Air Fryer Stuffed Eggplants Recipe: Easy Mediterranean Dinner 2026

These air fryer stuffed eggplants turn a classic Mediterranean dish into an incredibly easy weeknight dinner. The air fryer cooks the eggplant halves until tender without heating up the oven, and the chicken and tomato filling keeps everything juicy and flavorful.

The filling is flexible: cooked chicken pairs beautifully with the mild, silky eggplant, but you can also use canned tuna, ground meat, textured soy, chickpeas, lentils, rice or quinoa. A layer of melted mozzarella on top gives the dish its golden, gratinated finish.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Stuffed Eggplants

For 2 servings

• 1 large eggplant
• Salt
• Olive oil
• 250 g cooked chicken
• 100 g tomato sauce
• Ground black pepper
• Dried oregano (or other spices)
• 50 g grated mozzarella cheese

How to Make Air Fryer Stuffed Eggplants Step by Step

1. Cut and salt the eggplants

Cut 1 large eggplant in half lengthwise and score the flesh of each half in a diamond pattern. Make the cuts deep but be careful not to pierce the skin. Sprinkle generously with salt, making sure it is evenly distributed.

2. Let them rest

Place the salted eggplants face down on a colander or rack and let them rest for about 30 minutes. Along with the salt, this step helps the eggplants release their bitter water.

3. Rinse, dry and arrange in the basket

After resting, rinse the eggplants under running water to remove excess salt, then dry them well with paper towels or a clean cloth. Place the halves face down in the air fryer basket.

4. Air fry the first side

Brush or rub the outside of the eggplants with olive oil. Set the air fryer to 180 °C (350 °F) and roast for 15 minutes. After that time, flip them over and drizzle or brush a little olive oil on the cut side.

5. Air fry the second side

Cook the eggplants in the air fryer again for 10 to 15 more minutes, or until completely tender. Let them cool slightly before handling.

6. Scoop out the flesh

When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh and place it in a bowl. Be careful not to tear the skin, as you will use the halves as boats for the filling.

7. Shred the chicken

Take 250 g of cooked chicken and shred it with your hands or a fork, making sure there are no large pieces so it mixes well with the rest of the ingredients.

8. Make the filling

In the same bowl with the eggplant flesh, add the shredded chicken and 100 g of tomato sauce. Mix well until you have a homogeneous, juicy mixture.

9. Season the filling

Adjust the salt and ground black pepper to taste. Season with dried oregano or other spices of your choice and mix again.

10. Stuff the eggplants

Fill the eggplant halves with the chicken and eggplant mixture, pressing lightly so the filling is compact and evenly distributed. Place the stuffed eggplants back in the air fryer basket.

11. Heat the filling and add cheese

Set the air fryer to 180 °C (350 °F) and cook the stuffed eggplants for 5 minutes so the filling heats through and the flavors meld. After 5 minutes, sprinkle 50 g of grated mozzarella over the eggplant halves.

12. Gratinate and serve

Return the eggplants to the air fryer and give them a final blast of heat, still at 180 °C (350 °F), for about 3 or 4 minutes, or until the cheese is gratinated and golden to your liking. Remove from the air fryer and serve immediately.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Stuffed Eggplants

Vary the filling

The filling is endlessly adaptable. Swap the chicken for canned tuna, ground meat for a heartier version, textured soy for a vegetarian option, or chickpeas, lentils, rice or quinoa for equally satisfying alternatives. Personalize it as often as you like.

Enhance the sauce and spices

Tomato sauce binds the filling along with the eggplant flesh and chicken, but you can also add a simple sofrito of onion and garlic, or include peppers, leeks and carrots. Don't forget the spices: oregano works well, but basil, thyme or cumin are great too.

Choose your cheese and finish

Mozzarella is used here, but cheddar, gouda, parmesan or a blend of your favorites work beautifully for gratinating. For a creamier filling, replace the tomato sauce with béchamel. The cheesy top layer is essential for that golden finish.

30 Top Recipes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a balanced lineup ready to go: simple comfort dishes, well-known international plates, and desserts that make everyone happy.

On nights when I want something rich and indulgent, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this elegant Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever something fruity and soothing sounds good, this classic French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I keep coming back to.

For quick breakfasts and lighter plates, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular in my rotation, along with a satisfying Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe and these fresh Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this simple Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I like to prepare.

When tapas and Mediterranean flavors are calling, I move between this bold Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, creamy Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and refreshing Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is also a favorite of mine to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more special.

For filling lunches and cozy dinners, these are the ones I always point people toward: this comforting Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, rich Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and creamy Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. And if I'm after something even heartier, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultra-comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street food and party-style plates are another mood I cook for often, and that usually means this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, flavorful Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These easy Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another one I like to set out as a no-fuss appetizer or snack.

And when I'm building drinks and a full spread for company, dinner often gets paired with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this bold Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the table, this tangy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works great on the side, and this striking Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe makes a beautiful finish.

Additional Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of testing and fine-tuning recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the strongest dishes rely on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more special for friends and family.

On the dessert side, the rich and silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I reach for when I want something elegant without much effort. Another sweet favorite is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something fresh and unfussy is what I'm after, I usually reach for the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a perfectly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For heavier comfort food, I'm quick to suggest the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the quick weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Traditional dishes from around the world are another thing I love to share, among them the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the classic Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is a category I turn to often too, since it saves time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my comforting Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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