Air fryer eggplant chips are one of the easiest healthy snacks you can make — four ingredients, 20 minutes in the air fryer, and a drizzle of honey to finish. These healthy eggplant chips are naturally gluten-free, low carb, and endlessly customizable. Add a drizzle of infused honey and you have a discreet cannabis snack that tastes incredible.
Why Air Fryer Eggplant Chips?
Eggplant chips are a great alternative to regular potato chips. Eggplant is low in calories, high in fibre, and has a mild flavour that absorbs whatever spices you put on it. The air fryer crisps up the thin slices without deep frying, which means you get a satisfying crunch with very little oil. They are also one of the few air fryer eggplant slices recipes where the end result genuinely looks and tastes like a proper chip rather than a sad vegetable.
Air Fryer Eggplant Chips: What You Need
- 1 to 2 eggplants (Japanese eggplant works best — thinner and easier to slice)
- 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and cracked black pepper to taste
- A pinch of chili flakes
- A pinch of paprika
- Honey to drizzle (or infused honey for a cannabis version)
- A mandolin slicer (or a very sharp knife)
- An air fryer (or oven — see alternatives below)
How to Make Air Fryer Eggplant Chips
These air fryer eggplant chips are ready in four simple steps:
Step 1 – Slice the eggplant thin. Use a mandolin slicer for uniform slices — this makes a big difference for even cooking. If using a regular eggplant (wider than Japanese eggplant), quarter it lengthwise first so it fits in the mandolin. Aim for thin, consistent slices — roughly 2 to 3 millimetres. If using a knife, make sure it is very sharp since eggplant skin resists blunt blades.
Step 2 – Season the slices. Add your eggplant slices to a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil — about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons for a full eggplant — and toss to coat. You want them lightly coated, not soggy. Add salt, cracked pepper, chili flakes, and paprika. Toss with your hands to distribute the spices evenly. This is your healthy eggplant chips recipe base.
Step 3 – Air fry at 160C for 17-20 minutes. Lay the eggplant slices in your air fryer basket. It is fine if they overlap slightly — these air fryer eggplant slices cook down as they crisp. Set the temperature to 160 degrees Celsius (320 degrees Fahrenheit) and cook for 20 minutes. At the 10-minute mark, shake or flip them to promote even browning. Start checking at around 17 minutes — they can go from crisp to burnt quickly once they dry out.
Step 4 – Finish with honey. Plate your air fryer eggplant chips and drizzle with honey while they are still warm. For a cannabis infusion, use infused honey — the warm chips will absorb it slightly for a subtle dose with every bite. The combination of chili, paprika, and honey is sweet-spicy-salty perfection.
How to Make Infused Honey Eggplant Chips
To turn these into infused honey eggplant chips, simply swap regular honey for cannabis-infused honey. You can buy infused honey or make your own by gently heating honey with decarbed cannabis, straining, and cooling. One to two teaspoons of infused honey per serving is a reasonable starting dose — potency depends on the strength of your honey. Wait at least 90 minutes before eating more.
Note: Do not add infused olive oil during the cooking step — the extended heat can degrade THC. Infused honey added after cooking is more reliable for consistent dosing.
Oven Alternative (No Air Fryer Needed)
No air fryer? No problem. Spread your mandolin eggplant chips on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius) for approximately 15 minutes, checking regularly after 12 minutes. The oven tends to go a bit faster than the air fryer, so keep a close eye near the end to prevent burning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do air fryer eggplant chips get crispy?
Yes, if sliced thin enough and not overloaded with oil. The thinner the slice, the crispier the chip. Using a mandolin slicer gives you the most consistent thin cuts. If your chips come out chewy rather than crispy, try slicing thinner or reducing the oil slightly.
Do I need to salt eggplant before making chips?
For chips, no. Traditional eggplant salting removes bitterness from thick slices used in cooked dishes. For thin air fryer eggplant chips, the slices cook so quickly that bitterness is not an issue. Skip the salting step and go straight to seasoning.
What eggplant works best for air fryer eggplant chips?
Japanese eggplant is ideal because it is narrower and fits easily in a mandolin without needing to be quartered first. Regular (globe) eggplant also works — just cut it into quarters lengthwise before slicing so it fits on the mandolin properly.
Can I add the infused oil during cooking instead of infused honey after?
It is not recommended. Cooking at 160 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes can degrade THC. For reliable dosing in these healthy eggplant chips, add your cannabis infusion after cooking — infused honey drizzled on warm chips is both more effective and tastier.
References
- Eggplant – Wikipedia
- 7 Surprising Health Benefits of Eggplant – Healthline
- About Cannabis – Health Canada
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