Best Eggplant Casserole Recipe (Eggplant Ground Beef Casserole)

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: American cheese

Reduced-fat cheese lowers calories while maintaining flavor.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces fat without sacrificing texture.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often less expensive.

bread crumbs

🥗Healthier: oat flour

💰Cheaper: crushed crackers

Oat flour is gluten-free, while crushed crackers can be more affordable.

Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a heated pot.

Once the oil is hot, add one large chopped onion and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes until it gets a little bit soft.

Add 4 cloves of crushed garlic and optionally a couple of green chilies for spice; cook until aromatic.

Add 1 lb of ground beef, breaking it up and browning it with a little bit of salt and black pepper.

While the meat is browning, wash the eggplant, cut off the head, then cut it lengthwise into about 1-inch slices.

Once the meat is browned, add 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of red pepper paste, a 15 oz can of diced tomatoes, a 15 oz can of tomato sauce, half a teaspoon of sumach, and half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional).

Season with more black pepper and salt to taste, then bring to a simmer.

Add the eggplant (about 1 and 1/2 lbs) to the mixture and give it a good mix.

Cover with a lid and cook on medium-high for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the eggplant is fully cooked, stirring occasionally.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens