader Joe’s, so you can choose any brand. I did try a few and they all yielded a similar crispy result. You can also use panko breadcrumbs if you prefer not to make these gluten-free.
    Eggplant sticks breaded laying in a bowl of seasoned breadcrumbs

    3. Place the breaded eggplant onto a baking sheet, spray with cooking spray, and bake in a 425-degree F oven for 25 minutes, turning the fries over halfway through the cooking time.

    4. When they are done, sprinkle them with a little sea salt to taste and pair them with your favorite marinara sauce.

    A pile of eggplant fries in a basket with red sauce d=next to it in a container.

    I mean! Look at that crispy, crunchy easy baked eggplant fry. I cannot handle it! These Easy Baked Eggplant Fries are literally one of my favorite recipes. I am also working on an Easy Baked Zucchini Fries recipe, so stay tuned.

    This recipe would be so perfect for a fun addition to dinner or an appetizer for a small gathering of friends to enjoy with some great wine. Yummy!

    Easy Baked Eggplant Fries in a bowl with someone dipping one of the fries in tomato sauce

    What to serve with these Eggplant fries

    These fries would go so great with many other recipes or they can be enjoyed all on their own. Here are some of my favorite recipes to pair with these Eggplant Fries.

    • A hearty burger. Such as these Healthy Black Bean Burgers, Chickpea Cauliflower Burgers, or these Easy Healthy Turkey Burgers.
    • A delicious sandwich or wrap. Like this Easy Vegan Sandwich or this Chickpea Chicken Salad.
    • Soup. Like this Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, this Hearty Creamy Tomato Soup, or this Lemony Lentil Soup.

    Here are some other quick and easy appetizers you may also enjoy!

    • Air Fryer Fries
    • No Oil Sweet Potato Wedges
    • Easy Crispy Oven Roasted chickpeas
    • Sweet and Spicy Baked Cauliflower Wings
    • Taco Seasoned Crispy Chickpeas
    • Healthy Baked Beet Chips
    • Instant Pot Deviled Eggs
    • Green Bean Fries

    Recipe Tips

    • Try your best to cut the eggplant into even-size shapes so they all cook at a similar time.
    • You can use any kind of breadcrumbs. I just used gluten-free chickpea breadcrumbs but you can also use panko breadcrumbs if you do not need to keep this recipe gluten free.
    • This recipe also works well with zucchini to make zucchini fries. Stay tuned for my zucchini fries recipe coming soon.
    • To make these in the air-fryer:  Preheat the air-fryer to 390 degrees.  Spray the basket with cooking spray, place the breaded eggplant into the air-fryer basket in a single layer, spray them with olive oil cooking spray and cook in batches for 6-8 minutes,  turning them over halfway through the cooking time. 
    • The best dipping sauce for these fries, are you ready? Marinara sauce (store-bought) + ketchup. Trust!!! It is everything with these fries.

    Did you make this recipe? If you did, then please leave a comment and rating below.

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    Crispy Baked Eggplant Fries – Gluten-Free


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Amy Estes
    • Total Time: 35 minutes
    • Yield: 6 people 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Crispy Baked Eggplant Fries that are gluten-free and so easy to make! Chickpea breadcrumbs stuck to soft and tasty eggplant all baked to oven-fried perfection and matched with a delicious marinara dipping sauce!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 medium eggplant (cut into french fry shapes)
    • 2 cups gluten-free/panko breadcrumbs
    • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 2 large eggs (lightly whisked)
    • salt and pepper
    • olive oil cooking spray
    • 1 cup marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. 
    2. Place the whisked eggs into a shallow bowl and season them with a little salt and pepper. Place the breadcrumbs into another shallow bowl, add the parmesan cheese to the breadcrumbs and toss to combine.
    3. Dredge each eggplant fry in the egg then the breadcrumbs and place it in a single layer onto the baking sheet. Continue until you have dredged all of the eggplant. Make sure to lay the breaded eggplant in a single layer on the baking sheet.
    4. Spray the eggplant with olive oil cooking spray and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, turning the fries over halfway through to get both sides nice and crispy. 
    5. Remove, sprinkle with salt and fresh chives or parsley. Plate and serve warm with your favorite marinara. 

    Notes

    • Try your best to cut the eggplant into even-sized shapes so they all cook at a similar time.
    • You can use any kind of breadcrumbs. I just used gluten-free but you can also use panko.
    • This recipe also works well with zucchini to make zucchini fries.
    • Add some extra flavor by seasoning the breadcrumbs with one tablespoon of oregano or dried basil.
    • To make these in the air-fryer:  Preheat the air-fryer to 390 degrees.  Spray the basket with cooking spray, place the breaded eggplant into the air-fryer basket in a single layer, spray them with olive oil cooking spray and cook in batches for 6-8 minutes,  turning them over halfway through the cooking time.
    • You can store these in some foil in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, just place them back into a 450 degree F oven on a baking sheet for a few minutes.
    • The best dipping sauce for these fries, are you ready? Marinara sauce (store-bought) + ketchup. Trust!!! It is everything with these fries. 
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Category: Snack
    • Method: Baked
    • Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @pinchmegoodfood on Instagram and hashtag it #pinchmegoodfood

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    Filed Under: Gluten-Free, Healthy Fall Favorites, Healthy Snacks and Appetizers Tagged With: baked eggplant, easy recipe, eggplant, eggplant fries, gluten free, gluten-free breadcrumbs

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Diane M. Estes

      February 19, 2019 at 8:04 pm

      Made Amy’s Eggplant Fries this evening to go with our ziti with Mom Estes’ meat sauce and some plain old green beans to balance the meal off. I served it all at once as a meal and guess what? My eggplant fries disappeared before I even tasted any of the rest of the meal. So good I’ll probably never order eggplant in a restaurant again.

      Reply
      • Amy Estes

        February 19, 2019 at 8:10 pm

        Awesome! Glad you liked them!

        Reply
    2. Diane M. Estes

      February 19, 2019 at 8:49 pm

      Back again to say my husband went back for thirds………..

      Reply
      • Amy Estes

        February 20, 2019 at 2:38 pm

        So glad he like them!!!

        Reply
    3. Carol Cox

      December 20, 2022 at 3:00 pm

      These are wonderful. I used taco spice and serves with salsa.
      Delish

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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