Ingredients
Scale
- 12 mini bagels (or 6 regular bagels, quartered)
- 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 2½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 10 oz)
- 48 slices mini pepperoni (or ½ cup regular pepperoni, chopped) – optional
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, for brushing)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Optional Additional Toppings:
- Sliced mushrooms
- Diced bell peppers
- Sliced black olives
- Cooked Italian sausage
- Diced ham
- Red pepper flakes
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. If you have a wire rack that fits your baking sheet, place it on top—this helps air circulate and keeps the bottoms crispy.
- Prepare the bagels: Using a sharp serrated knife, carefully slice each mini bagel in half horizontally to create two rounds. Arrange all bagel halves cut-side up on your prepared baking sheet. They can be close together but shouldn’t touch (they’ll expand slightly when heated).
- Optional – Pre-toast for extra crispiness: For the crispiest bagel bites, toast the bagel halves in the oven for 3-4 minutes before adding toppings. This creates a barrier that prevents sogginess. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step.
- Brush with olive oil (optional but recommended): Lightly brush the cut side of each bagel half with olive oil mixed with a pinch of garlic powder. This adds flavor and helps achieve a golden, crispy edge.
- Spread the sauce: Spoon about 1-2 teaspoons of pizza sauce onto each bagel half. Use the back of a spoon to spread it evenly, leaving a tiny border around the edge. Don’t overload with sauce or they’ll get soggy—a thin layer is perfect!
- Add the cheese: Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce on each bagel half. Make sure the cheese covers the sauce completely—this creates that beautiful melty top layer we all love.
- Add your toppings: Place 2-4 mini pepperoni slices (or your chosen toppings) on top of the cheese on each bagel bite. If using vegetables, add them under the cheese to prevent burning. Don’t overload—remember, these are bite-sized!
- Season: Sprinkle Italian seasoning and garlic powder evenly over all the bagel bites for that authentic pizza flavor.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and starting to turn golden brown in spots. The edges of the bagels should be crispy and lightly toasted.
- Broil for extra browning (optional): If you want extra-crispy, golden cheese, turn on the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes of baking. Watch carefully—they can burn quickly under the broiler!
- Cool slightly and serve: Remove from the oven and let the bagel bites cool for 2-3 minutes (the cheese will be molten hot!). Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve warm with extra pizza sauce, ranch, or marinara for dipping.
Notes
Prevent soggy bagels: Don’t over-sauce! A thin layer is all you need. Pre-toasting the bagel halves also helps create a moisture barrier.
Even melting: For the most even cheese coverage, use freshly shredded cheese rather than pre-shredded.
Make them spicy: Add red pepper flakes to the sauce or use spicy pepperoni and pepper jack cheese.
Watch the clock: Ovens vary, so start checking at 8 minutes. You want melted, bubbly cheese and golden (not burnt) edges.
Freezer meal prep: These freeze beautifully! Assemble but don’t bake, then freeze on a tray before transferring to freezer bags. Bake from frozen, adding 3-5 minutes to cooking time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 bagel bites
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 28mg