Eggplant dishes make for a terrific main ingredient, main course, and side dish. I actually love taking an easy side and, with a few additions or tweaks, turning them into easy weeknight meals!

I decided to write this article for all those eggplant lovers who picked up a few mini eggplants from the farmers’ market and are wondering what to make with them! Or maybe you’re growing eggplant, and they are tiny! Here are 10 Mini eggplants recipes that have delicious flavor and are not to be overlooked!

Backyard gardeners, waste not, want not! If you’ve got mini eggplants growing, they’re perfect for roasting, grilling, air frying, sautéing, or blending into dips.

They are also:

• Delicious: Mini eggplants have tender flesh and a mild, slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with herbs, spices, and sauces.

• Nutritious: They’re a good source of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins while staying low in calories.

• Versatile: Whether baked, stir-fried, grilled, or air-fried, these little gems shine in all kinds of dishes and with all kinds of flavor combinations.

Cook times differ. Just like your larger eggplants, but often require a little less cook time, another reason I love cooking with them.

No need to salt! Older, larger eggplants can be bitter, and salting them can help remove bitterness.

They often have fewer seeds! This makes them ideal for turning into dips!

I prefer to store eggplants in the crisper drawer, uncut. Cutting the eggplants can dry them out or cause browning.

Freezing eggplant is easy! Just cook and freeze! This is best for turning into dips and sauces.

Halve those tiny eggplants, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast on a baking sheet at 400°F until caramelized and tender (20–25 minutes). Add herbs like thyme or oregano for extra flavor.

For an even quicker weeknight dish, use the air fryer! Prepare the eggplant the same as you would for the oven, but air fry!

Air fryer option: Prepare the eggplants the same way, then cook at 375°F for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until browned and soft.

Weeknight meal tip: Toss into pasta with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese, or layer over seasoned grains with a quick protein for a fast dinner.

Grill or roast halved mini eggplants until charred and soft. Top with a dollop of your whipped cottage cheese herb saucefor creamy, high-protein flavor.

Weeknight meal tip: Serve over quinoa or farro with roasted veggies for a balanced bowl.

Slice mini eggplants into rounds or halves, then sauté in extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or butter with minced fresh garlic until golden and tender. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of parsley. I love how simple this recipe is.

Weeknight meal tip: Serve over couscous or rice with a simple protein like grilled shrimp, chicken, or tofu, and another good drizzle of olive oil, spritz of fresh lemon juice, a sprinkle if flaky sea salt, and a few cracks of fresh ground black pepper for an easy one-pan dinner.

Use roasted mini eggplants in place of large ones for your carrot + eggplant dip recipe. The carrot adds sweetness and bulks up the dip.

Weeknight meal tip: Spread into wraps with roasted veggies and feta or pair with a grain bowl for a filling dinner.

Recipe: Roasted Eggplant and Carrot Dip

Swap in mini eggplants for your roasted eggplant salad recipe. Their smaller size allows for quicker roasting, and they add a tender bite to the salad.

Weeknight meal tip: Bulk the salad up with canned chickpeas or lentils and serve with crusty bread for a complete meal.

Recipe: Roasted Eggplant Salad

Roast mini eggplants and use them in your Mediterranean grain bowl recipe. Their creamy texture pairs perfectly with grains, feta, and fresh veggies such as fresh tomatoes, or roasted zucchini, onions, peppers, and green beans.

Weeknight meal tip: Already a full meal, just add your favorite protein like tofu, fish, or chicken if you’d like more staying power. Top with lots of fresh herbs such as parsley, mint, oregano, or basil.

Recipe: Trader Joes Harvest Blend Grain Bowl

Adapt my sausage, Brussels sprouts, and potato sheet pan recipe by swapping in mini eggplant slices and chickpeas for a vegetarian version.

Weeknight meal tip: Keep it vegetarian, or bring back the sausage for a heartier dinner! Both variations work with the same sheet pan method. For a vegetarian option, serve with feta cheese, Greek Yogurt, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Recipe: Roasted Sheetpan Sausage and Potatoes

Hollow out mini eggplants slightly and stuff with cooked quinoa, farro, or rice plus herbs, veggies, and goat cheese. Bake until warmed through and golden.

Weeknight meal tip: Already a meal on its own, just add a side salad to round things out.

Slice mini eggplants in half, lightly salt, and roast until tender and golden. Top with marinara, mozzarella or ricotta, and fresh basil, then return to the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Weeknight meal tip: Pair with a green salad and crusty garlic bread for a lighter, fun dinner option.

One of my favorite ways to cook eggplant is in an asian-inspired stir-fry, with lots of garlic and seasoned with soy sauce! I love to make an asian inspired eggplant dish to go with rice and tofu. I often use Japanese eggplant for this, but you can use mini eggplants too!

Just sauté sliced mini eggplants in a hot pan with fresh minced garlic, soy sauce (I like to use regular soy sauce and a dark soy sauce for extra depth, and a splash of both sesame oil and rice wine vinegar. Add a little honey if you want it a little sticky, and on the sweeter side, add a little red pepper flakes or a hot pepper for a little heat. Finish it all off with sesame seeds and scallions.

Weeknight meal tip: Serve the eggplant mixture over rice or noodles along with tofu, chicken, or shrimp to make it a satisfying meal.