Eggplant Parmesan Stacks

These eggplant parmesan stacks are a delicious and healthier dinner recipe you're going to love.

The eggplants get a wonderful crispy char from the grill and the meaty sauce is hearty and full of flavor.

If you like eggplant parmesan, you'll love this deconstructed version of it - it's easier to make and still has an appealing flavor combination.

Grilling (instead of breading) the eggplant makes this recipe healthier than traditional eggplant parm, and it adds a depth of flavor.

The stacks are fun to make and look great, making this a great dinner party recipe or fun backyard BBQ night meal.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this recipe.

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 medium eggplants (about 2 pounds)
• 3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 2 tablespoons neutral oil, divided
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 (14.5 ounces) can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 3 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
• optional - fresh basil or parsley for topping

How to Make this Recipe

1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook till browned, stirring occasionally.
2. Meanwhile, slice the eggplants into rounds, about ¼ inch thick. Toss them with 1 teaspoon of salt and place them in a colander in the sink to release excess water.
3. When the beef is cooked, remove it from the pot and set aside.
4. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pot and when it is hot, add the onion. Cook the onion for 3 to 4 minutes or until translucent.
5. Add the garlic to the onions and cook for 30 seconds, stirring continuously.
6. Then add the tomato sauce, oregano, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Return the ground beef to the pot. Stir to combine and bring to bubbling, then reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
8. Toss the eggplant slices with 1 tablespoon of oil and place them on the grill. Cook for 3 minutes and then flip. Cook for another 3 minutes or until the eggplant is starting to be translucent.
9. To create the stacks, place an eggplant slice on a plate and then layer it with a couple of spoonfuls of the meat sauce, then top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Repeat twice until there’s a three-layer stack of eggplant, meat, and cheese. Top with basil or parsley if desired.

Tips for Making Eggplant Parm Stacks

• Don't skip the salting step for the eggplant slices - it helps release excess water and keeps your eggplant slices from getting mushy.
• Don't fully cook the beef when you brown it, it's going to cook more in the sauce. So as soon as it's browned, remove it from the pot.

I hope you love these healthier eggplant parm stacks as much as we do. They're a delicious go-to grilling recipe for us when we want a hearty and delicious dinner.