This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

I’ve cooked some version of this Eggplant Pasta so many times in so many variations, it was almost hard for me to write down the recipe.

Creamy eggplant pasta with a wooden spoon in a skillet

Whole wheat noodles, hearty eggplant, plenty of Parmesan, and a few light, briny punches to bring it to life are the non-negotiables.

From there, the precise mix of ingredients is up to you!

I’m typically a stickler for clear directions and precise measurements (a reason my cookbook has nearly 1,900 5-star reviews!), but clean-out-the refrigerator pastas like this recipe are one domain where we have more freedom to play.

When I cook with this open-the-refrigerator, see-where-it-takes-me abandon I try to channel my Grandma Dorothy.

I used to chase her around the kitchen, trying furiously to write down her recipes—many of which included adding “a small box” of a particular ingredient until it “looks right.”

She had an intuition in the kitchen, and this flexible, easy pasta recipe will help you to have the same.

Half bag of spinach threatening to go bad? Stir it in here!

Garden overfloweth with zucchini? Dice a few up and sauté them with the eggplant.

A lover of Pasta Alla Norma, a classic Italian pasta dish made with eggplant, marinara, and ricotta salata? Skip the olives and capers, and swap the Parmesan for ricotta salata.

Front to back, this healthy vegetarian pasta is ready in 30 minutes. It’s one of my favorites to cook up after a trip to the farmer’s market, and it makes me feel connected to my food.

healthy eggplant pasta in a skillet

5 Star Review

“I want to dub you the one-pot dinner queen because you make the most insanely delicious one-pot meals!”

— Lauren —

How to Make Eggplant Pasta

The recipe must-haves here are eggplant, which is at the recipe’s heart and makes it a healthy all-in-one meal, fresh lemon zest, which brings the eggplant pasta to life, and either olives or capers. They add an important salty and briny dimension.


The Ingredients

  • Eggplant. Packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, eggplant is a healthy and delicious addition to this pasta. It soaks up the flavors it’s cooked with and becomes perfectly tender (NOT soggy and NOT bitter). Can’t get enough? Try my Roasted Eggplant.
  • Store-Bought Pasta Sauce. This is one of my absolute favorite cooking shortcuts (the full list is in my cookbook). It makes the eggplant pasta quick and easy.

Substitution Tip

Instead of store-bought pasta sauce, you can use your favorite homemade marinara, or replace the sauce completely with a generous bunch of fresh tomatoes, sautéed right along with the eggplant.

  • Whole Wheat Pasta Noodles. As always, I recommend using whole wheat pasta instead of white, because it is an instant way to make any pasta recipe healthier (fist pump for extra fiber and protein!).

Dietary Notes

  • For a no-noodle eggplant pasta, check out my reader-favorite eggplant pasta bake, Eggplant Lasagna.
  • To make eggplant pasta vegan, omit the Parmesan and add a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast.
  • Red Bell Pepper. Adds beautiful color to the pasta and oodles of vitamins.
  • Olives. Olives are a salty and delicious addition that add liveliness to the pasta (as they do in this Mediterranean Pasta).

Substitution Tip

Not a fan of olives? You can substitute the olives with 2 to 3 tablespoons of rinsed and drained capers. Taste and add a little more salt to the recipe as needed.

  • Red Pepper Flakes. Adds a little heat without overpowering the other flavors.
  • Lemon Juice + Zest. Brightens the entire dish and makes the flavors pop.
  • Parmesan. A shower of freshly-grated Parmesan is a must-have addition to my bowl of pasta. It’s cheesy and takes this dish to the next level.
sauteed eggplant and red bell pepper

TIP!

Eggplant goes well with Mediterranean ingredients, including feta, Parmesan, garlic, olives, capers, and summer vegetables like zucchini, red bell pepper, and tomatoes. It also pairs nicely with assorted proteins—meatballs and lamb are traditional. Shrimp also pairs wonderfully with Mediterranean flavors (evidenced by this Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp and Mediterranean Shrimp).

If you’d like to play around with this recipe, look to the Mediterranean, southern France, and Italy for inspiration.

The Directions

  1. Boil the pasta, drain it, and toss it with oil.
  2. Cook the eggplant and bell pepper. Add the garlic. Stir in the tomato sauce, olives, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add the lemon juice and zest.
  3. Incorporate the pasta into the sauce. Top with herbs and Parmesan, then DIG IN!

TIP!

To keep the eggplant from getting soggy, be sure not to overdo it on the oil. Eggplant acts like a sponge and will very quickly absorb oil. Start with a small amount of oil in the pan, then add more in small increments as needed if the eggplant is sticking.

Wine Pairing

Serve eggplant pasta with Chianti, Zinfandel, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon.

How to Store and Reheat Eggplant Pasta

  • To Store. Place leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • To Reheat. Gently rewarm pasta in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat. You can also reheat this recipe in the microwave.
  • To Freeze. Freeze pasta in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Meal Plan Tip

Chop the garlic, olives, eggplant, and red pepper up to 1 day in advance. Store each ingredient separately in the refrigerator.

Pasta Alla Norma in a Skillet

What to Serve with Eggplant Pasta

Whether you follow this eggplant pasta recipe to the letter or give it your own twist, I hope it becomes a back pocket recipe you can rely on, just as it has for us.

Eggplant Pasta Video

If you enjoy this eggplant pasta video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. Be sure to click the BELL icon so you can be the first to know when we post a new video (and thank you for subscribing!).

YouTube video

Eggplant Pasta

4.78 from 9 votes
This healthy eggplant pasta is vibrant and filling. An easy twist on pasta alla norma, a simple Italian pasta made with eggplant and tomato.

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces whole wheat pasta or gluten free pasta if needed, any shape you like (I used fusilli)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium eggplant cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 1 pound)
  • 1 large red bell pepper cut into 1/4 x 1-inch strips
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 12 ounces prepared tomato pasta sauce
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives
  • Zest and juice of 1 medium lemon
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs such as parsley or basil
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Drain, toss with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking, and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add the chopped eggplant and bell pepper and cook until just softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the garlic and sauté just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes and stir to combine.
  • Stir in the tomato sauce, then the olives. Let simmer 5 minutes, or until heated through. Stir in the lemon juice and zest.
  • Stir the pasta into the eggplant tomato sauce, adding a little more of the prepared pasta sauce as needed to moisten the noodles. Served topped with chopped fresh herbs and Parmesan. Enjoy immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 4)Calories: 440kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 14gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPotassium: 627mgFiber: 14gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1510IUVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 2mg

Join today and start saving your favorite recipes

Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes and access FREE meal plans.

Sign Me Up

More Veggie-Packed Pasta Recipes

Pasta is a terrific way to get extra veggies into your daily diet. Here are some of my favorite pasta recipes with extra vegetables:

Did you try this recipe?

I want to see!

Follow @wellplated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!

You May Also Like

Free Email Series
Sign Up for FREE Weekly Meal Plans
Each includes a grocery list, budget, and 5 healthy dinners, helping you save time, save money, and live better!

Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

Learn more about Erin

Leave a Comment

Did you make this recipe?

Don't forget to leave a review!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





16 Comments

Leave a comment

  1. I am patiently waiting for my eggplant to be ready to use in ALL THE THINGS and once it is you can bet that this pasta is gonna be first on the menu! Can’t get enough of all that summer goodness!

  2. sorry just saw this now will be making this soon can i skip olives and red bell pepper as am not a big fan of them i love eggplant / pasta sooooooooooo much perfect for my after office meals will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya

    1. I hope you love the recipe if you try it, Ramya! You can omit the olives and red pepper if you prefer.

  3. OMG! Best eggplant recipe ever and so easy to prepare. Cut it in half since cooking for one and used a plant-based bolognaise sauce. I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing. Can’t wait to serve the leftovers later this week.5 stars

  4. I made this today and it’s sooo good. Put the sauce in the fridge to mellow out and will probably devour the whole shebang tomorrow. Great recipe!5 stars

  5. This was delicious! The second time I made it, I sautéed boneless bite sized cubes of chicken breast in the pan after the vegetables, then continued with the recipe. My meat loving family was very happy!5 stars

  6. I looked for a recipe with eggplant and red peppers and luckily chose this one. We keep talking about eating more vegetarian food but somehow when we’re hungry and trying to figure out what to eat, the vegetarian recipes seem more daunting and we don’t seem to have all three ingredients.
    When I do try new recipes, I try to make them as written. I figure the folks who publish them have tested them and created them as they appear. So having said that, I’m not fan of red peppers but they were delicious in this very flavorful, yummy, easy, vegetarian recipe. We scarfed down tonight’s dinner ! Thanks so much, this recipe is a keeper.5 stars