![Close up of an eggplant casserole in a baking dish, with a piece missing.](https://thecaglediaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Eggplant-Casserole-Featured-Image-150x150.jpg)
Eggplant casserole is a versatile and satisfying dish that is relatively easy to make. Featuring eggplant as the star ingredient it's a tasty and nutritious meal.
![Side shot of a baking dish with eggplant casserole, with a piece missing.](https://thecaglediaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Eggplant-Casserole-Hero-1.jpg)
I have a neighbor who I visit a lot, her name is Jane Theriot (Maw Jane) and this recipe is hers. Her eggplant casserole is famous among her family so naturally I wanted to know more.
I didn't grow up around this casserole, or even eggplant in general, so it was totally new to me. She agreed to allow me to share with my readers, as I found it the most delicious vegetable casserole I'd ever eaten.
Jump to:
👍 Why This Recipe
- This recipe has a more southern feel to it. Cheesy, seasoned to perfection and filled with flavorful ingredients. I can't stress enough that the people that live down this bayou are amazing cooks, but especially the old timers.
🧅 Ingredients
![Ingredients needed to make an eggplant casserole, with text overlay.](https://thecaglediaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Eggplant-Casserole-Ingredients.jpg)
- Eggplant
- Onion
- Green Bell Pepper
- Celery
- Butter
- Eggs
- Half and Half
- Ritz Crackers
- Italian Style Breadcrumbs
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Creole Seasoning
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
🥣 Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe steps. For more detailed instructions visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
![A collage of four images showing how to make an eggplant casserole recipe steps 1-4.](https://thecaglediaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Eggplant-Casserole-Recipe-Steps-1-4.jpg)
- Step 1: Peel and dice the eggplants into even size pieces. Boil in water until tender then drain.
- Step 2: Mash the eggplant.
- Step 3: Chop the onion, bell pepper and celery as finely as possible.
- Step 4: Cook the onions etc with some butter, until soft.
![A collage of four images showing how to make an eggplant casserole recipe steps 5-8.](https://thecaglediaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Eggplant-Casserole-Recipe-Steps-5-8.jpg)
- Step 5: Using a paper towel soak up the excess fluid from the mashed eggplant.
- Step 6: Add the onion mixture to the eggplant and mash together.
- Step 7: Place the Ritz crackers into a resealable bag and crush with a rolling pin (or something like it).
- Step 8: Add all ingredients together (reserve one cup of cheese) and mix until evenly combined.
![Overhead shot of an almost completed eggplant casserole with cheese being sprinkled on top.](https://thecaglediaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Eggplant-Casserole-Recipe-Step-9.jpg)
- Step 9: Add to a baking dish, smooth evenly the top then sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Broil for another 5 minutes just until the cheese and turned golden brown.
Hint: Make sure to pick out the dark colored seeds (if any) as these can be rather bitter.
🔄 Substitutions and Variations
- Garlic - instead of ice berg lettuc
- Salt - if you find your Creole Seasoning does not have much salt add a little yourself.
- Olive Oil - Could be used to cook the onion mixture instead of butter. Or in addition to.
- Parmesan Cheese - Mix a little into the dish for added flavor.
- Crab Meat - This recipe is excellent with the addition of crab meat.
- Crawfish - As with the crab meat, crawfish works well too.
- Ground Meat - Turn this casserole into a meaty casserole and add some cook ground beef or venison.
🔧 Recipe Troubleshooting
- It's too runny/mushy - this will happen if you don't work at removing the excess water from the eggplant with the paper towels. You may have also not added enough crumb to the mixture. I have found that the 3 cups of crumb, from both Ritz Crackers and Italian Breadcrumbs is the perfect ratio to bind it all together.
![A slice of eggplant casserole on a light blue plate.](https://thecaglediaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Eggplant-Casserole-Hero-3-1.jpg)
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🔌 Equipment
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
You'll need a pot to boil the eggplant, a skillet to precook the onions etc, a masher to mash the eggplant and an 11x7" baking dish.
You could use a 13x9" dish, but it may leave you with a thinner eggplant casserole slice.
I have some affiliate links in the recipe card below.
📘 More Casserole Recipes
🧊 Storage
Either cover the casserole with plastic wrap or decant to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
This will freeze well so store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
💡 Tips
Expert Tip: Smaller eggplants are actually better than the bigger ones as these can be more on the bitter side.
![Overhead shot of a full pan of eggplant casserole.](https://thecaglediaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Eggplant-Casserole-Hero-3.jpg)
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Eggplant Casserole
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 ea Medium Sized Eggplants 3 Cups Mashed
- 1 ea Medium Onion finely diced
- ½ ea Large Green Bell Pepper finely diced
- 2 ea Ribs Celery finely diced
- 7 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter divided
- 2 ea Large Eggs beaten
- ½ Cup Half and Half
- 2 Cups Ritz Crackers crushed
- 1 Cup Italian Style Breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Creole Seasoning
- 2.5 Cups Sharp Cheddar grated and divided
Instructions
- Peel and dice the eggplant into even sized cubes. Add to a large pot filled with water and boil until the eggplant has become tender.
- Drain the eggplant, discard any dark colored seeds then mash the eggplant. Turn on your oven to 350°F.
- Chop the onion, bell pepper and celery in a food processor (if you don't have one chop by hand is fine, just get them really fine as you can).
- Cook in a skillet with 3 tablespoons of the butter, until soft.
- Take a paper towel and press into the mashed eggplant, soaking up the excess moisture. Repeat this if necessary.
- Add the onion mixture to the eggplant and mash together.
- Add the Ritz crackers to a large resealable bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- Add this to the eggplant mixture, along with ¼ Cup melted butter, half and half, beaten eggs, breadcrumbs, 1-½ cups grated cheese and all the seasoning. Mix together well.
- Spread out into a greased 11x7" baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and turn the oven onto broil. This is just to brown the top, about 5 minutes should do it.
- Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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