My
Shop Sugar-Free
Wholesome Yum
Free: Healthy Freezer Meals Recipe Ebook
Get It NowThis post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free. (Full disclosure)
This grilled eggplant recipe transforms a simple, unassuming vegetable into a savory, satisfying, and easy healthy side dish! My recipes for oven roasted eggplant and sauteed eggplant are some of the most popular veggie dishes on Wholesome Yum, but let’s face it: Sometimes you want a summer meal without using the stove or oven on a hot day. So for thos edays, let me show you how to grill eggplant…
Grilling eggplant makes it deliciously caramelized on the edges and soft in the middle. I tried it only a couple years ago, when my husband’s cousin grilled it for us with feta on top. It was amazing, and now finally, I have the perfect grilled eggplant recipe for you to try. I kept it simple with a basic version, but I’ll also tell you about some topping ideas (including the feta!) that pair perfectly and will take your eggplant on the grill over the top.
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Eggplant Recipe
- Rich, smoky flavor
- Golden, caramelized edges with soft texture in the center
- Deliciously charred grill marks
- Uses basic pantry staples
- 15 minutes from start to finish
- Naturally gluten free, vegan, low in carbohydrates, and healthy
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for grilling eggplant, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Eggplant – For the best taste and less bitterness, get small to medium eggplants rather than large ones. Look for smooth, firm skin and no soft spots.
- Olive Oil – I use extra virgin olive oil for flavor, but any neutral oil works. Avocado oil is another great choic.
- Seasonings – Store-bought or homemade Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt (I used sea salt, but kosher salt also works), and black pepper.
VARIATION: Add some acidity.
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice or balsamic vinegar with the olive oil.
How To Grill Eggplant
This section shows how to cook eggplant on the grill, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Preheat. Heat outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. For outdoor grills, at least 15 minutes of preheating time is optimal.
- Slice. Cut the eggplant crosswise into 1/2-inch rounds. (You can also cut lengthwise if you prefer, but it stays together better and is easier to flip if you cut crosswise.)
- Whisk. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil and seasonings.
- Season. Brush half the oil mixture on the eggplant slices. Flip and repeat on the other side.
- Grill. Place rhe eggplant slices on the grill and close the lid. Grill on both sides until tender and caramelized.
How Long To Grill Eggplant?
Cook eggplant on the grill for 3 to 5 minutes per side. It’s done when slices are charred on the outside and tender in the middle. They should no longer look white in color.
Tips For The Best Eggplant On The Grill
This is an easy recipe for grilled eggplant already, but here are a few extra tips for success.
- When slicing, cut off the leafy end of the eggplant last. You can use this end to help grip the eggplant as you slice the rest.
- Large eggplants need extra prep. Small to medium eggplants are usually not bitter, but medium to large ones can be. To avoid any bitterness, sprinkle the eggplant slices with 1/2 tablespoon of sea salt and let them sit for 15-20 minutes. Wipe the salt and any moisture away with paper towels, then proceed with the recipe as written.
- There’s no need to soak eggplant. Some say that it helps remove bitterness, but I have found it to be unnecessary.
- Don’t undercook. Grilled eggplant should be more yellow in color (not white), very soft, and caramelized. It will taste bland and tough if you undercook it.
Topping Ideas
Serve it plain, or spread on a platter and top with extra sauces and seasonings, such as:
- Feta Cheese – Add crumbled feta after grilling, or add a large cube of feta on top of the eggplant on the grill toward the end, close the lid and let it soften.
- Fresh Herbs – Parsley or basil would be delicious. You can add them to the marinade, but I prefer to sprinkle them on fresh.
- Lemon – Add fresh squeezed lemon juice to the marinade, or simply serve the final dish with lemon wedges.
- Red Pepper Flakes – Mix with the marinade ingredients, to taste.
- Sauces – Tahini sauce or balsamic glaze are great options.
Storage Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can You Freeze Grilled Eggplant?
No. Avoid freezing grilled eggplant recipes (or really any eggplant recipes), as this veggie will get too mushy after thawing.
Reheating Instructions:
You can reheat eggplant on the grill over medium heat, in a 350 degree F oven, or in a hot skillet, until warm.
What To Serve With Grilled Eggplant
Now that you know how to grill eggplant, there are so many foods to pair with it! Since you’ll already have your grill turned on, try it with these dishes:
- Burgers – Eggplant pairs well with juicy burgers or turkey burgers. It can also serve as a burger (in place of the patty) for an easy vegetarian option.
- Seafood – Try eggplant with grilled salmon or grilled shrimp skewers.
- Kabobs – The flavor of this veggie pairs nicely with grilled chicken kabobs or lamb kofta kebab.
- More Grilled Veggies – Grilled broccoli, grilled asparagus, and cabbage steaks are all very easy to prepare.
More Easy Eggplant Recipes
If you like eggplant prepared this way, try these easy eggplant dishes too!
Tools For Cooking Eggplant On The Grill
- Grill Basket – Worried about losing veggies in the grill grates? This keeps them secure!
- Cast Iron Grill Pan – If you can’t grill outside, this pan creates perfect grill marks from indoors.
- Tongs – These ones have a long handle to keep you away from the heat.
Grilled Eggplant Recipe
Grilled Eggplant Recipe (Quick & Easy!)
This grilled eggplant recipe is perfectly tender and caramelized! Learn how to make eggplant on the grill, the quick and easy way.
Go Ad-FreeRecipe Video
Tap on the image below to watch the video.Like this video? Subscribe to my YouTube cooking channel for healthy recipes weekly! (Click the bell icon to be notified when I post a new video.)
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
-
Preheat the grill or a cast iron grill pan to medium high heat.
-
Slice the eggplant crosswise to make circles, about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick. Cut off the leafy end only after you are done slicing, so that you'll have more to grab onto as you slice.
-
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Brush about half of the mixture over the eggplant slices. Season with half of the sea salt and black pepper.
-
Flip the eggplant slices and repeat with the remaining oil mixture, salt, and pepper on the other side.
-
Place the eggplant slices on the grill or grill pan in a single layer. If using a grill pan, spray with cooking spray first and cook uncovered. If using a grill, close the lid. Grill eggplant for 3-5 minutes per side, until charred, tender, and no longer white.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram – I’d love to see it!
Readers Who Liked This Easy Recipe Also Made:
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 3-4 slices, or 1/6 entire recipe
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
Want to save this recipe?
Create a free account to save your favorite recipes!
Sign Up To Save Recipes© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
10 Comments
Candace Hodson
0Love grilled eggplant. I’m curious how you calculate net carbs on all your recipes. It looks like you don’t deduct for the sugar, which I assume is always an alcohol sugar. Why is that? Also, this recipe lists sugar but I don’t see any sugar in the ingredients. Help!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Candace, Sugar occurs naturally in eggplant. This is not sugar alcohol, so it would not be subtracted from the carb count.
Molly Pisula
0So easy and delicious. Grilled eggplant is one of my favorite side dishes of all time! Thanks for this recipe!
Dana
0These made for great vegetarian burgers! Grilling adds such a nice flavor, and the eggplant turned out perfect.
Journa Liz Ramirez
0This turned out to be satisfyingly tender and delicious! Thanks Maya for this easy grilled eggplant recipe, I’ll surely make them again.
Rosette Brincat
0Thank you very much for the healthy recipies you give us. You are truly gifted.
Taylor
0So easy and so so delicious! The perfect way to showcase fresh eggplant during the summer. Loved it!
Agnes
0So good! You cannot go wrong with this easy and delicious side dish, especially during grilling season.
Matt
0Such a great grilling recipe. I love how this grilled eggplant doesn’t have a ton of ingredients and is super simple to make.
Addison
0This is the best way to cook eggplant. We love this recipe.