Chewy, crispy, and cheesy: these homemade pizza bagels might be the best—and easiest!—snack out there.
Considering how snack-hungry my kids are, it’s a wonder I haven’t spent all my time developing recipes specifically for between meals. The truth is I used to worry that if the snacks I gave them were too filling or too good, the kids wouldn’t be hungry for dinner. Silly me! It turns out they’ve got the kind of insatiable appetites that would keep dinner safe no matter what. So bring on the snacks!
Now that I’m not doing my dinners a disservice, I’m all about new and interesting snacks that will get my family over the hunger gap. One fun and delicious treat I go to frequently is bagel bites. In case you’re not familiar with these legendary snacks, they’re like mini pizzas built on split bagels (usually mini bagels); no pizza dough needed. And while you can buy frozen versions of these bites, there’s no need to. They’re super easy to make and a good alternative to sugar-laden snacks. Better yet, I like letting the kids help by putting on their own toppings; this means we can make them together, always better than doing the work solo! Here’s everything you need to know about these awesome air-fryer treats.
Are Bagel Bites Healthy?
Though delicious, it’s best to enjoy these bagel bites as an occasional treat, as the cheese and pepperoni do add saturated fat. You can, however, use a low-fat cheese, and instead of pepperoni, top your bagel with sliced mushrooms. When choosing your bagels, you might want to opt for a whole-wheat variety for extra fiber. Want to make these vegetarian? Simply leave out the pepperoni or use a plant-based option. To make them vegan, use a plant-based grated cheese.
Which Other Toppings Do You Recommend?
I often take whatever I can find in the fridge and have fun mixing and matching, but if you want to approach your bagel bites more strategically, you can’t go wrong with these classic pizza combos.
- Margherita: pizza sauce, mozzarella slices, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil
- Vegetarian: pizza sauce, cooked vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and goat or feta cheese
- Hawaiian: barbecue sauce (instead of pizza sauce), mozzarella, ham, and pineapple
- Going Dippy: creamy spinach and artichoke dip, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Leftover bagel bites can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat them at 300°F in the air fryer.
Serving Suggestions
A garnish of fresh herbs is a nice touch on bagel bites if your family is into them (young kids are often not), as are red pepper flakes. If you’d like to make your snacks into a light meal, just add a salad or a plate of cut veggies like carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, celery, bell peppers, and radishes.
Looking for other great snacks? Check out these delicious FFF options:
- Gluten-Free Protein Puppy Chow: A super-simple, gluten-free, high-protein snack flavored with chocolate and peanut butter.
- Air-Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs: The ultimate simple snack. So good for you, and so simple in the air fryer.
- Peanut Butter-Banana Protein Balls: Easy no-bake treats made in your food processor—too easy and too delicious to miss!
Ingredients
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 16 mini bagels split
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup mini pepperoni slices
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F, about 5 minutes. If your air fryer basket tends to have food stick to it, give the basket a quick spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on each bagel half, then sprinkle mozzarella on top. Add mini pepperoni slices and a dash of Italian seasoning for extra flavor to each.
- Working in batches, place the prepared bagel halves in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching for even cooking.
- Air fry the bagel bites at 360°F until the cheese is melted and the bites are golden and crispy, 4 to 6 minutes. Keep an eye on them after 4 minutes to prevent overcooking. Each air fryer is different, so adjust the time as needed.
- Carefully remove the bites with tongs and serve. Continue until all the bites are cooked. DEVOUR!
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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