This easy eggplant and potato moussaka recipe is the ultimate comfort food! There are so many variations of eggplant moussaka out there (Greek, Turkish, Egyptian, etc.) but this particular eggplant moussaka recipe is a favorite at my house because of how easy and delicious it is. It's packed with authentic flavors and really... you can't stop eating it.
My favorite thing about this recipe is how you can taste each layer in every bite. The melting eggplant goodness with the meat mixture full of delicious spices, and the fluffy buttery potato layer. So good! Whenever I make this potato moussaka with eggplant, I try and make 2 pans so I can stick one in the freezer for later.
Tips to Make the Best Potato Moussaka:
- Before slicing, peel the eggplant lengthwise but only every other ½ inch. That means leaving some peel on. This will help make it softer and easier to eat (rather than leaving it fully unpeeled). The eggplant peel can sometimes be hard to cut and chewy.
- Make sure every layer is well seasoned - taste them all as you go!
- Broil the top for a few minutes at the end to get the potato edges nice and crispy and add more texture
- Allow the moussaka to stand for 20-30 minutes before serving and cutting into it so you can give nice and firm pieces.
How to Store Moussaka and Make-Ahead Tips:
- For leftovers, store in an air tight container and in the fridge. It should keep well for 3-4 days.
- You can make this potato moussaka ahead of time and simply freeze it before baking and make sure you cover it well with plastic wrap. Thaw it in the fridge overnight and bake when ready to eat.
- You can also prepare the separate layers the night before (if using for a dinner party, for example) and store them in separate containers in the fridge. The only thing I would make the day of is the potatoes so they're fluffy and easier to spread.
For more Middle Eastern recipes, check out:
Print
Easy Potato Moussaka With Eggplant
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 9x13 baking dish, 10-12 pieces 1x
Description
A delicious comfort dish made with baked eggplant, spiced meat, and fluffy mashed potatoes. So delicious and easy!
Ingredients
-
For the Eggplant:
- 2 large eggplants
- ½ cup vegetable oil (for eggplant)
-
For the Potatoes:
- 7 medium potatoes
- 1 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup milk
- Salt & pepper to taste
-
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb extra lean ground beef
- 2 onions, finely diced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 cups pasta sauce (or thick tomato sauce)
Instructions
- Start by washing the eggplant and trimming the ends. Then peel them lengthwise but only every other ½ inch. The result should be a "stripes" pattern.
- Slice into ½ inch circles and lay on a parchment lined baking sheet in one layer. Add the oil and ensure they are well combined. Bake at 400F for 45 minutes until soft
- Meanwhile peel the potatoes and boil for 30-40 minutes until soft when pierced with a fork
- Mash using a potato masher and add the butter, milk, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix until soft and creamy
- For the meat mixture, saute the diced onions using the oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and the ground beef and cook until the meat is brown, about 5-7 minutes
- Add all the other seasoning and the tomato sauce and cook for another few minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning
- Layer the Moussaka with the eggplant first, then the meat mixture, and finally the potato. Add the potato in spoonfuls and gently flatten using a spoon. Create grooves on the top using a fork.
- Bake in the oven uncovered at 400F for 25 mins, then broil the top for 5 mins. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
- You can also fry the eggplant, but ensure that you allow them to sweat first by sprinkling them with salt and allowing them to sit for 20 minutes. Then squeeze out the excess water before frying. After frying, using a paper towel to absorb the extra oil
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: easy eggplant moussaka
Sooooo good, I made this recipe and it’s delish!!!
★★★★★
It's one of my favourites! Thanks so much Mary!
Amazing easy recipe! A must try! Thank you!🤗
★★★★★
Thanks so much for the feedback Sofy!
Made this the other day and my husband loved it so much! He ate half of the dish himself!
It turned out so delicious and was ridiculously easy to make. I used a can of diced tomatoes, a couple tablespoons of tomato paste, 1/3-1/2 C of water and 7 spice(in addition to the spices listed) to make the sauce. It was perfect!
Thank you!
★★★★★
I'm so glad you guys enjoyed it (especially the husband)! Mine doe the same, haha! Thanks for a lovely review.
This was a really good and comforting meal. Thank you so much Amina. I'm going to make it again soon and substitute cauliflower for the potatoes since my husband is on a diet 🙂
★★★★★
Easy and so delicious!
★★★★★
Thank you so much Sana!
Loved this recipe! New family favorite. Shared it with my sisters because anything eggplant is a fave.
★★★★★
Thank you Aisha! So glad to hear. Lots of eggplant recipes around here because I'm a huge fan too 🙂
Amazing recipe, the whole family loved it.
Thank you!
★★★★★
Thank you for the great review!
This was a super simple recipe and a great way to incorporate eggplant in our diet! So glad I came across your blog 🙂
Awesome to hear Momina - thank you so much!
I tried this for iftar and made a large portion for only two people because I didn’t have a smaller oven tray lol but it was so good we had to put it on the table the second day and man was it good even as a leftover ???????????? the truth is I wish I saw this recipe earlier ????????♀️???? also I want to mention that it wasn’t just the taste but the easiness of making it that was very satisfying and comfortable ❤️
★★★★★
What a wonderful thing to hear Bayan! Thank you so much! 🙂
i never knew it was possible to love eggplant more than i did but this recipe proved me wrong. easily one of my family's most favourite dishes!!!
it was so good that everyone requested me to double the recipe to make more because it all disappeared in the shortest time when i made it and they all wished there was more left!!
★★★★★
That's the best thing to hear, Zahraa! So glad you all enjoyed it! 🙂
Super easy to make and soo soo divine! My whole family loved it 🙂
Fantastic! Thanks so much for the lovely review 🙂
I tried this recipe for iftar .it was sooo delicious my whole family complimented. The top layer of mash potatoes was the best combination with the minced . I added little cheese before the top layer it tasted so rich. The receipe was easy n delicious.
★★★★★
Thanks so much for the review Sadaf! The cheese addition sounds so good 🙂
Tried this recipe for quarantine eid since I had so many eggplants to use up and personally love moussaka. My husband (picky eater and detest eggplant) loved this recipe. Took multiple huge portion sizes. Highly recommend.
★★★★★
Wow! I hope we converted him 😉 Thanks so much for the review!
Made this today! Scrumptious
★★★★★
Thank you Nabeela! 🙂
Tried the moussaka recipe. Easy to make and so delicious.. thanks for sharing your recipes.
★★★★★
Thank you for the lovely review Mubina! 🙂
Came together super quick and was a hit with the kids! I used instant mashed potatoes and it tasted great, but will definitely try it with fresh potatoes next time.
★★★★★
Amazing to hear! Thanks for the lovely review! 🙂
I keep saying I’m going to make this one and haven’t. I need to rectify that...like soon! You know I love (LOVE) eggplant & potatoes, so it’s a no brainer. I need to make a proper list of all your recipes I want to make...and the ones I keep on repeat. LOL Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the USA, so it’s turkey and stuffing for me, but I’m thinking I may have to pop in to the store to get the goods to make this on Friday.
★★★★★
LindaLee you always crack me up! Thank you so much for trusting my recipes! 🙂
Loved this recipe! I made it a bit different however. I added a bechamel sauce on top. Amazing!
★★★★
I tried the mousaka recipe last week and everyone loved it. It’s really tasty comfort food. I’m gonna try the zatar honey chicken today , InshaAllah it’ll be a hit also. Love your recipes. They are very easy to follow and tasty . Jazakillah
★★★★★
I was looking for something different to cook and I thought I'd try this, it was SO straightforward and so tasty even the next day! My husband also loved it.
Thank you so much Amina!
★★★★★
I have intense feelings about this Moussaka - the I never want to share it with anyone kind, it was so so good!
This was such comforting meal. The potatoes with the meat and eggplant, my mouths watering just thinking about it. Thank you for sharing 🙂
★★★★★
Thanks so much for the feedback Nadia - really appreciate it!
This is a fave in our home! I make it once a week and it's always a hit! Perfect for busy moms, I pop the eggplants in the oven and the mash is so easy to make! Thank you Aminah for providing busy moms with the best tools to excel at cooking 😉