FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You Need My Grilled Eggplant Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Grill Eggplant
• My Recipe Tips
• Recipe Variations
• Storage Notes
• Serving Ideas
• More Easy Eggplant Recipes
• Grilled Eggplant (Easy Recipe) Recipe card
• Gratitude Moment
• Recipe Reviews

Turning a basic eggplant into a savory, satisfying side dish is kind of my (summer) thing. You might’ve tried my oven roasted eggplant or sauteed eggplant recipes already. But when it’s extra hot out, I turn to grilled eggplant . It’s got all the flavor and texture, minus the heat in your kitchen. If you’re having one of those days, make my grilled eggplant recipe with me!

Why You Need My Grilled Eggplant Recipe

• Golden, smoky, and a little sweet – The grill gives the eggplant a deep, smoky taste that already works well with its lightly sweet flavor. And I love the tender, caramelized texture.
• Just a few simple ingredients – If you’ve got eggplant, no need for a grocery run. You probably already have the pantry staples you need for this dish.
• Quick and easy – It takes just 8 minutes to cook (and 15 minutes total! ).
• Versatile topping options – I’ve got the basic version, but also ways you can jazz it up. I actually got hooked on grilling eggplant a few years ago when my husband’s cousin topped his with feta right on the grill. See how to make this and my other variations below!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for grilling eggplant, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below .

• Eggplant – In some countries, these are called brinjal or aubergine. I always pick the smaller to medium ones, because they’re less bitter and have fewer seeds. Look for ones that feel heavy for their size, which means high water content — and definitely no squishy parts. Got extra eggplant? Whip up a batch of my eggplant caponata !
• Olive Oil – You can use regular or extra virgin olive oil. Avocado oil is a great choice, too.
• Seasonings – I usually have homemade Italian seasoning on hand, but dried oregano by itself would also work well on grilled eggplant. You’ll need garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper, too.

How To Grill Eggplant

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Slice the eggplant. While you preheat your grill, 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.)
2. Whisk the seasonings. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

1. Season the vegetables. Brush the oil mixture on both sides of the eggplant slices.
2. Grill them up. Place the eggplant on the grill and close the lid. Grill, flipping halfway through, until tender and caramelized with grill marks on both sides.

My Recipe Tips

• When slicing, cut off the leafy end of the eggplant last. I use this end to grip the eggplant as I slice.
• Large eggplants need extra prep. Big eggplants can be bitter, so I sprinkle them with sea salt and let them sit for about 15 minutes to draw out the bitterness. Then, just wipe off the salt and moisture, and they’re ready to cook!
• There’s no need to soak eggplant. Some say that it helps remove bitterness, but I don’t find it necessary.
• Don’t undercook. Grilled eggplant should be yellow-ish in color (not white), very soft, and caramelized. It will taste bland and tough if you undercook it.
• Rainy day? Use a grill pan inside. I actually show this in the pictures above. You’ll still want medium-high heat, but the pan only needs to preheat for a couple minutes.

Recipe Variations

Grilled eggplant is already delicious plain, but feel free to jazz it up:

• Feta Cheese – I had to start with this one because it’s how I got into grilling eggplant! You can crumble some on top after grilling, but I like to place a big chunk on the eggplant near the end of grilling. Close the lid and let it soften.
• Lemon – You can add 1-2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice right into the olive oil mixture, but I usually just serve lemon wedges on the side.
• Balsamic – Whisk 1-2 tablespoons with the oil before brushing on the eggplant, or drizzle with balsamic glaze at the end.
• Fresh Herbs – Nothing beats fresh parsley or basil on this. I prefer to add them at the end to keep the flavors bright.
• Spicy – Add a dash of crushed red pepper flakes to the marinade.
• Tahini – My fave Mediterranean-inspired version! Drizzle the grilled eggplant with tahini sauce , and if you’re feeling fancy, add a sprinkle of pine nuts and fresh herbs.

Storage Notes

• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I don’t recommend freezing eggplant, as it gets mushy.
• Reheat: You can reheat eggplant on the grill over indirect heat, in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in a hot skillet. You can also enjoy it cold in salads , or if you have a lot, make my eggplant lasagna with it.

Serving Ideas

Now that you know how to grill eggplant, there are so many mains you can pair with it! Since you’ll already have your grill going, try it with my other grilling recipes :

• Chicken – Keep it simple (and juicy) with my grilled chicken breast or grilled chicken legs .
• Seafood – My fave options are grilled salmon or shrimp skewers , because the flavors play so well with grilled eggplant.
• Kabobs – My chicken kabobs and this eggplant are a match made in grill heaven. (Plus, you can thread any extra eggplant right on the skewers). Lamb kofta kebab or pork souvlaki also pair well, with their Mediterranean vibes.
• More Grilled Veggies – Make some grilled cauliflower , grilled asparagus , or cabbage steaks for extra vegetables.

More Easy Eggplant Recipes

If you like eggplant prepared this way, try my other easy eggplant dishes next:

Eggplant Rollatini

Air Fryer Eggplant

Oven Roasted Eggplant

Mini Eggplant Pizza

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 2 medium Eggplant (~1 lb each) ▢
• 6 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning ▢
• 3/4 tsp Garlic powder ▢
• 3/4 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the grill or a cast iron grill pan to medium high heat.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Flip the eggplant slices and repeat with the remaining oil mixture, salt, and pepper on the other side.
5. 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 to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 3-4 slices, or 1/6 entire recipe

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© 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.

Grilled Eggplant

Gratitude Moment

I love eggplant in the summer months! It gets me excited every year when it’s at its peak. And every year, I try to stretch eggplant season and convince myself that it’s not over yet when it starts to be.

So right now, I’m grateful that it’s still very much eggplant season and I get to make my grilled eggplant!

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Grilled Eggplant (Easy Recipe)

My grilled eggplant recipe is easy, tender, and caramelized! Make it in just 15 minutes with olive oil, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/grilled-eggplant/

Ingredients

• 2 medium Eggplant (~1 lb each)
• 6 tbsp Olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 3/4 tsp Garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp Sea salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the grill or a cast iron grill pan to medium high heat.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Flip the eggplant slices and repeat with the remaining oil mixture, salt, and pepper on the other side.
5. 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.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 3-4 slices, or 1/6 entire recipe

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© 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. :)